Slow Cooker Low-Sugar Barbecued Chicken Lettuce Cups

Ingredients

• 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup reduced-sugar ketchup
• 2 T tomato paste
• 1/4 cup sweetener of your choice
• 2 T brown sugar
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup mustard
• 2 tsp. green Tabasco sauce
• 1 1/2 T Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp. Liquid Smoke
• 2 large heads Iceberg lettuce
• 2 avocados
• 1 T fresh-squeezed lime juice
• 1/2 tsp. chile powder
• 1/2 tsp. Vege-Sal
• 2-3 green onions, sliced

Directions

1. Cut away any visible fat and membranes from the chicken breasts, then slice each breast lengthwise into half. In a bowl, mix the reduced-sugar ketchup with the tomato paste, your chosen sweetener, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, mustard, Green Tabasco Sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, and Liquid Smoke until you have a smooth barbecue sauce.
2. Coat the inside of the slow cooker with olive oil spray or nonstick spray. Arrange the chicken inside, keeping it in a single layer as much as you can, then spoon the sauce over the top so every piece is covered.
3. Cook on high for 1 hour, then change the setting to low and continue cooking for 2-3 hours more. If you will not be around to adjust the slow cooker, leave it on low and cook it a little longer.
4. Once the chicken is cooked, transfer it to a cutting board and let it cool until you can handle it comfortably. Pour the sauce into a large frying pan and cook it over medium heat until it has reduced by half, about 6-8 minutes.
5. Pull the chicken into shreds with two forks. When the sauce has cooked down by half, add the shredded chicken to the frying pan and stir until it is well coated. Warm it in the pan for a few minutes if it needs it.
6. For the lettuce wraps, mash together the avocado, lime juice, chile powder, and Vege-Sal, or salt, to make the Easy Guacamole, and slice the green onions.
7. Use a sharp knife to remove the core from the lettuce. Carefully separate two leaves at a time so they form a sturdy cup for the chicken.
8. Spoon as much of the chicken mixture as you like into each lettuce cup, then add guacamole and sliced green onions on top.
9. If you have more than you plan to eat at one time, store the chicken separately from the lettuce cups, and save one avocado whole so it can be mashed just before you eat the leftovers.
10. The barbecued chicken is also good in sandwiches or quesadillas.
11. If you prefer, make the lettuce wraps with Slow Cooker Pulled Pork with Low-Sugar Barbecue Sauce.