Slow-Cooker Chicken Tomatillo Tacos Recipe
Cooking projects for people who'd like nothing more than to spend a sunday afternoon surrounded by the wonderful aromas of the kitchen.
Spicy and tangy, salsa-soused chicken thighs meld into a pitch-perfect taco filler, cooked slow and low. [Photograph: Jennifer Olvera]
It's not rocket science that slow-cooked food tastes good—it's given time to build maximum flavor. Fortunately, the effort to prepare it in this case is minimal. Chicken thighs, a forgiving choice, get tender to the point that they're easily shredded. When incorporated into the cooking liquid, there's no need for extra condiments, save cilantro and onions for a bit of brightness on top.
The salsa that serves as the base of this dish incorporates lemon juice instead of lime. I find it works particularly well, but feel free to use the latter in its place if you prefer.
- Yield:Serves 6
- Active time: 10 minutes
- Total time:8 hours
- Rated:
Ingredients
- 3 serrano peppers
- 1 (28-ounce) can of tomatillos, drained, or 15 fresh husked tomatillos broiled until charred
- 1 large handful cilantro, including stems, plus additional 1/4 cup leaves, chopped for garnish
- 1 small onion, quartered
- 3 medium cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon fresh juice from 1 lime, plus additional lime wedges for serving
- 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
- Kosher salt
- 2 1/2 pounds chicken thighs
- 1 (4-ounce) can diced jalapeños, preferably fire-roasted, drained
- Corn tortillas
- Medium red onion, minced
Directions
-
1.
Place peppers in a small pot of boiling water and simmer until color goes from bright green to green-gray, about 7 minutes. Drain and transfer to a blender or food processor. Add tomatillos, cilantro, onion, garlic, lime juice, and vinegar. Season with to taste with salt. Blend or puree until just combined but some texture remains.
-
2.
Place chicken in the bowl of a slow cooker. Add jalapeños and prepared tomatillo mixture. Set to low and cook for eight hours.
-
3.
Remove chicken thighs from slow cooker and let cool slightly. Discard skin and bones. Shred chicken using two forks, return to slow cooker, and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt. Serve with warm tortillas, chopped red onions, chopped cilantro leaves, and lime wedges.
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