Tender slow-cooked chicken (Printable version)

Slow-cooked, tender shredded chicken with tangy barbecue sauce, ideal for main dishes or piled in sandwiches.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 3.3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

→ Sauce & Seasoning

02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce (gluten-free if needed)
05 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
06 - 1 tablespoon brown sugar
07 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (optional)

# How To Make:

01 - Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker.
02 - Scatter chopped onion and minced garlic evenly over the chicken.
03 - In a bowl, combine barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt, and chili powder if using; mix thoroughly.
04 - Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and onions, ensuring even coverage.
05 - Cover and cook on low heat for 4 to 5 hours until chicken is tender and shreds easily.
06 - Remove chicken from slow cooker and shred with two forks.
07 - Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker, stir to combine with sauce, and warm for 10 to 15 minutes.
08 - Serve hot as a main dish or piled onto sandwich buns.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It actually tastes like you've been tending a smoker all day, but you've barely lifted a finger.
  • The meat gets so tender it falls apart with just a fork, no knife skills required.
  • It feeds a crowd and somehow tastes even better the next day, so meal prep becomes effortless.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting period after shredding—that extra 10 minutes lets the sauce cling to every strand instead of just sitting at the bottom.
  • If your sauce tastes too sweet, a splash more vinegar fixes it instantly, but you can't unsweeten it, so go slow.
03 -
  • Let the slow cooker do its job without lifting the lid constantly—every peek releases steam and adds 15 minutes to cooking time.
  • If your sauce breaks or separates, a quick blend with an immersion blender brings it back together beautifully.
Return