Description
This Simple Slow Cooker Shredded BBQ Chicken recipe delivers tender, flavorful chicken effortlessly cooked to perfection. Combining a blend of spices, smoky paprika, and tangy BBQ sauce, it’s an ideal meal for busy days. Serve it on toasted buns for a classic BBQ experience everyone will love.
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 Oil
- 1 ¼ cups BBQ sauce (separated)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Prepare the Slow Cooker Base: Place the diced red pepper and onion at the bottom of the crock pot to create a flavorful base layer.
- Season the Chicken: Lay the chicken breasts on top of the vegetables. In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, onion powder, ground mustard, sea salt, and cracked pepper. Rub this spice mixture evenly over both sides of the chicken breasts to build a robust flavor.
- Mix the Sauce: In another bowl, whisk together 1 cup of BBQ sauce, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour this mixture over the seasoned chicken breasts, ensuring they are fully covered with sauce for maximum moisture and taste.
- Slow Cook the Chicken: Cover the crock pot with its lid and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-6 hours. The chicken should be cooked through, tender, and easy to shred.
- Shred and Mix: Once cooked, use two forks to shred the chicken in the crock pot. Stir well to allow the shredded chicken to absorb all the sauce and flavors. Keep the slow cooker on ‘warm’ to maintain temperature until ready to serve.
- Final Touch and Serving: Just before serving, stir in the remaining ¼ cup of BBQ sauce to add extra tanginess and moisture. Serve the shredded BBQ chicken on toasted buns accompanied by your favorite sides for a delicious meal.
Notes
- Chicken thighs can be used instead of breasts for juicier meat.
- Adjust BBQ sauce amount to your preferred level of tanginess and sweetness.
- Great served with coleslaw, corn on the cob, or baked beans.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- For added spice, include a pinch of cayenne pepper in the seasoning mix.
