Mexican Pulled Chicken

We’re big fans of pulled pork here at Gran Luchito but we know it requires some time to prepare! So for the days we want loads of flavour and that lovely texture of shredded meat but we are limited on time, we find that this recipe for Mexican Pulled Chicken fits the bill.

We recommend using chicken thighs that have a bit more fat and cook really fast. They’re simmered with the Gran Luchito Chipotle Paste, orange juice, apple cider vinegar and chicken stock, among other ingredients. This recipe turns regular chicken into the tastiest Mexican pulled chicken ready to go straight into tacos.

Once you nail this pulled chicken recipe you’ll soon be using leftovers in everything from burritos to quesadillas or even served with just green salad leaves and avocado.

This slow cooker Mexican shredded chicken is even better when served with warm Gran Luchito Soft Taco Wraps and some Gran Luchito Salsas.

Gran Luchito Chipotle Paste is available on Amazon Prime in the US, UK and across the EU

Prep time

15 mins
Cook time

30 mins
Total time

45 mins
Ideal for

Dinner
Make it

Mexican
Serves

4

Nutrition: Per serving

kcal 97 fat 3.3g saturates 0.6g carbs 8.5g sugars 1.9g fibre 0.6g protein 7.8g salt 0.78g

This recipe uses

Chipotle Paste

Soft Taco Wraps

Zingy & Tangy Tomatillo Salsa

Found in the
Mexican Section

Ingredients

Pickled Onions:

1 red onion
Juice of 1 lime
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper (for seasoning)

Pulled Chicken:

800g / 1.8 lb of chicken thighs (skinless)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 red onions, sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons Gran Luchito Chipotle Paste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon coriander seeds
¼ cup of apple cider vinegar
½ cup of orange juice
1 cup of chicken stock
1 tablespoon tamari sauce
1 bay leaf
1 handful of coriander and stems, finely chopped
1 packet of Gran Luchito Soft Taco Wraps
2 limes, cut into wedges
1 jar of Gran Luchito Tomatillo Salsa

How to make it

Prepare your quick pickled onions by placing all the ingredients into a small bowl, and season with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Mix everything together and let it rest while you prepare your pulled chicken.
Season your chicken thighs with salt and freshly ground pepper. Heat up a large frying pan and add a drizzle of olive oil, once its hot enough sear your chicken until it gets a bit of colour on both sides but is not fully cooked. Once ready, remove from the pan and set aside.
Add a bit more oil into your pan and add the garlic and onion. Fry gently and add the Gran Luchito Chipotle Paste, cumin, coriander seeds, and stir well. Let the onion soften for a couple of minutes.
Add the seared chicken thighs back into the pan. Pour in the vinegar, orange juice, chicken stock, tamari sauce, a bay leaf, the coriander, a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cover with a lid, then cook for 30 minutes over a low heat.
Once your chicken is cooked, remove the pan from the heat and shred the chicken with the help of two forks (discard bones). Stir the meat with the pan juices, and finish your delicious pulled chicken with a bit of freshly chopped coriander on top.
Serve your pulled chicken with warm Gran Luchito Soft Taco Wraps on the side, the red pickled onions, lime wedges and Gran Luchito Tomatillo Salsa.

What To Serve With Mexican Pulled Chicken

A couple of sides that would go really well with this dish are:

You can have them on their own with the pulled chicken, or all wrapped up together in our Gran Luchito Soft Taco Wraps.

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Similar Recipes You Might Like to Try

Mexican Chicken Stew

Mexican Pork Recipes, recipes with Chipotle Paste

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

FAQs

Why is it called pulled chicken?

Pulled chicken means that the chicken has been barbecued or smoked low and slow, usually with a regional rub of some sort, and perhaps a barbecue sauce. Shredded chicken refers only to the consistency of the meat, which could have been baked or stewed or something else.

Is pulled chicken healthy?

Although nutrition and calories can vary depending on the recipe and ingredients, pulled chicken is lower in calories and fat than say pulled pork, making it a healthier choice than some.

For this recipe, can you use other cuts of chicken other than the thighs?

Yes, you can use a whole chicken. Simply put a whole chicken into the slow cooker and several hours later you have juicy, tender, fall-of-the-bone chicken. Alternatively, you can use chicken breasts, however we'd advise to use the parts of a chicken with skin on, as it retains moisture and stops the chicken from drying out too much.