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Slow-Cooker Spicy Ancho Chicken Sandwiches

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  • Prep 30 min
  • Total 4 hr 30 min
  • Servings 16
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Perfect for a crowd or for planned-ahead meals, this hearty pulled chicken can be used right away or packed into freezer containers for another meal later.
By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Updated Sep 20, 2016
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Ingredients

  • 1 can (28 oz) Muir Glen™ organic fire roasted crushed tomatoes, undrained
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup ground ancho chile pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher (coarse) salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
  • 1/4 cup cider vinegar
  • 4 cloves garlic, halved
  • 1 medium onion, sliced (1 cup)
  • 2 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 16 whole wheat burger buns

Steps

  • 1
    Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In blender, place tomatoes, brown sugar, ground chile pepper, salt, oregano, red pepper, vinegar and garlic. Cover; blend on high speed until smooth. Pour about 1 cup tomato mixture into slow cooker. Place onion in slow cooker; top with chicken. Pour remaining tomato mixture over chicken.
  • 2
    Cover; cook on Low heat setting 3 1/2 to 4 hours or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F).
  • 3
    Remove chicken from cooker; cool slightly. Pour tomato mixture and onion into 4-quart Dutch oven. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes or until slightly thickened.
  • 4
    Meanwhile, shred chicken with 2 forks. Reserve 1 cup tomato mixture. Stir shredded chicken into remaining tomato mixture in Dutch oven. Increase heat to medium-high. Cover; cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until hot. To serve, spoon about 1/2 cup chicken mixture into each bun. Serve with reserved sauce for dipping.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

  • tip 1
    Ancho chiles are dried poblano chiles. They have an earthy, slightly sweet flavor that is mild to pungent, but they are not hot. We added ground red pepper to heat up these sandwiches. Add a bit more ground red pepper if you like your chicken spicier!
  • tip 2
    Great in sandwiches, this saucy chicken would also be a great filling for tacos, burritos or enchiladas.
  • tip 3
    If you are serving this for a crowd, return the hot mixture to the slow cooker; cover and set on Low. Add some of the reserved sauce to the cooker as needed if you are holding the mixture for a longer time.

Nutrition

240 Calories, 4g Total Fat, 21g Protein, 31g Total Carbohydrate, 7g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Sandwich
Calories
240
Calories from Fat
35
Total Fat
4g
6%
Saturated Fat
1g
5%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
45mg
15%
Sodium
550mg
23%
Potassium
270mg
8%
Total Carbohydrate
31g
10%
Dietary Fiber
2g
10%
Sugars
7g
Protein
21g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
15%
15%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
8%
8%
Iron
15%
15%
Exchanges:
2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 2 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1/2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
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