Description
Tender, herb-scented chicken slow-cooked and served in warm pitas with fresh tzatziki—perfect for cozy weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
- 2.5–3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice (about 1–2 lemons)
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sea salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (for tzatziki)
- 1/2 cucumber, grated and drained (for tzatziki)
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (for tzatziki)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for tzatziki)
- Pita breads or homemade pita pockets, and toppings: sliced tomatoes, red onion, romaine lettuce, and crumbled feta
Instructions
- Prep the chicken: Trim excess fat and place chicken in the crockpot. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, and thyme.
- Build the braising mix: Add sliced onion and minced garlic over the chicken. Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, and chicken broth; pour over the meat to ensure even flavor.
- Slow-cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 360–420 minutes or HIGH for 180–240 minutes. The chicken should be fork-tender and easily shredded.
- Make the tzatziki: While the chicken finishes, grate cucumber, squeeze out excess liquid using a clean towel, then stir into Greek yogurt with lemon juice, olive oil, dill, and a pinch of salt. Chill until ready to serve.
- Shred and finish: Remove chicken, shred with two forks, and return to the crockpot juices to soak up extra flavor for 10–15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings.
- Assemble pitas: Warm pitas in the oven or on a skillet. Spoon shredded chicken into each pocket, top with tzatziki, sliced tomatoes, red onion, lettuce, and feta if using.
Notes
For extra juiciness, use chicken thighs; avoid over-salting to maintain flavor balance.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 240 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Greek