Description
An easy 5-ingredient high-protein slow cooker dinner made with tender chicken thighs, smoky barbecue sauce, creamy pinto beans, sliced onion, and smoked paprika. The chicken cooks until juicy and shreddable, while the beans are added at the end for the best texture.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 2 (15-ounce) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Spread the thinly sliced onion evenly across the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Place the fully thawed chicken thighs on top of the onions.
- Pour the barbecue sauce over the chicken and sprinkle with smoked paprika. Season lightly with salt and black pepper if needed.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours, until the chicken is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove the chicken briefly and shred it with two forks, or shred it directly in the slow cooker.
- Return the shredded chicken to the sauce and onions and stir until evenly coated.
- Add the drained and rinsed pinto beans and gently stir them into the chicken mixture.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for about 15 minutes, just until the beans are heated through.
- Divide into 6 servings and serve warm on its own or with rice, vegetables, baked potatoes, tortillas, or a crunchy slaw.
Notes
- Use fully thawed chicken rather than frozen chicken in the slow cooker.
- Choose a thick barbecue sauce to prevent the finished dish from becoming watery.
- Canned pinto beans are already cooked, so adding them near the end helps them retain their shape and texture.
- Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F before shredding.
- For a gluten-free version, use a barbecue sauce and smoked paprika labeled or verified gluten free.
- For a lower-sodium meal, choose a reduced-sodium barbecue sauce and rinse the beans thoroughly.
- Store leftovers in shallow airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
- Reheat leftovers to 165°F before serving.
- Nutrition values are estimates and vary depending on the chicken, barbecue sauce, beans, and serving size used.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours 15 minutes to 6 hours 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 465
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 840 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg