BBQ Beer Pulled Chicken Tacos
Our friend Dave Kiss was in town this past weekend and I made these simple, yet delicious, tacos for us. The slaw is killer and the taco meat was flavorful enough to spark a late-night jam session lyric. We, oddly, have a lot of late-night jam sessions at the house.
INGREDIENTS
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp chipotle chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
Salt & pepper
2 cups of your favorite BBQ sauce
1/2 cup of your favorite beer, or use chicken broth (I use Pumpkin beer)
3 cups shredded cabbage
2 cups grilled or steamed corn
1/2 cup fresh cilantro roughly, chopped
2 Tbsp chopped fresh chives
Warmed corn or flour tortillas and shredded sharp cheddar cheese, for serving
For the Avocado Ranch:
1 avocado, halved
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup fresh cilantro
1 jalapeño, halved and seeded
juice from 1 lime
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
Salt
DIRECTIONS
In the bowl of your instant pot, combine the chicken, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, cinnamon, 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce, the beer, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cover and cook on high pressure/manual for 8 minutes. Once done cooking, use the natural or quick release function and release the steam.
Switch the instant pot to sauté and cook 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens. Shred with two forks. Add remaining BBQ sauce, if desired.
Meanwhile, make the ranch. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy, adding additional buttermilk, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed to thin the sauce.
To make the slaw, add the cabbage to a bowl with a few spoonfuls of the ranch and toss to combine. Add the corn, cilantro and chives, and season with salt.
Stuff the cheese and chicken into the warmed tortillas. Top with slaw and addition ranch. Enjoy!
For the Slow Cooker:
In the bowl of your slow cooker, combine the chicken, chili powder, paprika, cinnamon, 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce, the beer, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. Once the chicken is done cooking, shred with two forks. Stir in the cilantro and remaining BBQ sauce, if desired.
Follow the directions as directed above for steps 3-5.
For the Stove-Top:
Combine the chicken, chili powder, paprika, cinnamon, and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a bowl.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large heavy bottomed pot over medium-high heat. When the oil shimmers, add the chicken and sear the chicken on both sides, about 3-4 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and add 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce and the beer. Cover and simmer the chicken for 1-2 hours. If the sauce gets too thick, add additional beer to thin the sauce out. Once the chicken is done cooking, shred with two forks and stir in the cilantro and remaining BBQ sauce, if desired.
Follow the directions as directed above for steps 3-5.