Spicy Ale Pulled Chicken

BBQ and beer are a dynamic duo in this Spicy Ale Pulled Chicken. This recipe is flavorful and easy for those busy weeknights or lazy Sundays. This flavor combination dates back as far as peanut butter and jelly. It’s just makes sense! We love easy meals and this one is a deluxe easy meal with only 6 simple steps. Just because it’s “easy” doesn’t mean it has to be bland and boring. Keep meal-time exciting with bold flavors!

All the flavor, none of the booze.

We struck gold when we found Athletic Brewing Co. craft beers. Mat has been sober since he was 17 and for the longest time the NA beer market was slim pickings. I’ve always been a fan of craft beers, the options are endless up in Vermont and I loved sampling all the offerings. When I came across Athletic Brewing Non-Alcoholic Beers, I was so excited for Mat to taste them and experience good craft beers!

While I drink on occasion, my biggest hold up is the after effects. I enjoy a glass of wine or a beer every now and again but it’s hard to reason with breaking a good streak of eating clean or sacrificing a good night sleep. I’ve put the work in when I’m training, I pay attention to the foods I’m eating and it just feels silly to throw out that effort over an evening cocktail. With these Athletic Brewing Co. beers I don’t feel like I’m sacrificing. I’m enjoying a delicious craft beer AND keeping my healthy habits in check. It’s a win, win!

Everything you’ll need.

• 1 1/2 pounds Butcher Box boneless skinless chicken breast — chicken thighs or a combination of the two would be great here as well.
• 2 tablespoons taco seasoning — I have a few of these ready made packets in the spice cabinet at all times. I love the convenience and appreciate the quality of this brand.
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika — If I had to pick a favorite spice, other than salt, I think I’d pick smoked paprika. This single spice adds so much depth and flavor to any dish. My favorite is using smoked paprika on sweet potato fries.
• 1 cup Traeger Texas Spicy BBQ sauce — The options are endless when it comes to BBQ sauce. Do you like smokey, sweet or spicy? I’m a sucker for a smokey BBQ and I love all things spice. When I discovered the Texas Spicy BBQ I got the best of both worlds.. smokey AND spicy.
• 6 ounces Upside Dawn Golden Ale Athletic Brew — This golden ale is smooth in flavor and rich is classic ale notes. Sweet and malty, easy for sipping and great in this recipe!
• Green onions slices for serving — I always love a fresh pop of something with simply prepared foods and these green onions round out all the flavors in this dish.

Six steps for an easy dinner.

I love time in the kitchen. I’m grateful to call this a job, but even I face days that are made 100% easier with a quick and simple dinner. There are 6 easy steps to serving up a flavorful dish of this Spicy Ale Pulled Chicken PLUS I’ll give you some additional ideas for serving and creating a yummy meal for the family.

Step one:

Add all ingredients to the pot of a pressure cooker. Well that was easy!

Step two:

Set the pressure cooker lid on the cooker, close the vent to SEAL and set it on high for 25 minutes.* When the cook has completed, allow the steam to naturally release for 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes, turn the vent to VENT and release the remaining steam/pressure before lifting the lid.

Step three:

Remove the chicken from the cooker, reserve the cooking liquid, add the the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.** Cover the mixer with a kitchen towel and start on low, increase speed to medium and mix for 1-2 minutes until the chicken has broken down. Shred any remaining large pieces with two forks.

Step four:

Add 1/4-1/2 cup of the cooking liquids to the chicken. Place the remaining cooking liquid in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring to a low boil, simmer and reduce for 5-7 minutes until it’s thickened. I know you may look at this as an unnecessary extra step but trust me, it’s worth it. The liquids in the cooker are diluted, this step will give you a rich and flavorful thickened sauce vs. a watery liquid.

Step five:

Drizzle the sauce over the chicken and top with sliced green onions. The onions bring the flavors to life! A little pop of freshness goes a long way. Do yourself a favor and keep a bunch of green onions stocked in your fridge at all times, I find this ingredient in most of my meals just because I have it on hand and it does wonders for flavor!

Step six:

The possibilities are endless here. Smash this chicken into a grilled cheese and dunk it into the thickened sauce. Serve it in tacos or on top of a rice bowl with desired toppings such as corn, beans, jalapeños, cilantro and guacamole.

Slow cooker or pressure cooker?

BOTH! The instructions written here are for the pressure cooker. It’s new to me and I’m loving learning all the ways to put that nifty new kitchen tool to WORK! Don’t worry, I have not abandoned my roots. The slow cooker remains in the pantry and while it may not be getting all the love these days, it’s put in many hours of work in the past and is a trusty kitchen essential. I follow pretty standard guidelines when it comes to slow cooker recipe conversions. My go-to: 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.

Looking for more recipes using the Ninja Foodi?

Here are a few to try:

MOROCCAN SPICED PORK BUTT WITH CITRUS MINT YOGURT

PRESSURE COOKER POT ROAST

BBQ PULLED PORK ROLLS

Lastly, if you make this Spicy Ale Pulled Chicken recipe, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a comment! Above all, I love to hear from ya’ll and do my best to respond to every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to snap a pic and tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of your dayyyummm good recreations is my favorite!

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