Tangy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches Recipe for Busy Days

Slow cooker BBQ chicken sandwiches deliver pure comfort food magic right to your dinner table.

Tender, juicy meat revamps into a delectable meal with minimal effort and maximum flavor.

The magic happens when succulent chicken slowly simmers in rich, tangy sauce throughout the day.

Home cooks appreciate how this recipe simplifies mealtime while creating restaurant-quality results with incredible ease.

Perfectly seasoned proteins absorb complex layers of smoky, sweet barbecue goodness that everyone craves.

Weekend gatherings and weeknight dinners alike benefit from this crowd-pleasing dish that requires just a few simple ingredients.

Families will love how effortlessly these sandwiches come together, promising deliciousness in every single bite.

What Makes Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches a Go-To

• Effortless Flavor Explosion: Slow cooking transforms ordinary chicken into a tender, juicy masterpiece bursting with bold BBQ flavors that mingle perfectly throughout every bite.
• Customize Your Comfort: The flexible recipe allows easy personalization with different hot sauces, BBQ sauce variations, or bread choices, making it ideal for picky eaters or adventurous food lovers.
• Quick Prep, Maximum Deliciousness: Minimal morning preparation means you'll have a mouthwatering meal ready by dinnertime with just a few simple ingredients and minimal hands-on cooking time.
• Texture Paradise: Combines succulent shredded chicken with crisp, tangy coleslaw on a toasted bun, creating a delightful contrast of soft and crunchy textures that make each sandwich irresistibly satisfying.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

• Chicken Breasts: Lean, tender meat that absorbs the BBQ flavors perfectly, select fresh or fully thawed chicken for best results.

• Chicken Stock: Adds moisture and depth to the cooking liquid.
• Melted Butter: Provides richness and helps tenderize the chicken.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Brings tangy brightness and helps break down meat fibers.
• Honey: Adds natural sweetness and helps create a glossy sauce.
• Soy Sauce: Enhances umami flavor and provides saltiness.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds complex, savory undertones to the BBQ sauce.

• Brown Sugar: Balances acidity and adds caramel-like sweetness.
• Hot Sauce: Provides optional heat and additional flavor complexity.
• Mustard: Adds sharp, tangy notes to the sauce.
• Onion Powder, Garlic Powder: Provides concentrated aromatic base flavors.
• Salt: Enhances overall seasoning.

• Greek Yogurt: Creates creamy, tangy coleslaw base.
• Cabbage, Carrot: Fresh, crunchy vegetables for coleslaw.
• Celery Seed: Adds subtle, distinctive flavor to coleslaw.

• Buns: Provides the foundation for the sandwich, choose soft, sturdy burger buns.

Steps to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with Ease

Step 1: Prepare Flavor-Packed Sauce

• Chicken stock
• Melted butter
• Apple cider vinegar
• Brown sugar
• Worcestershire sauce
• Honey
• Soy sauce
• Hot sauce
• Mustard
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Salt

Mix until the ingredients blend into a smooth, tangy sauce.

Step 2: Add Chicken to Slow Cooker

Nestle chicken breasts directly into the prepared sauce, ensuring they are completely coated.

Step 3: Slow Cook to Perfection

Cook chicken on LOW setting for 6 hours until tender and easily shredded.

Step 4: Create Creamy Coleslaw Dressing

• Greek yogurt
• Honey
• Mustard
• BBQ sauce
• Apple cider vinegar
• Celery seed

Whisk until the mixture becomes smooth and well-integrated.

Step 5: Prepare Crispy Toasted Buns

Butter the buns and toast them on a griddle or in a toaster oven until golden and crisp.

Step 6: Toss Fresh Coleslaw

Just before serving, mix cabbage and carrots with the prepared mustard dressing.

Step 7: Assemble Mouthwatering Sandwiches

Shred the cooked chicken, pile onto toasted buns, and top with fresh coleslaw for a delicious meal.

Tips for Tender and Juicy BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

• Maximize Moisture: Let chicken rest in the slow cooker sauce for at least 6 hours to ensure tender, juicy meat that easily shreds with a fork.
• Sauce Balance Trick: Adjust the sauce's sweetness and tanginess by tasting and adding small amounts of vinegar or brown sugar until you reach the perfect flavor profile.
• Toasting Technique: Butter the buns generously and toast them until golden brown for a crispy texture that complements the soft, saucy chicken.
• Coleslaw Timing Matters: Mix the coleslaw dressing with vegetables just before serving to maintain a fresh, crunchy texture and prevent soggy cabbage.
• Shredding Secret: Use two forks to pull the chicken apart in the slow cooker, ensuring even sauce distribution and a perfect pulled chicken consistency.

How to Store and Reheat BBQ Chicken Without Drying It Out

• Refrigerate: Transfer leftover chicken and coleslaw into separate airtight containers. Cool completely before sealing to prevent moisture buildup. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Freeze: Wrap shredded chicken tightly in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty bags. Freeze for maximum 2 months. Separate coleslaw from chicken to maintain crisp texture.
• Reheat: Warm chicken gently in the microwave with a splash of chicken stock to prevent drying. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval. Crisp toasted buns separately to maintain their texture. Reassemble sandwiches just before serving for the best flavor and freshness.

What to Pair with Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

• Craft Crisp Beer Companions: Pair these juicy BBQ chicken sandwiches with a hoppy IPA or refreshing wheat beer to cut through the rich, tangy flavors and cleanse the palate.
• Select Zesty Wine Matches: Opt for a light, slightly chilled Riesling or Gewürztraminer to complement the sweet and spicy notes of the BBQ sauce and balance the creamy coleslaw.
• Create Smooth Cocktail Sides: Mix a classic bourbon old-fashioned or a bright citrus margarita to enhance the smoky chicken's depth and provide a complementary tang that mirrors the sandwich's bold profile.
• Serve Refreshing Non-Alcoholic Options: Grab a crisp ginger ale or sparkling apple cider to match the sandwich's sweet and savory elements, offering a bubbly contrast to the hearty meal.

Flavor Variations on BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

• Spicy Southwestern Style: Swap hot sauce for chipotle peppers in adobo, add cumin and chili powder to the sauce. Top with pepper jack cheese and sliced jalapeños for extra kick.
• Mediterranean Herb Infusion: Replace chicken breasts with chicken thighs, incorporate dried oregano, thyme, and rosemary into the sauce. Serve with tzatziki instead of coleslaw and use pita bread.
• Asian-Inspired Fusion: Modify sauce with rice vinegar, ginger, and sesame oil. Swap coleslaw for quick-pickled cucumber and carrot slaw. Garnish with green onions and serve on steamed bao buns.
• Caribbean Jerk Variation: Add allspice, nutmeg, and extra scotch bonnet peppers to the sauce. Use coconut yogurt in coleslaw and serve on toasted coconut rolls for a tropical profile.

Slow Cooker Bbq Chicken Sandwiches Recipe

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4.6 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 21 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches deliver Southern comfort with minimal kitchen effort. Tender pulled chicken mingles with smoky barbecue sauce, promising a delightful meal that brings friends and family together around the dinner table.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Proteins:

• 4 large chicken breasts
• 8 hamburger buns

BBQ Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 cup (240 milliliters) ketchup
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) unsalted chicken stock
• 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) salted butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons (45 grams) brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) dijon mustard
• 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
• 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Coleslaw Ingredients:

• 16 ounces (454 grams) shredded green cabbage and carrot coleslaw
• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) plain Greek yogurt
• 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) honey
• 4 tablespoons (60 milliliters) dijon mustard
• 2 ½ tablespoons (37.5 milliliters) BBQ sauce
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) apple cider vinegar
• ¾ teaspoon celery seed

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Instructions

1. Pour chicken stock, melted butter, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, honey, soy sauce, hot sauce, mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt into slow cooker basin, whisking thoroughly until ingredients form a homogeneous liquid mixture.
2. Gently submerge chicken breasts into the prepared sauce, ensuring each piece is completely coated and nestled within the liquid.
3. Set slow cooker to LOW temperature and allow chicken to simmer and tenderize for 6 to 7 hours, creating a deeply flavored and succulent protein.
4. Craft the creamy coleslaw dressing by blending Greek yogurt, honey, mustard, BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, and celery seed in a mixing bowl until smooth and well-incorporated.
5. Prepare sandwich buns by spreading butter on exterior surfaces and lightly toasting them on a griddle or in a toaster oven until golden and crisp.
6. Moments before serving, combine shredded cabbage and grated carrots with prepared mustard-based dressing, tossing to ensure even coating.
7. Construct sandwiches by layering tender, sauce-drenched chicken onto toasted buns and crowning with fresh, tangy coleslaw.

Notes

• Prepare this crowd-pleasing recipe with minimal effort using a slow cooker for tender, fall-apart chicken that practically melts in your mouth.
• Marinate chicken in a complex blend of sweet, tangy, and savory ingredients to create a deeply flavorful BBQ sauce that infuses every bite.
• Toast buns just before serving to ensure maximum crispness and prevent soggy sandwich bottoms, adding a delightful textural contrast.
• Make coleslaw dressing separately and toss with fresh vegetables right before assembly to maintain crisp, fresh vegetable crunch.
• Experiment with different hot sauces or BBQ sauce varieties to customize the flavor profile and match your personal spice preference.
• Leftovers can be stored separately and reheated gently, making this an excellent meal prep option for busy weekdays.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 6 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 425 kcal
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 620 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 28 g
• Cholesterol: 95 mg