Slow-Cooked Shredded Chicken
Dairy free, Egg free, Gluten Free, Iron rich, Nut free, Protein rich, Soy free
About the recipe
A nourishing, one-pot family favourite perfect for babies, toddlers and beyond
This is one of our go-to recipes when we want something easy, hands-off, and packed with flavour – whether we’re home or out camping. It’s the kind of dish you can throw together in baby’s nap time, leave to cook low and slow, then come back to perfectly tender, shred-it-with-a-fork chicken. I find for me, doing the after school sports now, I rely on these meals I can pop on at lunch and have ready waiting for me when I get home with hangry children.
It also works beautifully over a campfire in a Dutch oven if you’re a camper!
I prefer to cook this one in the oven as it gives more depth of flavour, but we’ve included a slow cooker version too – with slightly less liquid, so it’s not too watery at the end.
It’s a great source of iron, easy to freeze, and works well for babies just starting out or toddlers going through a fussy phase.
Suitable From:
Around 6 months+ You can offer it shredded as a finger food or mix into mashed vegetables or broth for spoon feeding.
Ingredient Swaps:
- Chicken thighs can be swapped for chicken breast, but thighs give a juicier result
- Bone broth can be substituted with vegetable broth or water
- Garlic/onion-free: swap for leek or fennel if needed
- Mingle do a great taco spice mix packet if you want to swap out all the spices for this, for an even easier dinner.
Serving Suggestions:
- Stuff into soft wraps or tacos with mashed avocado and grated cheese
- Serve with nachos, guacamole, cheese and black beans
- Serve over rice, quinoa, or sweet potato
- Mix with yoghurt or mashed veggies for babies
- Add into quesadillas or over baked potatoes
Storage:
Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge and reheat gently before serving.
Ingredients
700 grams chicken thigh
1 onion finely diced
2 cloves garlic minced
400 grams tinned tomatoes
2 TBSP tomato paste
OVEN: 1 cup chicken broth SLOW COOKER: only use ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons
2 tsp ground cumin
1.5 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp smoked paprika
pinch or two of salt
2 TBSP olive oil or cooking fat of choice
optional
200 grams tinned black beans half a tin, drained
Method
oven
Preheat the oven to 130C fan-forced.
In a large oven-safe pot or Dutch oven, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until softened and fragrant.
Remove from heat and deglaze the pan with ½ cup of the bone broth, scraping up any browned bits.
Add chicken thighs, diced tomatoes, remaining broth, tomato paste, and all spices. Stir well to coat.
Cover with a lid and place in the oven for 4 hours, until the chicken is tender and pulls apart easily.
Shred the chicken directly in the pot using two forks, stir through the sauce.
If using black beans, add now and pop the lid on until ready to serve, the residual heat from the chicken will be enough to warm them through.
slow cooker
In a pan, heat olive oil and sauté onion and garlic until softened. Add the spices and salt, and cook for one minute to toast and release flavour.
Deglaze the pan with 2 tablespoons of broth, then add chicken thighs and brown slightly. Stir in the diced tomatoes and ¼ cup of broth and black beans if using.
Transfer everything into your slow cooker and cook on low for 4 hours.
Shred the chicken with forks and stir through the sauce before serving.
Let’s Search
What’s on your mind?
Leftover Enchiladas
These Leftover Enchiladas are one of our favourite ways to transform slow-cooked meat into an entirely new meal. Soft tortillas are filled with tender shredded meat, black beans, sweet corn and melty cheese, then baked under a rich homemade enchilada sauce until bubbling and golden. They’re comforting, nourishing, freezer-friendly and a brilliant way to stretch … Continued
Baby Liver Pate
Introducing liver to babies doesn’t have to mean serving chunks of liver on a plate. This silky smooth pate is one of our favourite ways to introduce one of nature’s most nutrient-dense foods in a way that’s gentle, delicious and easy for little ones to enjoy. Chicken liver is one of the richest natural sources … Continued
Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas
If you’ve ever thought slow cooker meals had to be bland, watery or lacking flavour, this recipe is here to change your mind. These Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas are one of my favourite recipes because they deliver juicy, fall-apart pork with crispy, caramelised edges that taste like they’ve come straight from your favourite Mexican restaurant. … Continued
Slow-Cooker Chicken, Bacon & Leek Pie
This recipe is adapted from one of our most-loved recipes in Toddler to Table. The original version comes together much more quickly on the stovetop, but I wanted to create a slow cooker version for those busy days when you want dinner to cook itself. As part of my slow cooker series, I’m on a mission … Continued
Lasagne Soup
This is one of those meals that tastes like you spent hours cooking… but really it’s just a throw-everything-in-a-pot situation. It has all the cosy flavours of lasagne without the layering, baking or dishwashing marathon. Rich tomatoey broth, tender pasta, hearty mince and creamy cheese on top… honestly the ultimate comfort food. I also love … Continued
Chicken Meatballs in a Gingery Broth
This is one of those meals that feels a little bit special, but is actually so simple to make. The meatballs are soft and full of flavour, and cooking them directly in the broth not only keeps them incredibly juicy, but also adds so much depth to the soup itself. It’s the kind of dinner … Continued
French Toast
There’s something so comforting about French toast, especially when it becomes one of those go-to meals you can rely on for everyone in the family. This version, from our book Toddler to Table, is exactly that. It’s simple, nourishing, and incredibly versatile. Whether you’re feeding a baby just starting solids, a busy toddler, or yourself … Continued
Chia Gel
Chia seeds are one of those small-but-mighty foods that we come back to again and again, especially when supporting little tummies through the transition to solids. They’re incredibly nutrient dense, meaning even a small amount delivers a beautiful boost of fibre, healthy fats, protein, calcium and magnesium. One of the biggest reasons we love chia … Continued