Description
This Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe features tender, juicy chicken breasts or thighs simmered in a flavorful homemade barbecue sauce with pineapple juice, brown sugar, and a hint of spice. Perfect for a hands-off meal, it’s easy to prepare, making it ideal for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2-3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (about 4-5 breasts or 8-10 thighs)
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
BBQ Sauce Mixture
- ¾ cup barbecue sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar (lightly packed)
- ½ cup unsweetened pineapple juice
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon red chili flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Place the chicken breasts or thighs into a 3- to 4-quart slow cooker. Season both sides evenly with salt and pepper to enhance the flavor of the meat.
- Make the BBQ Sauce: In a medium bowl, combine barbecue sauce, brown sugar, unsweetened pineapple juice, Worcestershire sauce, cornstarch, minced garlic, onion powder, and red chili flakes. Stir thoroughly to create a smooth sauce mixture.
- Coat the Chicken: Pour the prepared BBQ sauce mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker, ensuring the meat is well-coated with the sauce for maximum flavor infusion.
- Cook the Chicken: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on low heat for 3 to 4 hours or on high heat for 2 hours. The chicken is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken reads 165°F (74°C).
- Shred the Chicken: Remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker and place on a cutting board or plate. Use two forks to shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Mix Shredded Chicken with Sauce: Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker, stirring it into the remaining sauce to coat the meat evenly with the flavorful BBQ sauce.
- Adjust Seasonings and Serve: Taste the chicken and sauce, adjusting salt, pepper, or chili flakes as desired. Serve the BBQ chicken hot as a main dish, perfect for sandwiches, salads, or enjoying on its own.
Notes
- This recipe works well with either chicken breasts or thighs, so choose your preference or what you have on hand.
- Use your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce or experiment with homemade varieties for different flavor profiles.
- If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the brown sugar slightly or adjust according to taste.
- Make sure the chicken is cooked through to 165°F for safety and optimal tenderness.
- Leftover BBQ chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 186 grams
- Calories: 374 kcal
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 649 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 41 g
- Cholesterol: 121 mg
