Description
This Slow Cooker Zesty BBQ Chicken recipe is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish featuring tender shredded chicken simmered in a tangy and sweet BBQ sauce mixture. Perfect for sandwiches, it’s a great meal for busy days where you can set it and forget it in your slow cooker, then enjoy juicy, zesty chicken topped with coleslaw and jalapeños.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (3 large or 4 small)
Sauce
- 1 bottle (18 oz) BBQ sauce (recommend: Sweet Baby Ray’s)
- 1 cup Italian salad dressing (recommend: Olive Garden Italian dressing)
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Optional Toppings and Serving
- Hamburger buns
- Coleslaw (optional)
- Zesty Italian dressing (to replace standard Italian dressing, optional)
- Chili powder, to taste (optional)
- Cayenne red pepper, to taste (optional)
- Sliced jalapeños (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Lightly coat the insert of your slow cooker with cooking spray to prevent the chicken from sticking during cooking.
- Arrange the Chicken: Place the chicken breasts evenly on the bottom of the slow cooker insert, ensuring they lie flat and are spaced evenly.
- Mix the Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the BBQ sauce, Italian salad dressing, light brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well until all ingredients are fully blended into a smooth sauce.
- Add Sauce to Chicken: Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker, making sure each piece is well-coated with the sauce.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on LOW heat for 6 to 7 hours, until the chicken is very tender and shreds easily with a fork.
- Shred the Chicken: Carefully remove the cooked chicken breasts from the slow cooker and use two forks to shred the meat thoroughly into bite-sized pieces.
- Return and Marinate: Place the shredded chicken back into the slow cooker with the sauce. Stir well to combine and coat the chicken evenly. For extra flavor, allow the shredded chicken to marinate in the warm sauce for about 30 minutes, or serve immediately if preferred.
- Serve: Using a slotted spoon to drain excess sauce, pile the shredded BBQ chicken onto hamburger buns. Top with optional coleslaw and sliced jalapeños for added texture and heat. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Using cooking spray on the slow cooker insert prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier.
- Adjust chili powder and cayenne red pepper to customize the heat level to your preference.
- Allowing the chicken to marinate in the sauce after shredding enhances flavor and moisture.
- Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce and Olive Garden Italian dressing are recommended for optimal flavor but can be substituted with similar brands.
- Serve with coleslaw for a refreshing contrast and added crunch in the sandwich.
