Chicken Vaca Frita(Crispy Shredded Chicken)
This crispy shredded chicken comes from a traditional Cuban recipe and is bursting with flavor. Make this for your meal prep and use it in salads and bowls!
Chicken Vaca Frita (Crispy Shredded Cuban Chicken)
Vaca frita is a traditional Cuban dish which consists of crispy fried shredded beef served with rice, beans and fried plantains. This version uses chicken and is not deep fried to make it completely healthy!
Ingredients
- 2 lb chicken breast, shredded
- Adobo Seasoning
- 1 Cup Mojo Sauce
- 1 Lime
Instructions
- If using a slow cooker for your chicken: Season your chicken generously with Adobo powder on both sides. Add chicken breast to slow cooker and Set on low for 4 hours or high for 3 hours.Otherwise, feel free to steam your chicken your way
- Once chicken is done cooking, remove and place into bowl to begin shredding process. Using two forks, start shredding the chicken by pulling the forks in different directions.
- Once you have shredded all the chicken, add the mojo sauce and mix well.
- (I highly recommend using a cast iron for this but if you don't have one a skillet works) Place your skillet on the stove on high. Spray generously with olive oil cooking spray. Once its hot enough, add a portion of the chicken. Be sure not to crowd the pan and use 1/3 of the chicken at a time. The chicken should automatically sizzle once it touches the pan. Otherwise the pan is not hot enough.
- Let the chicken get crispy on the skillet while giving it a stir every so often. The desired color should be dark brown with some darker tips. Make sure to scrape the brown bits off the pan. Once the first batch is done, be sure to generously spray more olive oil cooking spray in between batches.
- Once you have cooked all your chicken, squeeze some fresh lime and its ready to serve.
Notes
Some of you may be wondering what in the world is "vaca frita"? Vaca frita is a traditional Cuban dish which consists of crispy fried shredded beef served with rice, beans and fried plantains. It's really delicious and for those of us from South Florida is one of the many dishes that reminds us of home.
This is healthy take on vaca frita and is one of my healthy lunch staples. I make a big batch and use it throughout the week in different ways. I'll add it to my salads, make a rice bowl, use in taco shells or I'll serve it with roasted veggies for dinner. Not to mention this is only FOUR INGREDIENTS PEOPLE! I use a slow cooker to steam my chicken because I can walk away and go run my errands but feel free to steam your chicken however you want! The addition of the mojo sauce makes this a flavor BOMB. Trust me.. if you are looking to spice up your lunch then you need to make this now!
*Warning: Hot oil can jump off the pan a little bit so be careful. This recipe does create a bit of smoke so turn on those fans!*