Heart-Healthy Shredded BBQ Chicken
Get ready to savor the bold, smoky flavors of this Heart-Healthy Shredded BBQ Chicken, a recipe that’s as nutritious as it is delicious. Made with tender, slow-cooked skinless chicken breasts, this dish is infused with a zesty homemade BBQ sauce crafted from wholesome ingredients like tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, and a touch of honey for natural sweetness. Aromatic spices such as smoked paprika, cumin, and garlic powder provide a flavorful kick without relying on high-sodium alternatives. Cooked to perfection in a slow cooker and finished off with a quick skillet sear for crispy edges, this shredded chicken is both juicy and packed with mouthwatering BBQ goodness. Perfect for loading onto whole-grain buns, tossing into salads, or wrapping in whole wheat tortillas, this easy, heart-friendly recipe is ideal for meal prepping or serving to a crowd. Add it to your menu for a healthy, satisfying dinner the entire family will love!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds skinless boneless chicken breasts
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 0.5 cup tomato paste
- 0.25 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
Start by placing the skinless boneless chicken breasts in a slow cooker. Pour 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth over the chicken to keep it moist during cooking.
In a mixing bowl, prepare the BBQ sauce by combining the tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, honey, smoked paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, freshly ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Whisk the ingredients until well mixed.
Pour the homemade BBQ sauce over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker, ensuring the chicken is fully covered.
Cover the slow cooker with its lid and set it to cook on low for 3 hours or until the chicken is tender and easily shreddable with a fork.
Once cooked, use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, mixing it well with the accumulated juices and BBQ sauce.
For an added touch, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shredded chicken and its juices from the slow cooker to the skillet and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken has slightly crisp edges.
Serve the heart-healthy shredded BBQ chicken on whole-grain buns, over a salad, or in whole wheat tortillas. Enjoy this delicious and nutritious meal with your favorite vegetables!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
1551 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 40.7 g | 52% | |
| Saturated Fat | 9.3 g | 46% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 578 mg | 193% | |
| Sodium | 666 mg | 29% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 68.5 g | 25% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 7.6 g | 27% | |
| Total Sugars | 52.1 g | ||
| Protein | 220.5 g | 441% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.2 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 176 mg | 14% | |
| Iron | 12.9 mg | 72% | |
| Potassium | 3312 mg | 70% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
