Description
This Simple Slow Cooker Shredded BBQ Chicken is an effortless and flavorful meal perfect for busy days. Tender chicken breasts are slow-cooked with a blend of spices, diced vegetables, and a tangy BBQ sauce, then shredded and ready to serve on toasted buns or alongside your favorite sides.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Vegetables
- 1 ½-2 lb chicken breast (boneless skinless chicken thighs work too)
- 1 red pepper, small diced
- 1 small onion, small diced
Spices
- ¾ tsp garlic powder
- ¾ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp ground mustard
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp cracked pepper
Sauce and Additional Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups BBQ sauce (separated)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Prepare vegetables and chicken: Place the diced red pepper and onion at the bottom of the slow cooker. Lay the chicken breasts on top of the vegetables to start building the base of the dish.
- Season the chicken: In a small bowl, whisk together garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, onion powder, ground mustard, sea salt, and cracked pepper. Rub this spice mixture evenly on both sides of the chicken breasts for full flavor infusion.
- Combine and pour sauce: Whisk together 1 cup of BBQ sauce, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce until well mixed. Pour this sauce mixture over the seasoned chicken, ensuring it is completely covered to keep the meat moist and flavorful.
- Slow cook the chicken: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours. This slow cooking will tenderize the chicken and let all the flavors meld together beautifully.
- Shred and mix: Once the chicken is fully cooked through, shred it using two forks right in the slow cooker. Stir well to allow the shredded chicken to absorb the juices and sauce. Keep warm until ready to serve.
- Finish and serve: Just before serving, add the remaining BBQ sauce to the shredded chicken and stir gently to incorporate. Serve the shredded BBQ chicken on toasted buns alongside your favorite sides for a delicious meal.
Notes
- Chicken thighs can be used instead of breasts for extra juiciness.
- You can adjust the spice quantities to your taste, adding more chili powder for heat if desired.
- For a thicker sauce, remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking to allow some liquid to evaporate.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Serve with coleslaw or pickles for added crunch and balance.
