Slow-Cooker Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches

By

Source: NYT Cooking.

Chicken burger · Honey · American

Slow-cooked chicken thighs swimming in their own juices emerge impossibly tender, swathed in a warm coating of fiery honey and fresh cabbage slaw.

Prep15 min
Cook5 h
Total5 h 15 min
DifficultyEasy
Per serving683 kcal
FreeHigh protein
Servings4Recipe makes 4
Your ratingSaved in this browser only.
Allergens (EU 14)
GlutenCrustaceansEggsFishPeanutsSoybeansMilkTree nutsCeleryMustardSesameSulphitesLupinMolluscs

Always check the labels of the products you use.

Method

  1. 1

    Slow cook. Put 900 g boneless, skinless chicken thighs into a large slow cooker along with 15 ml vegetable oil, 1 tsp dried chilli flakes, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp sweet paprika, ¼ tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp fine salt and ½ tsp ground black pepper. Stir everything together well; no additional liquid is needed. Cover and cook on the low setting for 4-5 hours until the chicken is very tender and reaches 74 °C in the thickest part.

  2. 2

    Hot honey. At any time before you plan to serve, stir 4 tbsp honey together with 1 tsp dried chilli flakes and ½ tsp garlic powder, then cover and leave at room temperature.

  3. 3

    Optional reduction. If you like, lift the cooked chicken out of the slow cooker and simmer the cooking juices in a separate small pan until the volume has halved, then return the chicken to the cooker.

  4. 4

    Shred. Use 2 forks to shred the cooked chicken into small, bite-sized pieces directly in the pot, mixing it with its cooking juices. Check that the thickest part reaches 74 °C. Stir in the spiced honey mixture and 2 tsp cider vinegar, then taste the chicken and add more salt, chilli flakes or vinegar if you prefer a stronger flavour.

  5. 5

    Slaw. Toss together 225 g shredded green cabbage, 4 tbsp mayonnaise, 3 thinly sliced spring onions and 1 tbsp lemon juice in a medium bowl. Season to taste.

  6. 6

    Toast and assemble. Split and toast 4 soft rolls or onion rolls if you like. Spread the insides with mayonnaise and a few shakes of vinegary hot sauce.

  7. 7

    Serve. Pile the hot honey chicken onto the prepared rolls, top generously with the slaw and the bun lids.

Storage

Best served at once while the chicken is hot and the slaw is still crisp. Cool leftovers in a shallow container and refrigerate within 2 hours (within 1 hour on a day above 32°C).

Why this label?

High protein

51.8 g protein for 683 kcal = 7.6 g per 100 kcal, so protein gives about 30% of the energy. High protein needs at least 20% (5 g per 100 kcal), the condition in the Annex to EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. How we decide

Free sugars

Sugar (daily guide)

21.8 g per serving

43.6 % of the 50 g daily maximum · 87.2 % of the ideal 25 g

Free sugars under 50 g a day, ideally about 25 g, based on WHO free-sugar guidance (not endorsed by WHO). The share shown is the share of one serving. WHO

Equipment

  • large slow cooker
  • small bowl
  • 2 forks
  • medium bowl
  • instant-read thermometer

Nutrition per serving Calculated from USDA FoodData Central

Per servingAmount
Energy683 kcal
Protein51.8 g
Carbohydrate54.2 g
of which sugars24.2 g
of which free sugars21.8 g
Fat28.4 g
of which saturates5.3 g
Fibre3.6 g
Salt3.37 g

Protein per 100 kcal

7.6 g meets High protein (≥ 5 g per 100 kcal = 20% of energy, and ≥ 10 g per serving)

Calculated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient values