When it comes to making Crockpot shredded BBQ chicken sandwiches, the slow cooker has never let me down. Well, except for the times I forgot to turn it on… oops.
Other than that, it’s my best friend and probably my most-used appliance. This week, I whipped up these sandwiches for an easy but delicious dinner. The kids kept theirs plain on simple hoagie rolls, but these can easily be loaded up with all kinds of veggies.
Why Crockpot Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches Are Perfect for Dinner
Crockpot shredded BBQ chicken sandwiches are easy, versatile, and packed with flavor. Perfect for busy nights, they’re a family favorite everyone can enjoy. Let me show you how easy they are to make:
Step 1: Mix the Sauce
In a bowl, mix together a 12-ounce bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce and 1/2 cup of Italian dressing. I used Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce. Add in 1/4 cup of brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce and whisk it until smooth.
Didn't get the crockpot going in time?
No shredding tonight: Heidi's chicken broccoli casserole is ready for the oven.
Step 2: Coat the Chicken
Take 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts and pour the BBQ sauce mixture over them. Toss the chicken around in the sauce to make sure every side is coated. This step ensures all the flavor gets locked into your Crockpot shredded BBQ chicken sandwiches.
Step 3: Cook the Chicken
Transfer the coated chicken into your Crockpot and set it to cook on LOW for 4 hours and 30 minutes. While it cooks, your kitchen will start smelling amazing, and you’ll know dinner is on its way.
Step 4: Shred the Chicken
Once the time is up, carefully remove the chicken from the sauce and shred it using two forks. The chicken should be tender and easy to pull apart, making it perfect for piling onto sandwiches.
Step 5: Mix and Warm
Now, the Crockpot shredded BBQ chicken is ready to be put back into the slow cooker and mixed with the sauce. There is no need to cook it any longer. Just leave the chicken on WARM until you are ready to serve it.
Serving Suggestions for Crockpot Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
For Crockpot shredded BBQ chicken sandwiches that are piled high, I use a handy dandy trick I saw on some cooking show once. I wish I could remember who it was so I could give them credit, buuuuuuuuuuuuuut… my memory fails me. I’m getting old. I’m not as sharp as I once was. I like to blame my kids and say that they are the ones responsible for dulling my mental capabilities, but really, the gray hairs popping out of my head are just an indication of the fuzziness inside my brain. See, I even forgot what I started out to say in this paragraph…
ANYway, pull out the bread on the inside of a hoagie roll so the chicken has a pocket to sit inside of rather than spilling out all over your plate. This also saves a few calories, and you’ll never notice!
My kids like Crockpot shredded BBQ chicken sandwiches plain. But I know for a fact that these are awesome with red onion, tomato, and even avocado. In fact, you can skip the roll altogether and turn this into a chicken salad or BBQ chicken burrito.
Side Dishes That Pair Perfectly
I served ours with good old-fashioned Cheetos and my Great-grandma Ruth’s chunky potato salad. This potato salad has been in my family for 5 generations now, and I have never seen anybody turn it down. It would also go great with sweet apple celery coleslaw that is made with a vinegar base rather than all the mayo.
If you need other easy Crockpot meals, check out my recipe index or follow me on Pinterest. Happy cooking, y’all!
Crockpot Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Ingredients
Method
- In a bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, Italian dressing, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce until smooth.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken breasts and toss so every side is coated.
- Transfer the chicken and sauce to the crockpot and cook on LOW for 4 hours 30 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the sauce and shred it with two forks.
- Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker, stir it into the sauce and keep on WARM until ready to serve.
- Pull some of the bread out of the inside of each hoagie roll to make a pocket, pile in the chicken and add any toppings you like.
