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Slow Cooker Honey Chipotle Chicken Recipe

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4 from 60 reviews

This Slow Cooker Honey Chipotle Chicken recipe combines the sweetness of honey with the smoky heat of chipotle peppers, creating a flavorful and tender chicken dish perfect for easy weekday meals. Slow-cooked to perfection, the chicken soaks in a tangy, spicy sauce enhanced with lime, garlic, and soy, then shredded and tossed in a thickened sauce for a deliciously saucy finish.

  • Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

Sauce Ingredients

  • ½ cup honey
  • ¼ cup chicken stock
  • ¼ cup chipotles in adobo sauce
  • 2 limes, juiced
  • 6 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Main Ingredient

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast

Thickening Slurry

  • ¼ cup water
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot powder

Instructions

  1. Prepare the sauce: In the bottom of a 4-6 quart slow cooker, whisk together honey, chicken stock, chipotles in adobo sauce, lime juice, minced garlic, and soy sauce until well combined to create a vibrant flavorful base.
  2. Add chicken and coat: Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts directly into the sauce and turn them to make sure they are fully coated in the honey-chipotle mixture, allowing the flavors to infuse during cooking.
  3. Slow cook the chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 3 to 4 hours, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and is tender enough to shred easily.
  4. Shred the chicken: Remove the cooked chicken breasts from the slow cooker and transfer to a bowl. Using two forks or an electric hand mixer, shred the chicken into fine pieces for easy tossing with sauce.
  5. Optional strain the sauce: For a smoother sauce, strain the cooking liquid through a mesh strainer to remove seeds and pieces of chipotle peppers, though this step is optional based on preferred texture and spice level.
  6. Make the slurry: In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch (or arrowroot powder) with water to make a smooth slurry, which will help thicken the sauce.
  7. Thicken the sauce: Pour the slurry into the slow cooker with the remaining sauce and whisk well to combine, then return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker, tossing to coat thoroughly with the thickened sauce.
  8. Final cook: Cook the chicken on high heat for an additional 30 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken nicely and infuse the shredded chicken fully before serving.

Notes

  • Chipotles in adobo sauce add smoky, spicy flavor; adjust quantity to control heat level.
  • Use arrowroot powder as a gluten-free alternative to cornstarch for thickening.
  • If you want a less spicy dish, remove seeds from chipotle peppers before adding or strain sauce after cooking.
  • This dish pairs excellently with rice, tortillas, or in sandwiches and tacos.
  • Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and are great for meal prep.
  • Author: ELLA
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Slow Cooking
  • Cuisine: Mexican-inspired

Find it online: https://ellarecipe.com/slow-cooker-honey-chipotle-chicken-recipe/