Description
Experience the bold, aromatic flavors of traditional Middle Eastern street food right at home with this effortless slow cooker recipe. This dish features tender chicken breasts infused with a warm, tangy blend of cumin, sumac, turmeric, and cinnamon. Perfect for busy weeknights, the slow cooker does the heavy lifting, while a quick final sear creates a signature golden-brown crust. It is a healthy, versatile, and deeply satisfying meal that the whole family will love, whether served in flatbreads or over fluffy rice.
Ingredients
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground sumac
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/4 teaspoon granulated garlic
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 generous pinch ground cloves
2 tablespoons olive oil (for cooking)
1/4 cup tahini
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
In a small bowl, whisk together cumin, sumac, chili powder, paprika, garlic, salt, pepper, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, and half of the olive oil to make a spice paste.
Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker and rub the spice mixture evenly over the chicken.
Pour 1/2 cup of water into the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
Remove chicken from the slow cooker and shred or slice thinly.
Hheat the remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Sear the shredded chicken in the skillet for 2-3 minutes to get a crispy, golden-brown crust.
Whisk together the tahini and lemon juice to create a drizzling sauce.
Serve the chicken immediately topped with the tahini sauce.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For a meal prep option, serve over cauliflower rice or in individual pita wrappers.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 breast
- Calories: 285
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 95mg