Description
This Slow Cooker Zesty BBQ Chicken recipe offers tender, flavorful shredded chicken perfectly cooked in a tangy BBQ sauce blend. Ideal for a hands-off meal, it features a mix of BBQ sauce, Italian dressing, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce slow-cooked to juicy perfection. Serve it on hamburger buns with optional coleslaw and jalapeños for a delicious, crowd-pleasing meal.
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
- Hamburger buns
- Coleslaw
- Zesty Italian dressing (to replace standard coleslaw dressing)
- Chili powder, to taste
- Cayenne red pepper, to taste
- Sliced jalapeños
Instructions
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Lightly coat the insert of your slow cooker with cooking spray to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Arrange the Chicken: Place the chicken breasts evenly on the bottom of the slow cooker insert for even cooking.
- Mix the Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the BBQ sauce, Italian salad dressing, light brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir thoroughly until well blended for a balanced tangy, sweet sauce.
- Add Sauce to Chicken: Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the chicken breasts, making sure all pieces are fully coated with the flavorful mixture.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours, allowing the chicken to become tender and easy to shred.
- Shred the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and use two forks to shred it into bite-sized pieces for serving.
- Return and Marinate: Place the shredded chicken back into the slow cooker with the sauce. Stir to combine well. For enhanced flavor, let the chicken marinate in the sauce for about 30 minutes on warm, or serve immediately.
- Serve: Using a slotted spoon to drain excess sauce, pile the shredded BBQ chicken onto hamburger buns. Top with coleslaw dressed with zesty Italian dressing and sliced jalapeños if desired for extra heat and crunch.
Notes
- For spicier chicken, add chili powder or cayenne red pepper to the sauce before cooking.
- Using a slow cooker ensures the chicken stays juicy and tender without needing constant attention.
- Brown sugar balances the acidity of the BBQ and Italian dressings for a well-rounded flavor.
- Coleslaw adds freshness and crunch, complementing the rich BBQ chicken.
- Leftover shredded chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
