This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Slow cooker hoisin bbq shredded chicken tacos topped with a refreshing Asian slaw complete with sesame seeds, cilantro and fresh lime. These flavor-loaded tacos are incredibly delicious, simple to make and will quickly become a family favorite!
It’s been far too long since we’ve talked about tacos. Unfortunately, I will probably never post a taco recipe ON Taco Tuesday because that would require being much more together than it really is.
I was super inspired to make these tacos after we had something similar at an Asian fusion restaurant downtown on Thursday night. For an appetizer, we split the most AMAZING duck confit tacos with hoisin BBQ sauce and a super refreshing carrot slaw. They were also doused in some kind of crema, but honestly didn’t even need it. My entree was meh, and I was **this** close to asking for another round of tacos and bringing the rest of my entree home to the dog.
Ha, oh wait, I did.
This is a VERY low maintenance recipe, which we all know is the name of the game on Mondays. Or any weeknight for that matter. There is just something about a slow simmered BBQ sauce that makes coming home that much more satisfying. Especially when you add those deep, rich flavors of hoisin sauce.
The flavor profile of this hoisin bbq chicken leads to SUCH versatile meal options. Of course you could use toss it in corn tortillas and we could all eat tacos together (and live happily ever after, amen), BUT you could also eat it as a sandwich, put it on a pizza or serve it over a bed of polenta or mashed cauliflower. If only we had leftovers over here….
You can typically find hoisin sauce in the international isle of your local grocery store, but I wouldn’t bother asking any employees if they carry it. I asked two employees at Trader Joe’s and both of them looked at me like I had two heads. The second one was nice enough to show me where the hollandaise sauce was. And then the soy sauce. And this was after me having to spell out ‘HOISIN’ for her 3 times. Sigh…
Now let’s talk about the slaw! It’s very simple, yet contains all of the essentials. A crunchy, substantial base with a touch of sweetness combined with a tangy twist, finished off with a fresh squeeze of citrus. I made it about an hour before serving the tacos to give it enough time to soften up and let all those delicious flavors marry. It complimented the hoisin BBQ chicken perfectly!
If you’re looking to switch things up and give your tastebuds a fun new experience, I would highly recommend this recipe. Between the ease of preparation, deliciously rich flavors and versatility of use, it might be one of my new favorite things. Mexican-style tacos can take a hike.
Slow Cooker Hoisin BBQ Chicken Tacos with Asian Slaw
Ingredients
- 8 corn tortillas
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs trimmed of most visible fat
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce
- 2 tsp Sriracha optional
- 2 cloves of garlic minced
- **Asian Slaw**
- 2 cups shredded carrots
- 1-2 cups shredded cabbage
- 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 2 tsp granulated sweetener of choice I used Truvia
- 1 tsp freshly grated ginger or 1/2 tsp ground
- 2-3 tbsp freshly chopped cilantro
- Juice of 1 lime
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl, mix all bbq sauce ingredients: hoisin, ketchup, rice wine vinegar, honey, soy sauce, sriracha and garlic. Place chicken thighs in slow cooker and add ~1/3 the amount of prepared sauce. Cover the remaining sauce and place in the refrigerator for later use. Cook chicken on LOW heat for 6 hours.
- About an hour or two before serving the tacos, prepare the slaw by combining all ingredients in a large bowl and tossing to combine. Cover and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- After 6 hours, remove chicken from slow cooker and transfer to a cutting board. Using two forks, shred chicken and transfer to a large bowl. Pour in reserved hoisin BBQ sauce and toss to thoroughly coat chicken. If you prefer the chicken to be extra moist and saucy, you can add a few spoonfuls of residual sauce from the slow cooker.
- Optional (but highly recommend!) - heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear both sides of each corn tortilla until slightly crispy.
- Load tortillas with slaw, shredded chicken and optional toppings: sesame seeds, cilantro, lime juice. Serve!
Nutrition
I calculate these values by hand to ensure accuracy, however expect up to a 10% variable depending on food brands.
Loved it! Whole family loved the flavor. Doubled the recipe so we’d have leftovers!
Hi! In a time crunch can u grill the chicken or cook on high in slow cooker?
Very tasty! Super easy. Will definitely make again.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
These sound amazing!! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thank you so much, Chelsea!
I love this fun spin on tacos! What a great flavor combo!
Thank you, Kati! I loved the flavor combo!