5 Ingredient BBQ Pulled Chicken
This 5 Ingredient BBQ Pulled Chicken is a smoky, sticky main course where cooked chicken is shredded and coated in a rich sauce of ketchup, apple cider vinegar, dark sugar and chipotle in adobo. The Thermomix TM7 blends and heats the sauce evenly, then infuses the chicken with deep barbecue flavour, giving you tender pulled chicken with a glossy, caramelised finish in one bowl.
About this recipe
BBQ Pulled Chicken Thermomix TM7 recipes are the answer when you crave bold, smoky barbecue flavour without a long ingredient list: this version needs only cooked chicken, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, dark sugar and chipotle chilies in adobo. As a quick weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing filler for brioche buns, tacos and loaded fries, it delivers shredded chicken in a glossy, sticky sauce that clings to every strand. The all-in-one kitchen machine blends the sauce base into a smooth emulsion, dissolves the dark sugar completely and then warms everything gently so the chipotle smokiness infuses the meat rather than burning on the base. Because you start with cooked chicken, the work is mostly hands-off: the TM7 does the stirring while the flavours meld. Serve it piled high with coleslaw for a summer cookout, or spoon it into rolls for an easy lunchbox idea the whole family will happily eat.
Preparation tips
- Use chicken thighs rather than breast if you want a juicier result: their extra fat keeps the pulled texture succulent even after resting in the ketchup and chipotle sauce, and they shred into fuller strands.
- Taste the sauce before combining with the chicken: chipotles in adobo vary in heat, so start with one chili and add more gradually until the smoky warmth suits everyone at the table.
- Leftovers keep well in a sealed container in the fridge and taste even better the next day, once the cider vinegar and dark sugar have had time to penetrate the shredded chicken fully.
Recipe variations
- Kid-friendly version: leave out the chipotle chilies and replace them with a spoonful of mild smoked paprika and a dash of honey, keeping the sweet barbecue character of the ketchup sauce without any heat.
- Festive variation: swap half the ketchup for cranberry sauce and add a grating of fresh orange zest for a Christmas-flavoured pulled chicken that works beautifully in mini brioche buns at parties.
Thermomix TM7 Benefits
- Weighing precision - The integrated scale of the Thermomix weighs the dark sugar and ketchup directly in the bowl, avoiding sticky measuring cups. [Precision Control]
- Chopping power - The TM7 chops the chipotle chilies and adobo sauce into a fine, even base that infuses every strand of chicken. [Multi-Function]
- Mixing mastery - The Thermomix blends ketchup and cider vinegar into a silky, stable barbecue emulsion without splitting. [Multi-Function]
- Heating control - Precise temperature control of the TM7 warms the sauce gently so the dark sugar caramelises without burning. [Precision Control]
- Hands-free convenience - The Thermomix stirs the pulled chicken through the sauce unattended while you toast the buns and prepare toppings. [Hands-Free]
Ingredients
- ketchup
- apple cider vinegar
- dark brown sugar
- chipotle chilies, in adobo sauce, canned
- cooked chicken