This super easy and delicious shredded chipotle chicken is perfect for tacos, enchiladas or on a salad. It can be made in the multi cooker, instant pot or the slow cooker and freezes really well for meal prep!
If you told me there was only one recipe I could make forever and ever, it would quite possibly be this shredded chipotle chicken.
Spicy but not too spicy (as in my 2 year old will eat it), packed full of flavour, less than 10 minutes prep time, hands off cooking and freezable! What more do you want?
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The whole recipe centres around the chipotle sauce. If you have never used chipotle chilis in a recipe before, prepare to be amazed! These guys pack a huge flavour punch without being too hot.
The sauce is so simple - add all ingredients (only 5 of them if you have a batch of Homemade Burrito Spice Mix made up) to a food processor and blitz until smooth. Add it into the multi cooker, instant pot or slow cooker along with the chicken and cook until the chicken falls apart.
One of the things I love the most about this shredded chipotle chicken is how versatile it is! Once you've made it, you have multiple dinner options. Make chicken enchiladas, serve it in tacos, chicken nachos, on a salad, in a quesadilla or even just in buns with coleslaw.
So versatile!
Can I cook this in the slow cooker?
Yes, absolutely. I prefer to cook it in the multi cooker/instant pot as it's SO fast but cook for a few hours in the slow cooker and it will be just as good.
How do you freeze this meal?
I cook the chicken and shred it as per the instructions and then allow to cool to room temperature before putting in a sandwich size snaplock bag or freezer container. Remove as much air as you can and I also like to flatten the contents in the bag - this is much better for storage and it helps it thaw out faster.
Can I prepare this and freeze it uncooked?
Yes! Make the sauce as per the instructions and then add the raw chicken breasts to the snaplock bag along with the sauce, remove as much air as you can and then freeze. Thaw in the fridge overnight and then cook according to the instructions.
Other great freezable meals:
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Here are some items I used to make this recipe:
CrockPot Multi Cooker| Mini Food Processor
Shredded Chipotle Chicken (multi cooker/instant pot or slow cooker)
Equipment
- Multi Cooker/Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 400 grams chicken breasts
Chipotle sauce
- 1 x 400 gram tin chopped tomatoes
- ½ onion (peeled)
- 3 cloves garlic (peeled)
- 1 Tablespoon Burrito Spice Mix (see notes)
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (2 peppers out of a jar, not 2 jars of peppers)
Instructions
Make the sauce
- Add all sauce ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Cook the chicken
- Place chicken breasts in the multi cooker/instant pot and pour the sauce over top. Make sure the valve is in the sealed position and select the "pressure cook" or "manual" setting. Set the time for 15 minutes (high pressure) and start. Once cooked, manually release the pressure, remove the chicken breasts, shred using 2 forks and stir through the sauce.To cook in the slow cooker, add the chicken breasts and sauce to the slow cooker and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 hours or until chicken is cooked through and can be shredded.
To serve
- This chicken is perfect in tacos or enchiladas or quesadillas or on a salad
To freeze the cooked chicken
- Allow the chicken to cool and then place in a snaplock bag or freezer proof container with the date and contents written on. Remove as much air from the bag as possible and freeze flat (better for storing and defrosting faster). Store in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Slow cooker prep bag instructions
- Label a sandwich size snaplock bag with the name, date and cooking instructions. Make the sauce as per the instructions and then add the raw chicken breasts to the snaplock bag along with the sauce, remove as much air as you can and then freeze. Thaw in the fridge overnight and then cook according to the instructions.
Notes
If you tried and loved this recipe, please leave a comment and a rating below!
Paul says
Thanks heaps!! Works a treat in the instant pot have done with both beef and chicken. Super easy n super delicious
Storm Clark says
Hi Laura, just making this for the first time, silly question but do I use 2 peppers from one can or two 100g cans of chipotle peppers?
Laura says
Oh sorry, 2 peppers out of the one can!! 🙂
storm clark says
haha I played it safe and tasted after two peppers! Yikes, a can would have been rocket fuel!
Lucinda says
My supermarket doesn't sell chipotle peppers we only have one supermarket. I really wanted to try this so had to cheat! I cooked the chicken breast, shredded it up and then added whitlock's chipotle sauce through the chicken, absolutely delicious! I would've preferred to try your recipe.
Kirsten says
Oh I’m glad I read these comments! I bought 2 tins yesterday in preparation! That would have been a disaster! 🙂
Kayla says
Definitely trying this while on lockdown! Which supermarket can I find the Chipotle Peppers at hun? (Tauranga)
Laura says
Hey! I found them at Countdown but you should be able to find them at most supermarkets in the Mexican section by the tortillas! 🙂