Description
Whip up a Simple Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken Dinner with tender chicken and tangy sauce. Perfect for weeknights or gatherings, minimal fuss, maximum flavor!
Ingredients
- Chicken & Sauce Base:
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts or Thighs (2-3 lbs)
- BBQ Sauce (18-24 oz bottle)
- Chicken Broth (1/2 cup)
- Flavor Boosters:
- Onion (1 medium, chopped)
- Garlic (2-3 cloves, minced)
- Apple Cider Vinegar (1-2 tablespoons)
- Smoked Paprika (1 teaspoon)
- Pantry Staples:
- Brown Sugar (1-2 tablespoons, optional)
- Salt and Black Pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken and Aromatics:: First things first, pat your chicken dry with some paper towels. This really helps it brown a tiny bit, even in the slow cooker, and just makes for a better texture. Then, give it a quick sprinkle of salt and pepper. Next, chop up that onion and mince the garlic. I usually get a little teary-eyed with the onion, but it’s worth it! Pop the chicken, chopped onion, and minced garlic right into your slow cooker. It’s the easiest start to this amazing Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken Dinner.
- Whip Up the Sauce Mixture:: In a separate bowl, because we’re fancy like that (or just to make sure it’s all mixed evenly!), combine your favorite BBQ sauce, chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar (if you’re using it), and smoked paprika. Give it a good whisk until everything is happy and blended. This is where the magic really starts to happen, and the aroma begins to build. I once forgot the apple cider vinegar, and the sauce was just… flat. Don’t make that oopsie!
- Pour and Set It and Forget It:: Now, pour that glorious sauce mixture all over the chicken and onions in the slow cooker. Make sure the chicken is mostly submerged and coated. Give it a gentle stir just to mingle everything. Pop the lid on, set your slow cooker to LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours. Honestly, I usually go for the longer, slower cook because it makes the chicken ridiculously tender. The smells that start wafting through your kitchen are just incredible!
- Shred That Tender Chicken:: Once the cooking time is up, the chicken should be fall-apart tender. Seriously, it’ll practically shred itself! Carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place it on a cutting board or a shallow dish. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. This is the fun part, and it happens so easily. I’ve tried shredding it in the pot before, but taking it out makes it less messy and easier to get those perfect strands.
- Return Chicken to the Sauce:: Transfer the shredded chicken back into the slow cooker with all that delicious, simmering BBQ sauce. Give it a good stir to ensure every single piece of chicken is coated in that tangy, smoky goodness. Let it cook on LOW for another 15-30 minutes. This extra simmering time allows the chicken to really soak up all the flavors, making your Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken Dinner truly shine. It’s a small step that makes a big difference.
- Serve It Up:: And there you have it! Your Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken Dinner is ready to be devoured. The chicken should be incredibly moist, flavorful, and dripping with sauce. It’s perfect piled high on toasted buns, alongside some creamy coleslaw, or even over a baked potato. It looks so inviting, smells absolutely divine, and tastes like pure comfort. This is where all your patience pays off, trust me!