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August 25, 2014

Slow Cooker Bacon Kalua Chicken

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This chicken is tender, bursting with flavor (thanks to a bacon-lined crockpot) and only uses a handful of ingredients.  My kids could not get enough of this chicken.  My daughter told me, “this is the best chicken in the world.”  I think you will agree!

Slow Cooker Bacon Kalua Chicken #crockpotdinner #chicken

Now that I’ve been blogging slow cooker recipes for 5 1/2 years, I’ve pretty much tried them all.  At least it feels that way.  One recipe that I hadn’t made was kalua pork.  I’ve been wanting to make this yummy recipe that is destined for the crockpot for a while.  When I went to find pork at the grocery store it was too expensive and I knew that I had my trusty bag of Costco frozen boneless, skinless chicken thighs at home.  So I thought, “why not make kalua chicken instead of pork?”  So that is what I did.  And it was awesome.  And my family thought so too.  I think this is my new favorite chicken recipe.

Crockpot bacon kalua chicken...my family devoured this chicken.  It is so yummy and tender!

First off the recipe only has 4 total ingredients.  I love recipes like that.  I really do.  Second, I didn’t even thaw the chicken.  I just threw it in frozen.  Third, I didn’t have to fry the bacon beforehand.  I just lined the bottom of the crockpot with uncooked bacon and the chicken was so bacon-licious!  I just threw away the bacon at the end and shredded up the chicken.  We served our chicken on rolls but you could eat this however you like.  If you like your chicken more saucy, you can easily add some BBQ sauce at the end or whatever you prefer.

Slow Cooker Bacon Kalua Chicken
Makes 6 servings
Ideal slow cooker size:  6 quart
Cooking time:  6-8 hours
4 slices of uncooked bacon
2 lbs frozen boneless, skinless chicken
thighs
 (I buy mine in a big
Costco bag for less than $2 a lb)
1 tsp pink sea salt
1 tsp liquid smoke
1.  Line the bottom of your slow
cooker with the bacon.  It should fit nicely in the bottom and if
neccessary up the sides of the slow cooker.
2.  Place chicken thighs on top of
the bacon.
3.  Sprinkle sea salt and liquid
smoke on top of the chicken.
4.  Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8
hours, or until chicken is tender and easy to shred. (If you are using chicken that is
not frozen it will take about 2 hours less…so a total of 4-6 hours).
5.  Remove the lid and shred with 2
forks or with a hand mixer or a stand mixer.  (I just used my little
hand mixer and it shredded it up in about 20 seconds!).
6.  Salt and pepper chicken to taste,
if needs be.  Serve chicken as is or with some bbq sauce.  (We
made ours into sandwiches on freshly baked rolls).

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19 Comments Filed Under: 5 ingredients or less, 6 or More Hours, All Recipes, Chicken, Slow Cooker Tagged With: bacon, 5 stars, All Posts

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Comments

  1. Patti says

    March 3, 2018 at 7:45 am

    Can’t wait to make this. I was looking for something easy to use up the chicken thighs I have, perfect for lunches this week!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 3, 2018 at 9:58 pm

      Hope you like it!

      Reply
  2. vicki says

    January 19, 2018 at 5:56 pm

    do you chop up the bacon with the chicken, or is it just for flavor?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      January 20, 2018 at 7:09 pm

      Hi Vicki, it’s just for flavor.

      Reply
  3. Rcobourn says

    November 11, 2017 at 7:39 pm

    Made this tonight, came out great. Will spice it up a bit next time. Plenty of liquid, result was very moist. Dogs appreciated the scrap bacon out of the crock!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      November 13, 2017 at 3:26 pm

      Ha! I bet they did ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  4. Greg Bolton says

    October 18, 2015 at 10:24 pm

    Tried this tonight and it was a big hit! I made some modifications…Made both boneless leg and breast, used seasoning salt, and added some dry onion. I also was late getting it going and had to cook on high (it took about 2hrs 45min). You cannot go wrong cooking with bacon. Remember the famous quote "That's too much bacon – said No one ever"

    Reply
    • [email protected] says

      October 19, 2015 at 6:38 pm

      That is very true, Greg. You are a wise man.

      Reply
  5. Rae Christy says

    August 30, 2014 at 3:04 pm

    It's in the crockpot. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  6. Rae Christy says

    August 29, 2014 at 5:02 pm

    I've never tried a crockpot recipe with so little liquid. I'm intrigued and going to make it this weekend. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • [email protected] says

      August 29, 2014 at 5:13 pm

      Yes, it's weird right? Well there will be liquid at the end because of the frozen chicken (those little ice crystals will melt) and the bacon has liquid released. I would cook this chicken in the smallest crockpot you have that the chicken will fit into.

      Reply
  7. Michelle Miller says

    August 25, 2014 at 2:04 pm

    Is sea salt absolutely necessary? And where in the grocery do I find liquid smoke? I have never purchased it before. Thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply
    • [email protected] says

      August 25, 2014 at 7:59 pm

      Hi Michelle!
      Sea salt is not absolutely necessary. I'd substitute kosher salt if you can't find the sea salt. Liquid smoke is just by the bbq sauce usually.
      Hope it works out for you!

      Reply
  8. [email protected] says

    August 25, 2014 at 1:18 pm

    Kalua Pig is popular at Hawaiian luaus where a whole pig is smoked in a sand pit with sea salt, banana leaves and koa wood
    You're thinking of Kahlua…the coffee flavored?
    sorry to disappoint!

    Reply
    • pcody says

      August 25, 2014 at 6:40 pm

      Yeah, I realized that after I sent the message. My bad. But it seemed like a good idea at the time. ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • rcobourn says

        October 30, 2017 at 11:22 am

        Replace the liquid smoke with a healthy shot of Hahlua. Who’s watching? ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
        • rcobourn says

          October 30, 2017 at 11:23 am

          Make that Kahlua. :/

          Reply
          • Karen says

            October 31, 2017 at 9:57 am

            ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. pcody says

    August 25, 2014 at 12:56 pm

    Where does the Kahlua come in? I was excited at the prospect of cooking chicken with Kahlua but it wasn't part of the recipe. ๐Ÿ™

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Karen. I know that dinner time can be less than relaxing. Busy schedules and cranky kids and a hundred other things can lead to weariness when it comes to putting dinner on the table. I can help! I make homemade, family-friendly slow cooker and Instant Pot dinners and share the recipes with you.

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