Description
These Slow Cooker Honey Chipotle Chicken Sliders are tender, flavorful pulled chicken with a perfect balance of sweet and smoky heat from honey and chipotle peppers. Cooked low and slow for maximum tenderness, they make an easy and delicious meal perfect for casual gatherings or weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Chicken and Vegetables
- 1 white or yellow onion, sliced
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Sauce
- ¾ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (not packed)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2-4 chipotle chiles in adobo (adjust to desired heat)
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker: Add the sliced onion to the bottom of your 5-quart oval slow cooker, creating a flavorful bed for the chicken.
- Add the chicken: Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts evenly over the sliced onions in the slow cooker.
- Season the chicken: Sprinkle ½ teaspoon kosher salt and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper evenly over the chicken breasts to enhance their flavor.
- Make the sauce: Combine ketchup, honey, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and chipotle chiles in a blender. Blend until the sauce is smooth and well-combined.
- Set aside half the sauce: Pour half of the blended sauce into a separate container and chill it in the refrigerator for later use.
- Pour sauce over chicken: Pour the remaining half of the sauce evenly over the chicken in the slow cooker, covering the meat thoroughly.
- Cook the chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
- Shred the chicken: Once cooked, shred the chicken in the slow cooker using two forks, mixing it gently with the onions and juices.
- Add reserved sauce: Pour the chilled reserved half of the sauce over the shredded chicken, stirring to combine completely.
- Warm through: Turn the slow cooker to WARM and let the chicken sit in the sauce until heated through before serving on sliders or your preferred bread.
Notes
- Adjust chipotle chiles quantity to control the level of spiciness.
- Use a 5-quart slow cooker for optimal cooking space.
- Leftover chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
- Serve with slider buns, coleslaw, or pickles for a delicious meal.
