Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)
Tender, mouthwatering slow-cooked chicken tinga that boasts of smoky and spicy flavors, perfect for tacos, salads, burritos, bowls and more! If you’re looking for a fabulous, easy, set it and forget it meals, this is it! This scrumptious slow cooker chicken tinga is a weeknight favorite weeknight favorite in my house. It is awesome to come home and dinner is 90% done, plus it’s the best for leftovers the next day, and is a fantastic dish for your next get-together or Cinco de Mayo fiesta!
Why Chicken is So Good For You!
We all know that chicken is a tasty and fantastic source of protein, but do you know why it is so good for you? Chicken, along with many other sources of animal protein, such as beef, eggs and fish, are a complete source of protein. This means that all nine essential amino acids are present and available to you when you eat these foods. When it comes to nutrients, anything labeled as “essential” means that your body cannot make or synthesize this nutrient, so it must be provided to your body by the foods you eat.
As mentioned above, there are nine essential amino acids that we must eat everyday to provide our bodies energy as well as the building blocks necessary in everyday functions such as growth and repair, immune support, and in the synthesis of our hormones and neurotransmitters.
The nine essential amino acids and their roles are [1]:
- Histidine: necessary for the production of histamine and also plays a role in nervous system health
- Valine: necessary in energy production as well as muscle growth and repair
- Phenylalanine: building block for neurotransmitters like dopamine and epinephrine (adrenaline), and in the production of other amino acids.
- Leucine: necessary in stimulating wound healing, muscle repair, and blood sugar regulation.
- Isoleucine: necessary in immune function and energy regulation.
- Tryptophan: necessary building block for serotonin.
- Methionine: necessary in detoxification, metabolism, and in your body’s ability to absorb selenium (supports thyroid health) and zinc (necessary in production of HCl in your stomach).
- Threonine: necessary in skin and connective tissue health.
- Lysine: necessary in hormone production and your body’s ability to absorb calcium (bone, heart, muscle and nerve health.)
Chicken tinga is a tantalizing Mexican dish primarily known for its bold, smoky and savory flavors. It typically consists of shredded chicken that has been slow-cooked in a spicy tomato-based sauce, which gives it a beautiful smoky and slightly sweet flavor. The rich and luscious sauce in this recipe is made with a Paleo chipotle pepper sauce*, garlic, onion, and tomatoes making this healthy dish Paleo and Whole30 compliant. Be sure to check your chipotle sauce for food starch, corn starch, or flour as a thickening agent, or for sugar as too many of our foods contain unnecessary added sugar.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga (Paleo, Whole30, Keto)
Ingredients
- 2-2.5 lbs. Split Chicken Breasts
- 2 tsp Avocado Oil
- 1 Onion finely diced
- 1 Poblano Pepper finely diced
- ½ Jalapeño finely diced (opt)
- 3-4 Cloves Garlic minced
- 2 tsp Ground Cumin
- 1 tsp Mexican Oregano
- ½ tsp Ancho or Chipotle Powder opt
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 14.5 oz can Fire Roasted Tomatoes
- ¼ cup Tomato Paste
- ¼ cup Chipotle Paste
- 2 tsp Kosher Real Salt
- 1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- Dice the onion and poblano pepper and sauté over medium heat with the avocado oil for 7-9 minutes until softened and it starts to lightly caramelize.
- Turn off the heat to the onion and pepper and add all the spices, tomatoes, bone broth, tomato paste, chipotle paste, and garlic, stir well to mix.
- Add to split breasts to a crock pot and cover with the pepper and onion mixture, mixing well to coat the chicken.
- Cook on high heat for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the crockpot and allow it to cool for a bit. Remove the skin and bones and shred the chicken.
- Return the shredded chicken to the sauce, stir and serve!
Nutrition
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FAQs
Note: This post contains Amazon affiliate links to the products and kitchen gear I love. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Almond Milk and Cookies!
FAQs
Q: Can I use chipotle peppers instead of the chipotle paste to make chicken tinga?
A: You can, however, most canned chipotle peppers are not Paleo or Whole30 friendly, so be sure to check your ingredients.
Q: Is chicken tinga really spicy?
A: It does have some heat to it, that’s for sure! If you want to temper the heat, do not add the diced jalapeño and you can reduce the amount of chipotle paste. If it’s still a little to spicy, you can either add some pure honey or maple syrup or fresh lime juice as sweet or acid will temper the heat.
Note: This post contains Amazon affiliate links to the products and kitchen gear I love. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Almond Milk and Cookies!
I am a holistic nutritionist with an auto-immune disorder, a love of cooking, and a passion for holistic health.
Sharing what I make and eat with all of you…in hopes that you find inspiration here to fuel your body and feel your best with nutrient dense whole foods and clean eating.
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