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Make this easy Slow Cooker Shredded BBQ Chicken for dinner tonight! Tender, fall-apart shredded chicken cooks in your favorite bbq sauce with fresh onions and dried seasonings in the slow cooker. Serve on toasted buns for the best bbq chicken sandwiches.
For another family favorite slow cooker dinner recipe that uses chicken, be sure and try this Crockpot Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti.
Shredded BBQ Chicken In The Slow Cooker (With BBQ Sauce)
Are you looking for a go-to dinner option that is also a family friendly meal? This easy bbq chicken is a dinnertime classic with simple ingredients and perfect for busy weeknights. Sweet enough for the kids to love but still savory and delicious. Our favorite way to serve shredded bbq chicken is inside some buttery toasted buns, sometimes with a slice of cheese added, and then with extra BBQ sauce.
Sweet, tender, juicy, and moist bbq chicken is so simple to make and then the slow cooker does all the heavy lifting!
Ingredients Needed
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts : You will need four boneless chicken breasts for this recipe, which is equal to about 2 pounds to 2 1/2 pounds of chicken.
- Yellow Onion : Leave the onion in large slices/pieces if you want to take it out before serving. If you want to mix it in with the shredded bbq chicken, then cut it into smaller and thinner pieces.
- Water
- Smoked Paprika : The smoked paprika brings an extra bit of smokey flavor (reminiscent of bbq food) so I highly recommend using it over regular paprika.
- Garlic Powder
- Kosher Salt
- Light Brown Sugar
- Italian Seasoning
- BBQ Sauce : Use your favorite barbecue sauce! Sugar-free, honey bbq sauce, brown sugar, hickory smoked bbq sauce, classic, spicy bbq sauce, etc.
How To Make The Easiest BBQ Chicken In The Slow Cooker (Recipe Card + Full Printable Recipe Below)
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, and garlic salt. Set aside.
- Spray the insert of the slow cooker with cooking spray. Add the water into the slow cooker and then lay the onions on top of the water.
- Lay the chicken on top of the onions. Sprinkle the seasoning mix (set aside from earlier) over the chicken breast pieces.
- Evenly pour the barbecue sauce over top the chicken breasts.
- Cover with the lid and cook on LOW heat for 6-7 hours. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked thoroughly before removing it from the crock pot.
- Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and use two forks to shred the chicken on a cutting board or plate. You can also use a mixing bowl + a hand mixer to shred the chicken super easy as well. Optional Step : Use a slotted spoon to remove the onions from the slow cooker.
- Return the chicken back to the slow cooker and stir everything together to remoisten and soak the chicken in the bbq sauce.
- Serve on toasted buns with additional bbq sauce if wanted.
How To Store Leftover Shredded BBQ Chicken
Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, warm the chicken in the microwave or on the stove top until heated through.
Use up leftover shredded bbq chicken in a salad, as a sandwich, or try making this BBQ Chicken French Bread Pizzawith leftover shredded bbq chicken.
To freeze leftovers, allow the barbecue chicken to cool to room temperature and then place it inside a freeze safe Ziploc bag and store in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Let the chicken thaw in the fridge overnight and then reheat it on the stove top. You can also place the frozen bbq chicken inside a slow cooker and cook on LOW heat until it’s heated through (about 4-5 hours). You may have to add some additional water or broth if putting the frozen chicken in the slow cooker.
Why Should I Cook The BBQ Chicken On Top Of Onions?
There are 2 reasons why it’s best to cook the chicken on top of sliced onions. However, if you prefer to not cook with or use onions, then simply omit them entirely from the recipe and proceeded with the recipe as directed. Or you can use onion powder for that onion flavor without the chunks of onion.
- Moisture Retention : Onions release moisture as they cook, and this moisture helps prevent the chicken from drying out while coking and helps the chicken stay moist and tender during the slow cooking process.
- Elevating The Chicken : Placing the chicken breasts on a bed of onion helps elevate it slightly from the bottom of the slow cooker which helps facilitate even cooking and prevents the chicken from sticking to the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
Can I Use Chicken Thighs Instead of Chicken Breasts?
Yes, you can use chicken thighs in this recipe. Keep in mind that chicken thighs do need more time to cook, so cook them properly, especially if they are bone-in chicken thighs.
I prefer using chicken breasts when cooking for my family because it’s a leaner protein and not as messy for the kids to eat. Chicken thighs have more fatty pieces to pick around and more dark meat than white meat (which some kids and adults don’t like).
What To Serve With Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
These shredded bbq chicken sandwiches go great with so many things! If you want to beef up the bbq chicken sandwiches then try serving them with a slice of cheddar cheese or shredded cheddar cheese. Other great cheese options are Colby Jack cheese, Pepper Jack cheese, or provolone cheese.
I also love serving it with anything from a healthy vegetable loaded side dish to a sweeter and fruiter side dish. Here are some ideas!
- Coleslaw : I think this is a must-make when having bbq chicken sandwiches. Lots of people like to load their sandwich up with some of this creamy and cool coleslaw. It’s a great topping to a shredded bbq chicken sandwich or as a side dish.
- Baked Beans : Hearty and flavorful baked beans add a satisfying sweetness to balance the savory bbq chicken.
- Dill Pickle Pasta Salad : This is family favorite and is always requested at bbq’s and gatherings.
- Black Bean Corn Salad : Loaded with beans, corn, in a fresh and simple vinaigrette dressing. It’s light and healthy!
- Potato Salad or Macaroni Salad : Two of the most classic side dishes!
- Simple Green Salad
- Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad : I love serving savory bbq dishes with a sweeter and fruitier side like this one. Salty pretzel crust, creamy cheesecake-like filling, and topped with mandarin oranges and jello. It’s like a side dish + dessert in one.
- Macaroni and Cheese – Try this Copycat Chick-Fil-A Mac and Cheese. It’s a family favorite!
Recipe Tips For BBQ Chicken Recipe
- Pick Your Favorite BBQ Sauce : I love the Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce. My family prefers a sweeter bbq sauce like honey or brown sugar. Make sure that you love the flavor of whatever bbq sauce you choose.
- Make It Spicy! : Add some chili powder, cayenne red pepper or chipotle chili powder in with the other dried seasonings.
- Onion Pieces : If you want to hide the onion better then be sure and cut it or dice it really finely. Alternatively, you can leave the onion slices pretty large if you prefer that or if you are planning on removing them after the cook time. The larger pieces will be much easier to move and find in the barbecue sauce.
More Dinner Recipes with Chicken
More Family Dinners
- Oven Baked Hamburgers
- Crockpot Pork Chops and Gravy
- Hamburger Mac and Cheese
- Copycat Manwich Sloppy Joes
- Bubble Up Pizza Casserole
Slow Cooker Shredded BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
Seasoning Mix
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
- 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
BBQ Chicken
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 large yellow onion (sliced thin)
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2-2½ pounds)
- 1 bottle (18 oz) BBQ sauce (or about 1½ cups)
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk together the brown sugar, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and kosher salt. Set aside.1 tablespoon light brown sugar, 1½ teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Add the water into the slow cooker. Lay the sliced onion on top of the water. Lay the chicken breast pieces on top of the sliced onions.1/2 cup water, 1 large yellow onion, 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Evenly sprinkle the seasoning mix (set aside from earlier) over top the chicken breast pieces.
- Pour the BBQ sauce over top the chicken.1 bottle (18 oz) BBQ sauce
- Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW heat for 6-7 hours.
- Remove the chicken from the slow cooker onto a plate or cutting board. Use two forks to shred the chicken. Return the chicken back to the crockpot and stir everything together. * Optional Step : If you prefer to not have the onion slices in the shredded bbq chicken, simply use a slotted spoon to remove the onion before adding the shredded chicken back in.
- Use a slotted spoon to serve the bbq chicken on toasted buns and add some extra BBQ sauce if wanted over top. Enjoy!
Notes
- Pick Your Favorite BBQ Sauce : I love the Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce. My family prefers a sweeter bbq sauce like honey or brown sugar. Make sure that you love the flavor of whatever bbq sauce you choose.
- Make It Spicy! : Add some chili powder, cayenne red pepper or chipotle chili powder in with the other dried seasonings.
- Onion Pieces : If you want to hide the onion better then be sure and cut it or dice it really finely. Alternatively, you can leave the onion slices pretty large if you prefer that or if you are planning on removing them after the cook time. The larger pieces will be much easier to move and find in the barbecue sauce.
Nutrition
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