As kiddos start heading back to school, it’s time to start planning for all those packed school lunches! Eating a grain free diet means that cold lunch options can be limited, so I’ve had to get creative using the same old recipes week after week.
One of my favorite cold lunch staples is pulled chicken because it can be just as delicious eaten cold and you can easily make A TON of it at the beginning of the week for 7 days worth of delicious lunches. It’s also easily adaptable, so you can flavor it many different ways to ensure variety, stave off boredom, and keep the anticipation and excitement for the long awaited lunch break!
Below you’ll find 3 different ways to adapt slow cooker pulled chicken for those brown bag lunches. While these are great options for a school lunch, my hubby and I will bring these with us to work, since neither one of us has access to a microwave. They stay nice and cold in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack.
Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken
Ingredients
3 – 4 Chicken Breasts
2 TBS Olive Oil
1 tsp Salt
2 – 3 TBS Water
Directions
Start by placing your chicken breasts on the bottom of the slow cooker. Add salt and other seasoning options (see below), drizzle with olive oil, and pour water into the slow cooker on the side, so as not to wash off the seasoning. Place the lid and and cook on low for 5 hours. After 5 hours, remove the lid and shred chicken using two forks.
Option 1: Chicken Taco Bowl
Ingredients
1 tsp Turmeric
¾ tsp Oregano
½ tsp Garlic Powder
¼ tsp Onion Powder
¼ tsp Ginger
Dash of Pepper (Optional – AIP Reintro)
Zest from 1 Lime
Juice from 2 Limes
Directions
Follow the instructions for basic Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken. Before cooking add the turmeric, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, ginger, pepper, lime zest, and lime juice. Cook on low for 5 hours. Once done, remove the lid and shred chicken using two forks. Serve with cauliflower rice, shredded lettuce, and avocado OR serve over lettuce, with avocado, and fried plantains or plantain chips.
Option 2: Pulled Chicken Bento Box
Ingredients
1 tsp AIP Paleo Powder
½ tsp Garlic Powder
Dash of Pepper (optional – AIP Reintro)
Directions
Follow the instructions for Basic Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken. Before cooking add AIP Paleo Powder, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook on low for 5 hours. After cooking, remove lid and shred chicken using two forks. I like to eat the chicken mixed with avocado for some healthy fats, a small salad of mixed greens, strawberries, and an apple cider vinaigrette, and some fried or roasted sweet potatoes OR plantain chips.
Option 3: Chicken Salad
Ingredients
½ tsp Dill
½ tsp Garlic Powder
Directions
Follow the instructions for Basic Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken. Before cooking add the dill and garlic powder. Cook on low for 5 hours. After cooking, remove lid and shred chicken using two forks. I like to use the dressings from this Turmeric Chicken Salad recipe. After dressing the chicken, I like to eat it with coleslaw and plantain chips.
