The meal prep recipe you didn’t know you needed. This slow cooker chipotle chicken is sweetened with honey, super juicy has just the right amount of heat. Use it for quesadillas, bowls, or a new taco night, it’s a shredded chicken recipe you’ll soon rely on.
Slow cookers save sanity. As a mom of three and Certified Nutrition Coach, I swear about that. This slow cooker chipotle chicken is tangy, juicy, and packed with a kick. It’s also an easy recipe to come home to at the end of the day.
With a smoky chipotle flavor, you may think that this shredded chicken is perfect for fall and winter. However, it works all year long on those nights when you’re just too busy to cook.
A great way to bump up your protein (slow cooker teriyaki chicken does this too as do these high protein chicken recipes) as you can add the chicken to just about everything.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Easy to make: A dump and go recipe at its finest. Pop everything into your slow cooker and come home to shred the chicken and enjoy.
Flavorful: The chipotle peppers with the honey give the chicken a tasty sweet and spicy flavor.
Versatile: You can adjust the chicken flavor with a few additions and use this chipotle shredded chicken in so many ways from nachos to pasta.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Below is a quick snapshot of the ingredients you need to make the dairy-free chicken recipe.
Know that boneless, skinless chicken breasts work better than thighs for shredding. Thighs also add more juice to the mixture ,so the texture will be a bit different.
Brands of adobo peppers vary in spiciness. If you don’t love spice, scale back the amount a bit and taste test as you go.
I don’t always have homemade bone broth on hand (though it’s one of the crucial foods I think everyone should have in their diet). When this is the case, I use bone broth powder. All the homemade, healing qualities of bone broth,h but without the effort. You can grab bone broth powder with code mamabear10 from Perfect Supplements, and all you have to do is boil water and mix it.
How To Serve Chipotle Shredded Chicken
This shredded chicken can be made into multiple meals. We love it simply with a side of roasted green beans and potatoes. Below are a few of our other favorite ways to enjoy it.
- Mixed in with gluten-free noodles to create a pasta.
- On top of steamed rice with roasted vegetables on the side.
- For family taco night with all the fixings.
- On top of a salad the next day.
- In a wrap with some crisp lettuce.
- The base of nachos or quesadillas for the easiest Friday night.
Expert Tips To Make It
Use two forks to shred the chicken. Though it may look like a lot of liquid when you shred the chicken, it’s quickly absorbed once you mix it in.
Scale back the amount of chipotle powder and adobo sauce you use if you don’t like a lot of heat.
Find the best slow cooker for your families needs and learn how to get the most out of it!
How To Make Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken
Step 1: In your slow cooker, place the peppers, tomato paste, and honey.
Step 2: Whisk in the chicken broth, onion, garlic, and seasoning.
Step 3: Add the chicken.
Step 4: Coat the chicken in sauce on both sides.
Step 5: Cook on low for 4-6 hours before using a fork to shred.
Step 6: Serve it over rice, spaghetti squash, or gluten-free noodles.
How To Store It
Let the chipotle shredded chicken cool fully before storing it.
Store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Enjoy it cold on top of a salad or heated up in the microwave or stovetop.
Store it in the freezer for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe bag. Make sure to get some of the liquid in with the chicken as it’ll help to reheat it. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before you need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can add more or less chipotle spice and adobo peppers to the mix to adjust the spiciness. If you enjoy spice, add some sliced jalapenos to the slow cooker or upon serving.
If making this shredded chicken into tacos, contrasting flavors work best. Add some fresh limes, pickled onions, and avocados to the table for toppings.
Other Dairy-Free Slow Cooker Chicken Dinners
- Dairy-free Tuscan chicken
- Slow cooker honey mustard chicken
- Gluten-free Salisbury steak
- Slow cooker beef fajitas
- Dairy-free chicken dishes
Skip Dinner Stress
The Busy Mom's Cookbook is where frazzled moms get high-protein dinner on the table fast without sacrificing nutrition or sanity.
Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken (Dairy and Gluten-Free)
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup Chipotle peppers in adobo
- ½ cup Tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons Honey
- 1 cup Chicken broth
- 1 Onion diced
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Cumin
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Chipotle powder
- 2 pounds Chicken breasts
Instructions
- Place the chipotle peppers, tomato paste and honey in the crockpot.
- Pour in the chicken broth and whisk all ingredients together.
- Add in the diced onion and garlic, whisk together, then whisk in the seasoning.
- Add in the chicken breasts and then toss in the sauce to coat completely.
- Set the crockpot to low for 4-6 hours, or 2-3 hours on high.
- Shred the chicken, discarding of any bones, if necessary.
- Serve over rice, gluten-free, noodles, spaghetti squash, or vegetables.
Notes
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Dinner doesn’t have to be chaotic—this eBook gives you 20+ protein-packed meals ready in 30 minutes or less (even when the day’s already gone sideways)
Shelby S says
This is such a delicious recipe for meal prep. I make and freeze it to use for crazy nights!