If you have a slow cooker and 20 minutes, put this BBQ Shredded Chicken Sandwich Recipe on your menu plan! It's one of our one pan dinner recipes that makes weeknights blissfully easy, but still satisfies the whole family. It's especially delicious thanks to the raspberry barbecue sauce made with jam, your favorite store bought sauce, and simple seasonings!
The best part? Pulled chicken is an affordable way to feed a family, plus it can be made ahead or frozen for an even faster meal. Read on for our favorite side pairings and tips for success!
Slow cooker recipes make for the best easy dinners during the summer, back to school season, or cold winter months when you want effortless comfort food. Our two go-to choices for the Crock Pot are chuck roast and... you guessed it, shredded chicken!
If you want more dinner inspiration, this Hot Honey Shredded Chicken Sandwich Recipe and this Crock Pot Chuck Roast Recipe are two of the more popular recipes on our site! I'm also totally loving this Italian Beef Sandwich Recipe!
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Why this recipe is worth making
- It is an affordable way to feed the whole family in today's economy.
- This slow cooker barbecue chicken has an extra flavorful sauce thanks to the secret ingredient: raspberry jam!
- There just isn't much real cooking needed - no chopping, no smoking, no searing. Just dump and go!
Ingredients for pulled chicken sandwiches
This recipe really only requires less than 10 ingredients, and most are pantry staples you already have on hand! Ingredient quantities are in the recipe card below, but here are some tips for best results.
- Boneless skinless chicken breast: Trim it of any large pieces of fat, but leave them whole. Easy, easy, easy.
- Chicken broth: Sometimes I buy cartons from Sam's Club, or I make my own, or I use hot water and bouillon powder.
- Seasonings: You will need garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and chipotle chili powder.
- Barbecue sauce: The key here is to choose one you like on it's own. We used a sweet and smoky flavor, but whatever you like will work.
- Raspberry jam: We used raspberry preserves with seeds. You can also use a seedless jelly.
- Buns: I cannot reccommend brioche buns enough. SO good! Our locals Sam's Club sells them for a good price.
- Coleslaw and dressing: This is completely optional, but adding a crunchy slaw tossed with creamy coleslaw dressing is totally worth the extra 5 minutes! It's the small details that make recipes like this a real winner.
How to make shredded BBQ chicken in slow cooker
Crockpot barbecue chicken sandwiches are ultra simple to make in just 4 main steps.
Start by placing the raw chicken, broth, and seasonings in a 6 qt slow cooker. Adding the liquid helps the meat braise, which keeps it super tender and moist.
Cook the meat on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. We have found that cooking it longer leads to dry and crumbly, so be careful not to overcook it.
It should easily shred when you prod it with two forks or tongs.
Remove the meat from the slow cooker and discard the extra juices. Use forks to pull the chicken into small pieces, then toss it back into the slow cooker.
Whisk all the sauce ingredients in a bowl, then pour it over the shredded meat and stir well. Serve with hamburger buns and coleslaw - enjoy!
Pro tip: Toasted buns MAKE this sandwich! Brush the hamburger buns with a little butter or oil, then toast them in a skillet or under the broiler.
Sides to serve with crockpot barbecue chicken sandwiches
You can serve these sandwiches on their own or alongside some of these easy sides. I have included options that require zero cooking, along with easy homemade side dishes.
- Fruit salad
- Chips
- Crispy roasted potatoes
- Potato salad
- Pasta salad
- Baked beans
- French fries
- Macaroni and cheese
- Cranberry lemonade
- Iced Tea
How to store, freeze, and reheat
- To store: Store the BBQ chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. The coleslaw is best stored in a separate container without dressing on it.
- To reheat: Reheat the chicken in the microwave on full power until warmed through, or in a pot on the stove over medium heat. For the first option, I like to use a microwave cover to trap some moisture and avoid messy splatters.
- To freeze: You can freeze leftover BBQ chicken in an airtight container or a freezer bag for up to 2-3 months. When you need an quick dinner, thaw it at room temperature for a few hours or overnight in the fridge. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave as directed above.
FAQ
You can use plain BBQ sauce instead of making the raspberry BBQ sauce, however it won't have as much flavor. This sauce is so easy, I highly recommend it!
It is best to add the sauce after the meat is fully cooked. We have tested this recipe by adding the sauce to the raw chicken instead, but we found that it gets very watered down as it cooks and results in bland sandwiches.
No, you must use fully thawed meat according to the USDA. Thawing your meat before cooking will help it cook evenly and prevent accidental food poisoning.
Tips and tricks
- This is a good time to use extra large chicken breasts that may not cook well in other recipes (I hope I'm not the only one who finds those HUGE ones in my package sometimes).
- Be careful not to overcook the chicken, or it will be dry and crumbly. Once it easily shreds, it is ready.
- Use a quality brand of bbq sauce that your family really enjoys for best results.
More recipes with shredded chicken
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Recipe
Raspberry BBQ Shredded Chicken Sandwich Recipe (Crockpot)
Equipment
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 lbs chicken breast
- ¾ cup chicken broth
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon onion powder
Raspberry Barbecue Sauce
- 1 (18 oz) bottle barbecue sauce
- 1 cup raspberry jam
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper
For Serving
- 6 hamburger buns
- 3 cups coleslaw (optional)
- coleslaw dressing (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the chicken, chicken broth, and seasonings well in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, or until the chicken shreds easily when prodded with two forks.2 lbs chicken breast, ¾ cup chicken broth, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, ¾ teaspoon black pepper, ¾ teaspoon garlic powder, ¾ teaspoon onion powder
- While the chicken is cooking, whisk all the sauce ingredients together in a medium bowl.1 (18 oz) bottle barbecue sauce, 1 cup raspberry jam, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder, ½ teaspoon pepper
- When the chicken is finished, remove to a cutting board and discard the cooking liquids. Use two forks to pull the chicken apart into small pieces.
- Place the warm chicken back in the empty slow cooker. Pour the sauce on top and mix well, then cook for another 30 minutes on low.
- While the chicken is finishing, brush the hamburger buns with butter or oil and broil in the oven for 2-3 minutes, or until golden. Toss your coleslaw with ranch or a creamy dressing. Then assemble the sandwiches and serve immediately.6 hamburger buns, 3 cups coleslaw, coleslaw dressing
Notes
- This is a good time to use extra large chicken breasts that may not cook well in other recipes (I hope I'm not the only one who finds those HUGE ones in my package of chicken sometimes).
- Be careful not to overcook the chicken, or it will be dry and crumbly. Once it easily shreds, it is ready.
- Use a quality brand of bbq sauce that your family really enjoys for best results.
Add Your Own Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is provided by a third party and is an estimate only. Use your own nutritional calculator for more specific measurements.
Deborah says
This was dinner 2 nights ago and lunch yesterday. It definitely earned 5 stars! I made a few tweaks to line up with our cardiac diet. The Hubs really liked it. It will be on our menu rotation! Thanks ladies for sharing.
Misty says
Hi Deborah, we're so glad you loved it! Thanks for taking the time to share your feedback.
Lee says
Love how easy this is!