Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken Recipe (Slow Cooker)

This brown sugar BBQ chicken is simple, delicious, and absolutely perfect for a low-effort meal prep. Throw everything in your crock pot and the work is done!

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Why you’ll love this

This easy slow cooker brown sugar chicken recipe is simple, low effort and so flavorful! If you’re someone who loves to throw a bunch of ingredients into the crock pot and walk away, you need to get this one into your dinner rotation!

Personally as a dietitian one of my favorite things to have ready to go in your fridge is a protein, like chicken. It makes the week so much easier!

When you have a versatile protein like shredded chicken, you can easily make sandwiches, salads, and dinners in a pinch by adding a couple of easy side dishes to go with like roasted sweet potatoes, a side salad, or air fried broccoli.

It’s also a great recipe for meal prepping- using a slow cooker is one of my favorite easy ways to prep ahead! You can make a batch of this crockpot BBQ chicken at the start of the week and have an easy protein option all week long.

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to put together this simple slow cooker BBQ chicken recipe in a delish tangy sauce, and there’s no cutting board required!

Ingredients

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts: I prefer boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer them!
• Barbecue sauce: You’ll need just one cup barbecue sauce, and you can use any barbecue chicken sauce that you like. I usually use Sweet Baby Ray’s, but any kind will work. I’ll sometimes use these Primal Kitchen BBQ Sauces for a lower sugar version, too! BBQ sauce ingredients do vary, so choose a sauce that you like!
• Dark brown sugar: Brown sugar adds great flavor to this shredded chicken! Light or dark brown sugar will work here. You can also adjust the amount if you prefer a little less sweet, or use a brown sugar substitute.
• Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar adds the perfect amount of tang to this barbecue chicken.
• Worcestershire sauce: I love adding Worcestershire sauce for a boost of savory salty flavor!
• Spices: For spices, you’ll need garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and black pepper.

How to make brown sugar BBQ chicken

1. Add all ingredients to the bottom of the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Note: if using larger chicken breasts, you may want to slice them in half for even cooking.

2. Shred chicken using two forks. Top with extra barbecue sauce if desired.

How to store

Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Serve on a sandwiches or as a protein for your favorite dinners.

Serving suggestions

For a super easy meal idea, serve this brown sugar BBQ chicken on a fresh roll with a side salad. Or try it with one of these easy sides!

• Lipton Onion Soup Potatoes
• Sweet & Tangy Bell Pepper Slaw
• Cottage Cheese Mashed Potatoe
• Crispy Feta Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic
• Air Fryer Broccoli and Feta
• Healthy Cowboy Caviar
• Dill Pickle Potato Salad

I love serving this flavorful chicken with some extra bbq sauce on Hawaiian rolls, too. I love using them for quick and easy dinners, like these Big Mac Ground Turkey Sliders and Chopped Italian Sliders.

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