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SUSTAINABILITY

Sweet Heat Pulled Chicken

  • 15 Minutes
  • 4 Hours
  • 16 Servings(4 Oz each)
  • High-Protein
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Ingredients:

For the Chicken

For the Sweet Heat Sauce

Nutritional Information

(Per Serving – Approximate)

Calories:220 Kcal
Carbohydrates:5 g
Sugars:4 g
Protein:35 g
Total Fat:6 g
Saturated Fat:1.5 g
Fiber:.5 g
Sodium:430 mg

Some recipes make you choose between sweet and spicy. This one refuses to pick a side.

Sweet Heat Pulled Chicken combines juicy, slow-cooked chicken with rich Pioneer brown sugar sweetness, smoky spices, and just enough heat to keep every bite interesting. The chicken cooks until perfectly tender, then gets shredded and coated in a sticky, flavor-packed sauce that balances sweet, savory, and spicy notes in every forkful.

Pile it onto toasted buns, tuck it into tacos, load it over baked potatoes, or serve it straight from the skillet. Whether you’re feeding a crowd for game day or looking for an easy weeknight dinner, this pulled chicken delivers big barbecue flavor without spending all day at the smoker.

Instructions:

  1. Season the chicken thighs with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
  2. Place the chicken in a slow cooker or covered roasting pan.
  3. In a bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, honey, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, and chicken broth.
  4. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken.
  5. Cook on low for 4 hours, or until the chicken is tender and easily shreds with a fork.
  6. Remove the chicken and shred it using two forks.
  7. Return the shredded chicken to the cooker and stir with the cooking liquid until evenly coated.
  8. Let the chicken sit in the sauce for 5-10 minutes before serving.

This recipe uses sugar to:

  • Balances the spice: The brown sugar softens the sharp heat from the hot sauce and red pepper flakes, creating a more rounded flavor.
  • Adds depth and richness: Its molasses content contributes subtle caramel notes that pair well with smoked paprika and Worcestershire sauce.
  • Helps create a sticky sauce: As the sauce simmers, the sugar thickens and helps develop the glossy, clingy texture that coats the shredded chicken.
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