Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Recipe (Dinner Solved!)

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Introduction

Remember those summer picnics, the smell of barbecue wafting through the air, and that perfectly tender, flavorful chicken that just melted in your mouth? Well, get ready to recreate that magic right in your own kitchen, without all the fuss! This Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe is an absolute lifesaver on busy weeknights. It’s so incredibly simple, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been making it all along. Think of it as your secret weapon for a delicious, no-stress meal that tastes like you spent hours slaving over a hot grill.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Lightning Fast Prep: Seriously, the prep time is just minutes!
  • Effortlessly Easy: Your slow cooker does all the heavy lifting.
  • Perfect for Gifting: Make a big batch and freeze portions for easy meals later.
  • Always a Crowd-Pleaser: From picky eaters to BBQ aficionados, everyone adores this chicken.

Ingredients

Gather ’round, because these are the simple ingredients that are going to make your taste buds sing:

  • 3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts: The star of our show! You can use thighs too if you prefer, they get extra tender.
  • 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce: Pick your favorite! A good quality sauce makes all the difference.
  • ½ medium onion, grated (with juice): Don’t skip the juice – it adds so much flavor and moisture! Grating it makes it disappear into the sauce.
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil: Just a touch to help all those delicious flavors meld together.
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce: This is where the magic umami comes from. It adds depth!
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar: A little sweetness to balance that tangy BBQ flavor.

How to Make It

Alright, let’s get this party started! It’s so easy, you can probably do it with your eyes closed (though I don’t recommend that!).

  1. Pop the Chicken In: First things first, place your chicken breasts right into the insert of your slow cooker. Easy peasy!
  2. Whip Up the Sauce: In a medium-sized bowl, grab a whisk! Combine your BBQ sauce, that grated onion (remember, with all its yummy juice!), olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Whisk it all together until it’s nice and smooth.
  3. Sauce It Up: Pour that glorious sauce mixture all over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Make sure every piece gets a good coating.
  4. Let the Magic Happen: Now, cover your slow cooker and let it work its magic. Cook on the LOW setting for 4-6 hours or on the HIGH setting for 2-3 hours. You’re looking for the chicken to be cooked through and super tender – you should be able to easily shred it with forks.
  5. Shred Away! Once the chicken is cooked, carefully remove it from the slow cooker and place it on a cutting board or in a large bowl. Grab two forks and get ready to shred it into bite-sized pieces. It should pull apart like a dream!
  6. Reunite and Stir: Bring that beautifully shredded chicken back into the slow cooker and stir it right into all that delicious sauce. Give it a good mix so every shred is coated in that tangy, smoky goodness. And there you have it – perfectly tender, flavor-packed BBQ chicken, ready to go!

Substitutions & Additions

This recipe is fantastic as-is, but it’s also a brilliant canvas for your culinary creativity! Here are a few ideas:

  • Spice it Up: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce to the sauce mixture for a little kick.
  • Smoky Flavor Boost: A teaspoon of smoked paprika or a splash of liquid smoke can take that barbecue flavor to the next level.
  • Onion Alternatives: If you don’t have fresh onion, you can use about 1-2 tablespoons of dried minced onion, but you’ll miss out on some of that lovely moisture.
  • Garlic Lovers Rejoice: Add a clove or two of minced fresh garlic to the sauce for an extra punch of flavor.
  • Sweetener Swaps: Maple syrup or honey can be used instead of brown sugar for a slightly different sweet note.

Tips for Success

A few little tricks can make this already easy recipe even more foolproof!

  • Don’t Overcook: Chicken breasts can dry out if cooked for too long. Keep an eye on it during the last hour of cooking, especially on the high setting.
  • Grate That Onion: I know, it might seem a little unusual, but grating the onion (with its juice!) is key to infusing the sauce with onion flavor without any noticeable chunks. A box grater works perfectly.
  • Prep Ahead: You can mix up the sauce ingredients in a baggie or container the night before and store it in the fridge. In the morning, just dump the sauce and chicken into the slow cooker. Easy peasy!
  • Thaw Completely: Make sure your chicken breasts are fully thawed before adding them to the slow cooker.

How to Store It

Got leftovers? Lucky you! This slow cooker BBQ chicken is even better the next day.

  • Refrigerator: Once cooled, store any leftover shredded BBQ chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
  • Freezer: For longer storage, portion the cooled chicken into freezer-safe bags or containers. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
  • Reheating: Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, in the microwave, or even pop it back into the slow cooker on the “warm” setting. You might want to add a splash of water or extra BBQ sauce if it seems a little dry.

FAQs

Q: Can I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts?

A: Absolutely! Chicken thighs are even more forgiving and tend to stay incredibly moist. They’ll cook up beautifully in this recipe.

Q: How do I serve this BBQ Chicken?

A: Oh, the possibilities are endless! Serve it on slider buns for amazing BBQ sandwiches, pile it on top of baked potatoes, mix it with coleslaw for a hearty salad, or serve it as is with your favorite sides like mac and cheese or corn on the cob.

Q: My sauce seems a bit thin. What can I do?

A: After shredding the chicken and stirring it back into the sauce, you can always turn the slow cooker to high heat (uncovered) for the last 15-30 minutes to let some of the liquid evaporate and thicken the sauce. Or, you can mix a tablespoon of cornstarch with a tablespoon of water and stir that into the sauce while it’s hot in the slow cooker to thicken it up.

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

An incredibly simple and delicious slow cooker recipe for tender, flavorful BBQ chicken that’s perfect for busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker
  • Medium-sized bowl
  • Whisk
  • Forks for shredding
  • Cutting board

Ingredients
  

Main ingredients

  • 3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts Can use thighs if preferred
  • 1.5 cups BBQ sauce Your favorite kind
  • 0.5 medium onion grated (with juice)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar

Instructions
 

  • Place chicken breasts into the slow cooker.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce, grated onion (with juice), olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar until smooth.
  • Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker, ensuring all pieces are coated.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, until chicken is cooked through and tender.
  • Carefully remove cooked chicken from the slow cooker and place on a cutting board or in a large bowl.
  • Shred the chicken using two forks.
  • Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir into the sauce to coat evenly.

Notes

To thicken a thin sauce, you can uncover the slow cooker and cook on high for the last 15-30 minutes, or mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and stir into the hot sauce.

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