Boneless chicken breasts are cooked in a rich BBQ sauce and then shredded. Serve this saucy meal over dinner rolls, hamburger buns, or even over mac and cheese for the perfect meal!
Here’s Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
It takes just 5 minutes to prepare. Chop an onion, toss all ingredients in the slow cooker and set it and forget it! It needs just 5 ingredients plus buns/slaw for serving! The chicken comes out so tender and flavorful, you can practically shred it with a spoon. BBQ chicken sandwiches make a great weeknight meal or can be served at a party to feed a crowd. If you’re having a get-together, prep as directed and leave it on warm in the slow cooker so your guests can serve themselves.
Ingredients
This recipe is made with a handful of staple ingredients!
CHICKEN – Boneless skinless chicken breasts are a favorite in this recipe but chicken thighs work too. If you only have split chicken breasts, be sure to remove the skin before adding to the slow cooker and remove the bones once cooked. LIQUID We add a bit of broth or beer to cook the chicken. We love the flavor beer adds, a lighter beer works best in this recipe. No beer? No Problem! Skip the beer and use chicken broth. BARBECUE SAUCE – Use your favorite brand of barbecue sauce or homemade bbq sauce for this recipe. It is a primary flavor in this recipe, so pick the one you love! (My favorite bottled sauce is Sweet Baby Ray’s).
Optional Additions
Try any of the following variations:
Like it sweeter? Add a bit of brown sugar or some molasses. Feeling spicy? Add a diced jalapeno for a kick. No onions? Use 1 teaspoon of onion powder. Want it zesty? Stir in a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar.
How to Make Shredded Chicken in Crockpot
This recipe is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
How Long to Cook BBQ Chicken in a Slow Cooker
When it comes to making crock pot chicken right, we’ve got you covered!
Some chicken (especially if it says “seasoned”) can produce a lot of juice or liquid. Once your chicken is cooked, you may have a lot or a little bit of juice. Remove the chicken and shred it separately. Add in as much of the juices and sauce as needed to make the pulled chicken moist. Keep in mind that as it sits, the chicken will soak up the juices so don’t throw away any extras in case you want to add more!
Cook on high about 4-5 hours. Cook low and slow is my preference and tends to keeps the chicken more tender. Cook on low for 7-8 hours. Keep on warm once cooked and shredded to serve at gatherings.
When a meat thermometer reaches 165°F in the thickest part, dinner is served!
What to Serve with Crockpot BBQ Chicken
This chicken has endless possibilities but our favorite is to make it into a chicken sandwich! Pile the barbecue chicken on hamburger buns with a big scoop of coleslaw. Add some grilled corn and one of the salads below! Rolls and Wraps: Hamburger buns, ciabatta rolls, wraps, tortillas, dinner rolls (for sliders) Or Serve Over: Mac and Cheese, Baked Sweet Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes, Oven Baked Rice
Leftovers
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken can last a few days in the fridge. It’s great as sandwiches, spooned over mac and cheese, make bbq chicken nachos or pizza, or spoon it over rice or baked sweet potatoes. Keep in mind the shredded chicken will soak up the sauce as it sits so add some extra barbecue sauce if needed. Pulled chicken freezes perfectly, just put it in a freezer bag with the date on it – it should keep for a couple of months in the freezer!
More Chicken Sandwich Recipes
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