Shredded BBQ Chicken

One of my favorite kitchen tools is my old Crock Pot Slow Cooker. I’ve had mine for over twenty years, but it’s still a great item to have around when I’m meal planning. I love to use it for making Shredded Chicken and this Shredded BBQ Chicken.

I normally use fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts, but this recipe also works well with frozen chicken and bone in chicken pieces. I cook the boneless chicken breasts until they shred easily so if using a different type of chicken then adjust your cooking time according to the cut of meat.

I don’t measure out the seasonings that I use, I sprinkle them across the top of the chicken pieces after I place them in my slow cooker. My BBQ sauce isn’t measured out either but I use between 1/3 – 1/2 cup of BBQ sauce. I add a little water around the empty spaces of the slow cooker to help it stay juicy. The chicken will release its own juices as it cooks so don’t add too much water.

Use your favorite thick BBQ sauce. I generally buy Kraft BBQ sauce because it’s delicious and doesn’t break the bank. My favorite flavor is Honey BBQ but any flavor is delicious on this shredded BBQ Chicken.

This recipe takes minimal prep time once you spray the slow cooker and add the chicken and toppings you may have spent 10 minutes in the kitchen altogether, and that’s including taking the slow cooker out of a cabinet and dusting it off.

Once the chicken is fully cooked and ready to shred, I shred it using two forks and mix it up with the sauce and broth in the bottom of the slow cooker. Any type of bun will work well with this Shredded BBQ Chicken, Brioche, Sesame Seed, or even homemade dinner rolls or store bought rolls are all perfect vessels for this delicious BBQ Shredded Chicken.

I like to top my sandwich with my KFC Coleslaw Copycat and pickles. You can add more BBQ Sauce if you like it extra saucy or serve it on top like we do so everyone can choose how saucy that they prefer the sandwiches.

I hope that you’ll try this recipe today and leave a comment below. Also, for daily updates, follow @lifeabovethecafe on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Ingredients:

• 3 – 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• garlic powder
• parsley flakes
• dried onion flakes
• Lawry’s Seasoning Salt
• 1/3 – 1/2 cup of BBQ Sauce (I use Kraft honey flavored)
• 1/4 cup of water
• cooking spray

Directions:

Note – if you don’t have Lawry’s seasoning salt don’t worry, sprinkle a little salt, paprika, turmeric powder, and brown sugar or use your favorite seasoning salt.  I don’t add extra salt since the first ingredient in seasoning salt is salt.

Spray the slow cooker with a little cooking oil.  Place 3 – 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker.  Lightly sprinkle the seasonings listed in the ingredients list over the top of the chicken breasts.

Pour about 1/4 cup of water in the empty spaces around the chicken breasts, and then pour a thick layer of BBQ sauce over the top of each chicken breast and place the lid on the slow cooker.  I like Kraft Honey BBQ Sauce, but any thick sauce will work.  Cook the chicken on low for 3 to 4 hours or on high for 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours.  The meat is finished cooking when it falls apart easily when you take two forks and try to pull it apart.

Mix the chicken up with all of the juices and add more BBQ Sauce if desired or serve it on top of the shredded meat once you build the sandwich.  I prefer to allow each person to add the extra BBQ Sauce on their own since some people prefer less sauce than others.