Happy Fourth of July everyone! Hope you all have a fun, relaxing day planned. We are going to hit up the neighborhood parade, cook out, bake cookies and watch some fireworks!
I wanted to share this super easy recipe for those of you that want the taste of BBQ without putting in any of the effort. Plus a friend asked me to post it. I made it earlier this week and although we are smoking a brisket for the 4th of July, I thought not everyone has the time or desire to cook outside all day. Well this folks is for you! All you need is a few ingredients and a slow cooker. You can sit inside in your air conditioned house and enjoy the smell of the barbecue chicken as it cooks for hours. I was surprised at how much my kids liked it considering they don’t care for anything “saucy”.
Now I have made my share of homemade BBQ sauce, but since this is a fuss-free meal I used store-bought sauce and it’s hard to beat Stubb’s. Have you heard of it? No? Then you must check it out. You can find it at some grocery stores, Walmarts and even Lowes Home Improvement store in their grilling section. Mr. Stubblefield started his first barbecue joint in Lubbock, Texas and then moved it to Austin, one of my hometowns. In my college years I used to love listening to live music at this great BBQ joint in downtown Austin.
So since there a very few ingredients in this recipe, you must use the best barbecue sauce you can find! Deal? Using chicken instead of pork butt is a healthy alternative for a pulled BBQ sandwich. It’s low fat and very tasty. Next time I make it I’ll show you what I do with the leftovers! Oh goodness, you’ll love it!
After just a few hours, I could literally cut the chicken with this wooden spoon. Slow cookin’= so tender.
You need to let it simmer a little longer after it’s shredded so it can absorb that sauce and get nice and coated.
This batch was so easy to shred. It’s delicious leftover and I love it cold straight out of the bowl.
I realize this post is a little late for your July 4th planning needs, but it will be there for you next year and/or any other weeknight dinner when you need an easy recipe! Have a great Holiday!
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 chicken breasts (~1.75lbs)
- ~14 ounces bottle BBQ sauce (Stubbs Original is preferred and I use ~3/4 of the 18 ounce bottle)
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
DIRECTIONS:
- Add all ingredients to slow cooker. Cook on low for 3 hours. Using two forks, shred chicken in the slow cooker. Continue to cook on low for 1 more hour.
- Place shredded chicken on top of bun of choice and serve with fixings: sliced onions, pickles, slaw.
Notes
Cooking times may vary depending on the strength of your slow cooker. After a couple hours the chicken should be super tender and easy to shred with forks. If it's not, continue to cook it on low. Make sure to shred the chicken prior to the end of cooking time so that all the little shreds of chicken have time to absorb some sauce before serving. I don't like to use the whole bottle when cooking because 1) there is plenty as is 2) I like to save a little leftover for topping the sandwiches or to use the next day if too much gets absorbed.
What are your Fourth of July plans?
What an awesome looking sandwich
Thank you thank you thank you for this recipe! I can’t wait to use my slow-cooker (for the first time) and make this! I can’t decided whether to make a pork dish first, or a chicken dish, but either way, this one is going to be made REALLY soon!!
Happy Fourth (a day late)!
You will love it Gina! Every time I pull out the crock pot (which isn’t enough) I think why don’t I use this more?! Everything turns out great!
I made a pulled pork sandwich this week too. Love how easy things in the slowcooker are. These look awesome!
Mmm…love pulled pork. It really is the most convenient thing ever! I don’t cook with it enough though.
This looks delicious! I must buy a slowcooker!!
Thank you! You should- you can’t beat the convenience!
This sandwich looks absolutely DELICIOUS! I wish I had a slow cooker… I’m really thinking of buying one very soon, there’s so many recipes I want to try -yours included- !! I may try your recipe anyway, using a Dutch oven on low heat. I’m really hungry right now.
I love using the slow cooker over the summer! what a fun meal to have with company!
Wish I had some pork right now to throw in the cooker and leave on today-that sounds wonderful! I have the pot and the Stubbs, course living in Texas, it is a staple. Really is one of the best sauces! What a great delicious and easy dish, will try both!
Mel – thank you for posting this recipe! My MIL and I made it while we were in Michigan during July. We like it so much, we ended up making it twice. Delicious!
Yeah! Glad you liked it- so easy and good to eat a lot of different ways. Hope you had a nice vacation!