I think it’s about time to start slow cooker season! This Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken is a great place to start. I’ve made this several times over the past few weeks with rave reviews each time. An easy dinner idea that can slow cook away while you get on with you day.
If you follow along with my blog, you will know that I only recently got my first ever slow cooker. Life changer! I don’t know what else to say and I don’t know how I lived without one for so long.
This is also my favourite barbecue sauce recipe as used in the amazing Dry Rub Oven Barbecue Ribs and the Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs!
This chicken is honest to goodness amazing! I have an Oven Barbecue Chicken with Sour Cream and Chives on the blog that I’ve been making for the best part of 20 years and we’ve always loved it. But done in the slow cooker, it’s even more tender and delicious.
This is literally a dinner you can have put together in no time, walk away, get you with your day and come back later to enjoy! The beauty of the slow cooker life.
Ingredients For The Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken
- I’m using chicken thighs for this recipe. However, you could use breast or even a mix of both.
- Below, you will see the Barbecue Sauce in a saucepan. Below in the recipe card there is a full ingredient list as well as instructions to make this. The sauce is first made in a small saucepan and simmered for about 10 minutes.
- I don’t recommend using a store bought sauce for this recipe. What makes it so great, is the sauce!
- First up, season both sides of the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
- Place them in your slow cooker. I’m only using five pieces of chicken for this recipe, but you can use more and it’s totally fine if they overlap in the slow cooker. I have done this recipe several times with more chicken.
- Evenly pour over the barbecue sauce. Make sure all of the chicken is covered. Stir it if you need to get all the chicken covered.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and set to the low setting. I cooked this for 5 1/2 hours on the low setting. It was pretty much done completely at the 5 hour mark, but I let it go a bit longer. You can cook it on high for about 3 hours.
- IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER. Every slow cooker is different and you will have to adjust the time accordingly. I would say check it at 5 hours. The chicken will almost be falling apart, then you know it’s ready.
The Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Is Ready
- I’ve now made this in the slow cooker three times. And it always turned out delicious. I’ve used both thighs and breast and both were tender.
- You many need to thicken the sauce. The third time I made this, the sauce wasn’t thick enough in the end. I can only put this down to the water content in the chicken. Chicken releases water and some more than others.
- If your sauce is thin, this is how to fix it. Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with two tablespoons of water. Stir so there are no lumps. Pour about half of it into the slow cooker and stir the sauce for about a minute. If you need more thickener, use the rest.
This is a recipe you are going to want to file in favourites for the winter. It’s so easy to make and just amazing. I’m not just saying that, it really is the best.
And it goes great with so many things. Last week, I served it with basic wild rice. It was a great option. But why not try Crispy Oven Fries, the Southwestern Bell Pepper Quinoa or some Parmesan Topped Green Beans. All great options.
This is a really easy recipe to double to feed more people. And did you know that in the recipe card at the bottom, you can choose how many servings you want to make and the recipe will update for you? It’s a great feature which makes it easy for you to scale the recipe up or down depending on how many people you are feeding.
And not only that, in the recipe card you can change the measurements to metric? The default setting is cups but with the click of a button you can change it to measurements you understand. Another great feature to make life easy. And don’t we all want recipes to be easy?
More Dishes That Might Interest You
- Oven Barbecue Chicken with Sour Cream and Chives
- Slow Cooked Shredded Chicken Tacos
- Creamy Skillet Chicken with Bacon
- Dry Rub Oven Barbecue Ribs
- Slow Cooker Lemon Rosemary Chicken
Well friends that just about covers this slow cooker chicken and the second installment of my slow cooker recipes. In case you missed the Slow Cooker Pumpkin Puree a few weeks back, it’s a great one to keep in mind for fall. I still have some of that on hand in the freezer for baking.
Okay friends, have a great Tuesday and I’ll be back in a few days with another fantastic dessert for fall.
Happy cooking!
Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken thighs 4 – 6 chicken thighs, depending on size
- 1 Cup ketchup
- 1 Tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cloves Garlic crushed
- 1/2 Onion finely chopped
- 1 Small dried chili finely chopped
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- In a small saucepan set over medium heat combine all ingredients, except the chicken, to make the sauce. Give a really good stir and let simmer for about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Lightly season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Place the chicken pieces in the slow cooker. Pour over the barbecue sauce ensuring all the chicken pieces are covered.
- Cover and cook on low for 5 – 6 hours. Chicken will be done when tender and cooked through.
*A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
Notes
- Cooking time will vary, depending on your slow cooker and the size of your chicken pieces. It will be between 5 – 6 hours on low or about 3 hours on high
- If you find the sauce too thin at the end, make a cornstarch mixture and add to the slow cooker. Combine 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water. Stir until smooth. Pour in about 1/2 of the mixture into the sauce and stir until it starts to thicken. You may or may not need more.
Thanks For Stopping By & Hope To See You Soon!
