The best slow cooker chicken tinga recipe that tastes just like the pollo de tinga from Guisados. Great on tacos, in burrito bowls, and in taco salads!
Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga (Guisado’s Copycat Recipe)
This slow cooker chicken tinga is smoky, spicy, and irresistibly tender! It’s made with shredded chicken breasts, fire-roasted tomatoes, chipotle peppers, and a variety of spices to get the authentic Guisado’s flavor. This crockpot chicken tinga is the perfect easy slow cooker meal and is great served in tacos, in a burrito bowl, or even in a taco salad.
PREP TIME
15 minutes
COOK TIME
3 hours
TOTAL TIME
3 hours 15 minutes
It’s Taco Tuesday and we’re cooking up slow cooker chicken tinga tacos!
Inspired by the Tinga de Pollo tacos from Guisados in my hometown of Los Angeles, this easy crockpot chicken recipe is everything you want from an easy weeknight dinner.
Not only does it require a mere 15 minutes of prep, but the resulting chicken tinga is so juicy and flavorful and makes for a perfect meal prep protein option that can be added to salads, rice bowls, and even healthy sweet potato nachos.
What is Chicken Tinga?
Chicken Tinga, or Tinga de Pollo in Spanish, is a classic Mexican dish of shredded juicy chicken coated in a slightly spicy and smoky tomato sauce. It typically includes chipotle peppers which give the dish its characteristic spice and smokiness. It’s most often served in tacos, on tostadas, or in burritos.
The recipe originates from the Puebla region of Mexico and is a popular food recognizable for its deep slightly spicy tomato and chili-based sauce. It is incredibly versatile making it a commonly used recipe across Mexico and the United States. Because it features tender shredded chicken, it’s a great dish to make in a slow cooker allowing the flavors to meld and deepen over the slow cooking time.
The Secret to Making the Best Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga
The secret to making the best chicken tinga is a careful balance of spices and chipotle peppers in adobo. Together, these ingredients lend a depth and richness of flavor that gives the dish its distinctive flavor. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Use Chipotle Peppers in Adobo: There’s nothing quite like the spicy smokiness of these traditional peppers. They add so much depth and richness to this crockpot dish, it just wouldn’t be the same without them.
- Take the Time to Sauté the Aromatics: While it can be tempting to dump and go, taking the extra couple of minutes to sauté the onions, garlic, and spices deepens the flavor and releases the onion’s natural sweetness.
- Let It Cook Low & Slow: A crockpot or slow cooker is the perfect way to cook this recipe because the low and slow method allows all the flavors to develop while the chicken becomes tender and juicy.
What’s In This Crockpot Chicken Tinga?
This slow cooker chicken tinga is made with simple ingredients you likely already have in the pantry or can easily get at your local grocery store. Here are some of the star ingredients in this crockpot chicken recipe:
- Boneless Chicken Breasts: Packed with protein and easy to prepare, boneless chicken breasts work great in the slow cooker and become tender and juicy through the low and slow cooking method.
- Spices: This recipe uses a mix of authentic spices including whole cloves, Mexican oregano, cumin, smoked paprika, and nutmeg. Together with the chipotle peppers they create a deep smokey flavor.
- Veggies: White onion and cabbage add a secret veggie punch that you’ll only taste in the best way possible.
How to Make Chicken Tinga in a Slow Cooker?
Making slow cooker chicken tinga is super easy! In a few simple steps, your kitchen will smell amazing and you’ll have a delicious healthy, and home-cooked meal to enjoy.
- Start by sauteing the aromatics with the spices to deepen their flavor and release the natural sweetness of the onion.
- Then season the chicken breasts and add them to the slow cooker along with some chicken stock or bone broth for even more flavor.
- Cook it slow. Cook everything on the low setting for 2 to 3 hours or on the high setting for 1 to 2 hours. Once the chicken is tender and easy to shred, remove it, shred it, and return it to the sauce to absorb the liquid.
- Meanwhile, taste your dish and season with salt and pepper to your liking.
I hope you love this easy slow cooker chicken tinga recipe as much as I do. If you make it, be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think! Buen provecho!
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Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga (Guisado’s Copycat Recipe)
Equipment
- 1 Slow Cooker A slow cooker or crockpot makes this recipe super easy to make with a juicy and tender result.
Ingredients
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/4 lb chorizo (optional)
- 2 tbsp avocado or olive oil
- 2 small thinly sliced white onions
- 1/2 cup thinly shredded white cabbage
- 6 finely diced garlic cloves
- 2 whole cloves
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried mexican oregano
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 14 oz can fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 5 chipotle peppers in adobo
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
Instructions
- Turn your slow cooker to saute mode and add the oil. While it preheats, remove the casing from the chorizo then add it to the slow cooker breaking it into small pieces as it cooks.
- Once the chorizo reaches a crumbly texture and starts to brown, add the thinly sliced onions and cabbage and cook until soft (about 5 minutes). Add the garlic, cloves, cumin, smoked paprika, oregano, and nutmeg. Stir to combine and let the spices toast for 1 to 2 minutes before adding the diced tomatoes, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, and chicken stock.
- Season the chicken breasts lightly with salt and pepper. Submerge them in the slow cooker with the other ingredients.
- Turn the slow cooker to the low setting and cook for 2 to 3 hours (or 1 to 2 hours on the high setting) until the chicken is tender and easy to shred.
- Turn off the slow cooker and remove the chicken. Shred in a bowl with two forks and return to the slow cooker. Combine the shredded chicken with the sauce and leave to soak up the juices for about 5 minutes. In the meantime, fish out and remove the two whole cloves.
- For the traditional Guisados preparation, serve on a warm corn tortilla topped with sliced avocado.
More ideas you’ll love
- 11 Healthy & High-Protein Crockpot Chicken Recipe Ideas
- 21 Easy High Protein Soup Recipes for Lazy Dinners
- 7 High-Protein Crockpot Meals that Are Insanely Healthy & Easy to Make
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i’m from LA but live abroad now and this recipe was truly a taste of home! amazing flavors and so easy to make
Thanks Percy! It’s also a recipe that reminds me of home 🙂