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Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 55 reviews
  • Author: Hannah
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 3 hours 40 minutes
  • Yield: 6 to 8 sandwiches 1x
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Slow Cooking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This Crockpot BBQ Chicken recipe delivers tender, flavorful shredded chicken slow-cooked in a tangy BBQ sauce perfect for sandwiches, serving as a satisfying and easy meal option. Utilizing a slow cooker ensures the chicken becomes melt-in-your-mouth soft, infused with smoky, sweet, and spicy notes from the sauce blend.


Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 4 medium breasts)

BBQ Sauce Mix

  • 1.5 cups BBQ sauce (use your favorite brand)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

For Serving

  • Buns
  • Coleslaw

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: Place the boneless skinless chicken breasts at the bottom of your slow cooker, ensuring they are laid out evenly for uniform cooking.
  2. Make the BBQ sauce: In a medium bowl, combine the BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder. Stir thoroughly until the sauce is smooth and all spices are evenly incorporated.
  3. Coat the chicken: Pour the prepared BBQ sauce mixture over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Toss gently to ensure each piece is well coated with the sauce.
  4. Cook the chicken: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours (3.5 hours recommended) or on low for 6 to 7 hours. The chicken should become tender and easy to shred when done.
  5. Shred the chicken: Using two forks, shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker to your preferred texture, whether fine or chunky. Stir the shredded chicken in the sauce to coat evenly.
  6. Final seasoning and serve: Taste the shredded chicken and adjust with salt and pepper if needed. Serve the BBQ chicken on buns topped with coleslaw or your favorite sandwich toppings for a delicious meal.

Notes

  • This recipe makes enough BBQ chicken for approximately 6 to 8 sandwiches unless you stuff them generously.
  • You can shred the chicken to your desired texture, either finely shredded or coarser chunks.
  • Substitute chicken breasts with chicken thighs for a slightly juicier outcome if preferred.
  • The recipe is designed for a Crockpot-style slow cooker, but instructions for Instant Pot adaptation are available separately.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 sandwich (about 1/6th of recipe)
  • Calories: 320
  • Sugar: 10g
  • Sodium: 600mg
  • Fat: 6g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.5g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3.5g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 30g
  • Fiber: 1.5g
  • Protein: 35g
  • Cholesterol: 85mg