Description
Spicy Fireball BBQ Pulled Chicken sizzles with bold flavor, merging whiskey-infused barbecue sauce and tender shredded chicken. Southern comfort meets zesty kick, promising a mouthwatering meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2.5 pounds (1.13 kilograms) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Sauces and Seasonings:
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) BBQ sauce (Baby Rays recommended)
- 1/2 cup (118 milliliters) Fireball cinnamon whiskey
- 1/2 cup (118 milliliters) pepper jelly
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) garlic powder
Instructions
- Nestle chicken thighs in the slow cooker’s base, creating an even layer.
- Whisk together fiery BBQ sauce, Fireball whiskey, zesty pepper jelly, and aromatic garlic powder in a mixing bowl.
- Lavishly drench the chicken with the whiskey-infused sauce, ensuring complete coverage.
- Secure the lid and slow cook at low temperature (195°F) for 6-7 hours or high temperature (205°F) for 3-4 hours until meat becomes fork-tender.
- Carefully extract chicken from the liquid and systematically shred using two forks, pulling meat into delicate strands.
- Reintroduce shredded chicken into the slow cooker and fold in remaining BBQ sauce for enhanced flavor intensity.
- Allow chicken to simmer uncovered for additional 10-15 minutes, enabling sauce absorption and flavor melding.
- Present the spicy pulled chicken as a versatile filling for buns, tacos, or atop fluffy rice, garnishing as desired.
Notes
- Swap out Fireball whiskey for apple juice or apple cider to create a family-friendly version that keeps the delicious cinnamon flavor without alcohol.
- Choose boneless, skinless chicken thighs for maximum tenderness and easier shredding compared to chicken breasts, which can dry out more quickly in slow cookers.
- Pat chicken thighs dry before adding to the slow cooker to help the sauce adhere better and prevent excess liquid, ensuring a more concentrated flavor profile.
- For extra depth, consider adding a splash of apple cider vinegar or a pinch of smoked paprika to enhance the BBQ sauce’s complexity and give the pulled chicken a more robust taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-7 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 334
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 530 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg