Slow Cooker Crispy Chicken Carnitas
This Slow Cooker Crispy Chicken Carnitas delivers 66g protein and 392 calories per serving—exceptional protein density for a single dish. Quick prep on your stovetop yields 8 servings, making it a foundational dinner protein you can batch on Sunday. One serving nearly hits 70g protein, getting you halfway to a high daily target with one meal.
Ingredients
- •Chicken Breast, Boneless Skinless(2268g)
Boneless skinless. Buy in bulk and freeze — Costco rotisserie packs work too.
- •1 Bottle Beer (Or Chicken Stock, If You Do Not Like To Cook With Alcohol)
- •Yellow Onion
- •Garlic(240g)
- •Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce(15g)
- •Cumin, Ground(10g)
- •1 teaspoon black pepper
- •Chili powder(5g)
- •1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- •Lime
Instructions
- 1Add the chicken breast, onion, fresh garlic, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, ground cumin, chili powder, and salt to a large slow cooker and gently toss to combine.
- 2Cook on low for 6–8 hours or on high for 4–5 hours until the chicken is completely tender and shreds easily with a fork.
- 3Preheat your broiler to high heat and line a large baking sheet with foil. Use a fork to shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces, then transfer to the prepared baking sheet with a slotted spoon, spreading in an even layer and leaving the juices behind in the slow cooker.
- 4Place the baking sheet under the broiler 2 racks down from the top and broil for 5–6 minutes over high heat until the edges of the chicken begin browning and crisping up.
- 5Remove the sheet from the broiler, ladle about ½ cup of the reserved juices evenly over the chicken, and toss with tongs to coat. Return to the broiler and broil for 5 minutes over high heat until more crispy.
- 6Remove the sheet from the broiler again, ladle an additional ½ cup of juices over the chicken, and return to the broiler for 5 minutes over high heat until the chicken reaches your desired crispness.
- 7Remove the sheet from the broiler, toss the chicken with any remaining broth, drizzle generously with fresh lime juice, and toss once more to combine.
- 8Divide the chicken carnitas evenly into 8 airtight containers while hot, then cool and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition — Per Serving
392
calories
66g
protein
8g
fat
- Carbohydrates
- 11g
- Saturated fat
- 1.7g
- Sodium
- 168 mg
- Dietary fiber
- 1.0g
8 servings per batch · ~317g each
Macro data sourced from USDA FoodData Central
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Set up your profile to unlockCommon questions
How much protein does Slow Cooker Crispy Chicken Carnitas have per serving?
Each serving contains 66g of protein and 392 calories, with only 8g fat and 11g carbs. This is one of the highest protein-per-calorie ratios available, delivering nearly 17% of a 400g daily protein target in a single portion.
How long does Slow Cooker Crispy Chicken Carnitas take to prep?
Quick prep time yields 8 servings, so you can batch-prep a week's worth of high-protein dinners or lunch bases in a single session. The slow cooker does the cooking while you focus elsewhere.
Is Slow Cooker Crispy Chicken Carnitas good for muscle gain?
At 66g protein and 392 calories per serving, this carnitas recipe is built for muscle gain phases where protein density is the priority. The minimal carbohydrates and fat mean you can add sides to match your surplus target without the base meal restricting your calorie budget.
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