Slow Cooker Maple Lime Chicken Bowls

📝Shopping list

To make this shredded chicken recipe, you will need these simple ingredients available in any grocery store: 

• boneless, skinless chicken breasts boneless skinless chicken thighs would work too!
• pure maple syrup
• lime  fresh lime juice and zest
• chicken broth
• soy sauce
• garlic minced or grated
• potato starch optional: to thicken sauce

🔪Instructions

This great recipe involves just a few simple steps:

Preparing your slow cooker

Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent.  Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings. 

 NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface.  Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface.  Check your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns. 

Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.  

Cooking

• 🍋‍🟩 Place chicken pieces into the bottom of your slow cooker
• 🍋‍🟩 Add in all remaining ingredients (other than potato starch) and stir to combine.  Be sure to turn the chicken pieces a few times to ensure they are fully coated. 
• 🍋‍🟩 Cover and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours or high heat for 2-3 hours.  
• 🍋‍🟩 To confirm that chicken is ready, use a meat thermometer.  Chicken is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165℉
• 🍋‍🟩 Remove cooked chicken from sauce and use two forks to fully shred
• 🍋‍🟩 Optional: If you prefer a thicker glaze, make a potato starch slurry.  Use a small bowl to mix one tablespoon potato starch with two tablespoons cold water.  Stir this slurry mix into the sauce in your slow cooker.  It will start to thicken up immediately.  
• 🍋‍🟩Return shredded chicken and mix fully into sauce.  

🍽Serving suggestions

This crock pot recipe was made for serving in rice bowls.  I love cilantro lime rice with this dish. Cauliflower rice is a great lower-carb way to make a bowl with this easy chicken recipe.  Some additional items that would be great in your bowl are:

• black beans
• pineapple salsa
• white beans
• pinto beans
• corn
• diced red onion
• sliced green onions
• diced bell peppers

To spice things up, top with fresh cilantro and freshly chopped jalapeno or poblano peppers.

🔁Substitutions

• If you don't want to make bowls with this dish, try scooping it up with tortilla chips 
• This pulled chicken recipe is delicious served in lettuce wraps.
• Use chicken thighs in place of breast meat for a different texture.
• In place of rice, serve over rice noodles, quinoa, or farro or a delicious meal
• This chicken recipe is on the sweet side. to make it slightly less sweet, cut maple syrup down to ½ cup.  

😉Hints & hacks

1. In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
2. Use a meat thermometer to confirm crockpot chicken breasts are cooked all the way through. Chicken is considered safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 ℉.
3. There are a lot of different opinions regarding the best way to shred chicken. Some people prefer to use a potato masher while others use the beaters of a handheld mixer. This chicken will be so tender it will be very easy to shred with two forks. I like to keep it simple 😉
4. The perfect way to store leftovers of this slow cooker recipe is in individual serving-sized containers.  This makes for easy grab-and-go meals on busy nights.
5. This is a great recipe to double.  Just exactly double each ingredient.  Total cooking time should not change.  
6. Using slow cooker liners is an optional step. I purchase my liners in bulk for a less expensive per-piece price.
7. Always double-check to make sure your slow cooker is on and plugged in!!! Coming home to a cold slow cooker is the worst!