Slow Cooker Shredded BBQ Chicken

This mouthwatering slow cooker recipe overflows with rich flavors and requires minimal effort to prepare. Tender and succulent chicken yields a mouthwatering outcome, ideal for constructing scrumptious sandwiches, wraps, tacos, and salads that will surely delight.
Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe Ingredients Needed To make deliciously tender shredded BBQ chicken, start by preheating your slow cooker to low. In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup of ketchup, 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.Brittany’s Tip! Savor the flavors of slow-cooked BBQ chicken with these easy serving suggestions. How to Store Leftovers Frequently Asked Questions More Slow Cooker Recipes

As the seasons change, my culinary cravings shift as well; now is the perfect moment to indulge in slow-cooked delights. I delight in crafting hearty soups, such as my signature chicken wild rice soup and vibrant chicken fajita soup, alongside effortlessly prepared shredded chicken for convenient meal prep. Here’s a revised version of your text: I’ve always relied on classic shredded chicken as the foundation for protein-packed salads like my beloved Sonoma chicken salad. Lately, however, my entire household has become enamored with the sweet and tangy allure of this addictive shredded BBQ chicken.

With minimal effort, simply combine chicken breasts and homemade BBQ sauce ingredients in your slow cooker at dawn, and by evening, you’ll be rewarded with a mouthwatering, deeply flavored meal. When serving this dish, we typically pair it with coleslaw, creating a truly exceptional combination that never fails to impress.

While I’ve been perfecting a Greek yogurt-based coleslaw recipe, which will be shared shortly, I must admit that it’s equally delightful when paired with my classic vinegar-coleslaw variation.

I’d like to receive more tips & recipes from Eating Bird Food. The site is safeguarded by Google’s recaptcha technology to prevent automated programs from accessing its resources.
and our comprehensive Google Privacy Policy
Terms of Service apply.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This speedy recipe is ideal for hectic days when you crave a hearty meal yet lack the time to spend hours in the kitchen, allowing you to indulge in a satisfying and comforting culinary experience without sacrificing precious moments. Simply combine all ingredients in your crock pot, then let the magic happen.
This mouthwatering BBQ chicken dish makes for an excellent choice when it comes to preparing meals in advance. Produce an abundant quantity of roasted vegetables for effortless incorporation into sandwiches, salads, or as a topping for baked potatoes and sweet potatoes throughout the week.
With its rich, velvety texture and an intoxicating blend of sweet and smoky notes, this shredded BBQ chicken is a true masterpiece, elevated by the depth and complexity of the homemade BBQ sauce. It’s SO good!

Ingredients Needed

With its low fat content and tender texture, boneless, skinless chicken breasts make an excellent choice for a lean protein source.
as it simmers, infusing the BBQ sauce with a rich, velvety texture and a deep, tangy flavour that enhances its overall character.
This mixture serves as the foundation for the BBQ sauce. To achieve optimal outcomes, utilize plain tomato sauce exclusively and forgo other varieties like marinara.
adds depth and velvety texture to the sauce, effectively thickening its consistency.
While many commercial BBQ sauces rely on corn syrup or white sugar to sweeten their blends, we opted for the richer, more complex flavors of coconut sugar or brown sugar in this recipe – a choice that yields a tantalizingly caramelized taste.
This subtle addition infuses the sauce with a rich, velvety quality, its smoky undertones mingling harmoniously to evoke the quintessential essence of classic barbecue.
Adds a tangy contrast to harmoniously balance out the sweetness in the sauce.
Or, by incorporating soy sauce and miso paste, you can introduce a rich umami flavor and subtle saltiness to your homemade sauce.
Regular yellow mustard adds a welcome burst of tanginess to the sauce, effectively enhancing its overall flavor profile.
You’ll require sea salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and chili powder to craft this homemade condiment.

To make deliciously tender shredded BBQ chicken, start by preheating your slow cooker to low. In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup of ketchup, 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.

Combine all the sauce ingredients in your slow cooker.

With a gentle stir of the pot, place the tender chicken breasts into the slow cooker, allowing them to absorb the rich flavors and aromas that await. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours?

Utilize a pair of tines from each fork to deftly shred the succulent chicken after it’s thoroughly cooked.

Return the chicken to the slow cooker, ensuring a thorough recombination with the remaining sauce, then serve the dish at your leisure or refrigerate for future consumption.

Brittany’s Tip!

Shredding chicken is a task that requires finesse, and I strongly advise tackling this process when the poultry is still warm from cooking, as attempting to shred cold meat can be a frustrating experience. You can shred your chicken using two forks, a handheld or stand mixer, or my top pick: this versatile meat chopper, perfect for quick and effortless results. It’s a game changer!

Savor the flavors of slow-cooked BBQ chicken with these easy serving suggestions.

Here’s how we savor the rich flavor of BBQ chicken – on a soft bun, paired with refreshing coleslaw, crunchy pickles, and tangy pickled onions. Accompanying each delightful bite are warm beans or creamy mac and cheese, with our personal favorite being a velvety baked mac and cheese. And yet, this scrumptious dish offers even more ways to shine:

Serve this grilled chicken over a fresh bed of mixed greens, accompanied by your preferred vegetables and a drizzle of creamy dressing or an additional tangy BBQ sauce for added flavor. This salad would be elevated to new heights with a drizzle of its crisp, autumnal flavors: the apple cider vinaigrette.
Elevate your snack experience by combining tender shredded chicken with crunchy tortilla chips, crisp lettuce, and refreshing cabbage for a flavorful fiesta in every bite. Consider serving this finger-licking good chicken alongside your sweet potato or cauliflower nachos for a touchdown-worthy game-day spread.
Why not shake things up with a delicious twist on taco night – serve mouthwatering BBQ chicken tacos instead! Consider pairing this flavorful chicken dish with crispy hard-shell tacos, then elevating the experience with a generous sprinkling of melted shredded cheese. So good!
Wrap a tortilla around tender chicken and melted shredded cheese, then sear it to perfection in a hot skillet, allowing the cheese to melt into a golden, gooey delight.
Create a mouthwatering BBQ chicken stuffed sweet potato dish.
Transform your meal with a mouthwatering BBQ chicken grain bowl – simply place the succulent chicken on top of your preferred grain and surround it with a medley of roasted, flavorful vegetables.

How to Store Leftovers

Shredded chicken is a staple for any meal prep enthusiast. Store cooked and shredded chicken in an airtight container within four to five days of preparation, refrigerating it at all times. This meal prep is ideal for convenient lunches and dinners all week long.

This versatile shredded chicken is perfect for meal prep – just freeze and reheat whenever you need it! Once the mixture has reached room temperature, transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag, ensuring a tight seal, and store for a maximum of three months.

This cooked chicken can be effortlessly reheated either on the stovetop in a skillet or in the microwave for convenience. To achieve optimal results when cooking on the stovetop, consider adding a small amount of water to enhance moisture levels as the dish heats up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! While chicken thighs are a popular choice for slow cooker recipes, they’re not the only option that works well – chicken breasts can also yield tender and flavorful results with proper cooking time. As a result, they prove to be sweeter and more tolerant of extended cooking times. Just swap the items at the same rate and adhere to the identical guidelines.

Definitely! With this convenient plan, you can prep all the ingredients the evening prior, storing them in the refrigerator for a stress-free start to your day, simply combining everything in the slow cooker come morning. This recipe is ideal for meal prep, as the cooked chicken remains fresh for several days when refrigerated and can even be frozen for future use.

I’ve never attempted this recipe in my Instant Pot, but it seems reasonable to assume it would work just fine. You would adhere to the specified cooking time in your Instant Pot shredded chicken recipe guide.