It’s not exactly a news flash: Slow cooker barbecue chicken is versatile, delicious, and easy. Cook it once and you have a week’s worth of meals your entire family—yes, even the kids—are going to love, all prepped and ready when you are.
When we say slow cooker barbecue chicken is easy, we mean THIS easy: Add a few pounds of chicken, together with the right seasonings, sauce, and vegetables, and while you’re busy with your to-do list for the day, magic happens. That you can use slow cooker chicken in recipes ranging from dips and casseroles to tacos and nachos? Well, that’s magic, too.
Our favorite benefits of a slow cooker
- We love how a slow cooker can fool our taste buds into thinking someone spent all day in the kitchen.
- The low heat—between 175-215 degrees F for most models with low, medium, and high settings—means long cook times, keeping meat, especially chicken, moist and flavorful.
- The cooking capacity of the slow cooker lets you feed a crowd, easy.
- Slow cooker meals are easy on the budget. Here’s how: 1) because they’re set-it-and-forget-it, they make cooking and eating at home easier, 2) cooking and eating meals at home generally costs less than hitting up the drive thru, and 3) because slow cookers can cook a lot of food at once, it’s easy to buy in bulk and take advantage of the savings.
- Slow cooking can be healthy. Slow cooker recipes are flavor-filled, without the extra fat needed in cooking methods like frying. Plus, cooking at eating at home can help you keep an eye on things like carbs and calories, simply because when you’re the chef, you have more control over what goes in your dinner.
Things to keep in mind when you use your slow cooker
- Don’t fill it more than 2/3 of the way full.
- A general rule of thumb for how to choose between high and low cooking modes is cook time. High cook temperature means a shorter cook time. The low cook temperature means a longer cook time. The cut of meat you’re cooking matters, too. Tougher, marbled cuts like pork butt and short ribs can handle higher heat for longer; for chicken breasts and other lean meats, go with the low setting.
- Don’t open the lid. The steam that builds inside a slow cooker creates a seal between the lid and the insert. Opening the lid breaks that seal and releases steam and heat—adding as much as 30 minutes to your total cook time for each time the lid is lifted.
- Don’t reheat food in your slow cooker.
- Food cooked in a slow cooker needs to go in the refrigerator within an hour for safe storage.
Our slow cooker chicken is the perfect thing to whip up on a Sunday and then use all week: we’re talking tacos, nachos, baked potatoes, pizza, casseroles, soups, dips, and more. With the chicken ready and waiting, these dinners come together in minutes—even after a busy evening of chores, homework, and football practice.
FULL RECIPE: Classic Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken
Ingredients:
2-4 lbs. chicken pieces (can be bone-in and skin-on, or boneless and skinless)
2 tsp. garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 20 oz. bottle of Head Country Bar-B-Q Sauce, your favorite flavor
1/2 C. water
2 bell peppers, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
Directions:
Season chicken pieces with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Place the seasoned chicken in the insert of a slow cooker.
Top chicken with your favorite flavor of Head Country Bar-B-Q Sauce. Add a thin layer of water, just to cover the bottom of the cooker, down the side of the insert to avoid disturbing the sauce topping on the chicken.
Meanwhile, dice peppers and onions. Saute with olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until tender and beginning to char. Add to the slow cooker, sprinkling over the chicken. Cover the cooker. Cook chicken on low for 5-6 hours.
Once cooked, shred chicken in a medium size bowl. Separate into meal-size servings, then plan the week’s menu with the recipes below.
Slow cooker barbecue chicken recipes
Loaded Baked Potato with BBQ Chicken
What it is: A baked potato and a slow cooker might just be out favorite team ever. Let the chicken cook low and slow while you’re at work, and pop the potatoes in once you’re home.
Why we love it: Dinner will be ready in 45 minutes, and clean-up is a breeze.
Uses: our Original Championship Seasoning, our Original sauce
FULL RECIPE: Loaded Baked Potato with BBQ Chicken
3-Minute BBQ Chicken Tacos
What it is: Simple and delicious, these slow cooker BBQ chicken tacos are topped with cheese, onion, cilantro, and BBQ sauce, all cradled in warm corn tortillas.
Why we love it: When you shop your pantry, these shredded chicken tacos are ready in just 3 minutes.
Uses: your favorite flavor of Head Country Bar-B-Q sauce
FULL RECIPE: 3-Minute BBQ Chicken Tacos
Leftover BBQ Chicken Keto Taco Bowls
What it is: These keto taco bowls combine slow cooker chicken with a cilantro-lime cauliflower rice.
Why we love it: Just because you’re watching carbs or sugar doesn’t mean you’re out of luck on taco night.
Uses: our Sugar Free sauce
FULL RECIPE: Leftover BBQ Chicken Keto Taco Bowls
5-Minute BBQ Chicken Sandwich
What it is: Skip dinner in or lunch at your desk? Not when this sandwich is on the menu. Use shredded chicken from your slow cooker in place of the chicken breast for that shredded BBQ tastiness.
Why we love it: These sandwiches stack up in minutes, making it an easy recipe for college students or a weeknight wonder with the kids.
Uses: your favorite flavor of Head Country Bar-B-Q sauce
FULL RECIPE: 5-Minute BBQ Chicken Sandwich
Weeknight BBQ Chicken Pizza
What it is: Need a quick dinner idea for school nights? This BBQ chicken pizza recipe is ready in minutes.
Why we love it: Here’s how to make homemade pizza with store bought dough (read: naan bread from your deli is the shortcut of dreams) and make sure that once everyone’s at the table, it’s phones down and forks up.
Uses: your favorite flavor of Head Country Bar-B-Q sauce
FULL RECIPE: Weeknight BBQ Chicken Pizza
Tailgating Pull Apart BBQ Chicken Bread
What it is: Everyone loves a meal where you can get messy. This Tailgating Pull Apart BBQ Chicken Bread is crazy fun, and not just because there’s no way to dig in and not get a little BBQ sauce and cheese on your fingers.
Why we love it: The pull-apart chicken bread is perfect for a pre-game tailgate or to serve coffee-table style for your next game party.
Uses: our Original Championship Seasoning, our Chipotle sauce
FULL RECIPE: Tailgating Pull Apart BBQ Chicken Bread
Skillet Southwestern BBQ Chicken Dip
What it is: This stick-to-your-ribs chicken dip is a sugar-free, cheesy combination packed with beans, corn, and spices.
Why we love it: Whether it’s served family-style at the dinner table or guests help themselves at the tailgate party, this dip is a showstopper when served in a rustic cast-iron skillet. Serve it up with freshly sliced veggies and/or toasted bread slices.
Uses: our Sugar Free sauce
FULL RECIPE: Skillet Southwestern BBQ Chicken Dip
BBQ Chicken Pizza with Sugar Free Sauce
What it is: The smoked cheese melted on top of this pizza pairs deliciously with the sauce, and will make your pizza party a must-attend event.
Why we love it: Pizza doesn’t have to take a lot of time to make, and it doesn’t have to have traditional toppings. This pizza is proof.
Uses: our Sugar Free sauce
FULL RECIPE: BBQ Chicken Pizza with Sugar Free Sauce
Sweet & Sticky BBQ Chicken Steamed Buns
What it is: Slow cooker chicken teams up with BBQ sauce in these sweet, soft steamed buns. Pair with some broccoli slaw and some good company.
Why we love it: This recipe offers an Asian-inspired twist on the BBQ chicken sandwich—and looks beautiful on a plate.
Uses: our Sweet & Sticky sauce
FULL RECIPE: Sweet & Sticky BBQ Chicken Steamed Buns
Paleo BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
What it is: Roasted sweet potatoes are piled high with BBQ slow cooker chicken in this recipe, which is our favorite go-to when we’re craving comfort-food flavors.
Why we love it: It’s fun to top these with plenty of cilantro and chopped red onion for a bright, fresh-from-the-garden flavor.
Uses: our Sugar Free sauce
FULL RECIPE: Paleo BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Jalapeno Popper BBQ Chicken Dip
What it is: The heat of jalapenos, creamy melted cheese, the smoky flavor of bacon—this dip has all the best flavors of jalapeno poppers, and no one has to light up a grill.
Why we love it: We love this served with an assortment of dippables, from tortilla chips and crostini to pita bread and veggies.
Uses: our Original Bar-B-Q sauce
FULL RECIPE: Jalapeno Popper BBQ Chicken Dip
Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pull-Apart Sliders
What it is: This twist on the classic BBQ sandwich is a treat for the kids, who love to watch the cheese stretch when they pull their servings from the baking dish.
Why we love it: The garlic-herb butter takes this dish over the top. If you want to count on leftovers, make extra.
Uses: our Original Championship Seasoning, our Chipotle sauce
FULL RECIPE: Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pull-Apart Sliders
BBQ Chicken Cornbread Skillet
What it is: This casserole-in-a-skillet is packed with all your favorite comfort-food flavors, from cornbread to BBQ chicken to two kinds of melting, bubbling cheese.
Why we love it: It’s perfect topped with plenty of sliced green onion and served with sweet tea.
Uses: our Sweet & Spicy Seasoning, our Original sauce
FULL RECIPE: BBQ Chicken Cornbread Skillet
Slow Cooker Spicy BBQ Chicken Quesadilla
What it is: BBQ sauce adds something special to this tried-and-true classic of spicy filling between two golden-fried tortillas.
Why we love it: It’s smoky, sweet, and just the thing for the tailgating party.
Uses: our Original Championship Seasoning, our Original sauce
FULL RECIPE: Slow Cooker Spicy BBQ Chicken Quesadilla
Cast Iron BBQ Chicken Nachos
What it is: The slow cooker assists in this recipe to make it a weeknight wonder. Because the chicken is ready when you walk through the door after work, a skillet of BBQ nachos takes just 5 minutes from start to finish.
Why we love it: Don’t skimp on the cheese, the sour cream, or the BBQ sauce (our personal favorite nacho topping).
Uses: our Sweet & Spicy Championship Seasoning, our Original sauce
FULL RECIPE: Cast Iron BBQ Chicken Nachos
BBQ Chicken Dip
What it is: Get ready for an epic cheese pull. This BBQ Chicken Dip bubbles with two kids of cheese, chicken, and the smoky flavor of BBQ, making the game-day friendliness of this dish a no-brainer.
Why we love it: The savory crust that forms on top while the flavors meld in the oven will have your guests vying for the edge pieces. Serve with a side of chips, crackers, or homemade flour tortillas.
Uses: our Original sauce and High Plains Heat Championship Seasoning
FULL RECIPE: BBQ Chicken Dip
BBQ Chicken Sheet Pan Pizza
What it is: BBQ chicken, red onion, cilantro, plenty of BBQ sauce, and two kinds of cheese top a pizza crust lightly crisped in the oven with the help of a brushing of olive oil.
Why we love it: We love what happens when fresh pizza dough meets the heat of a piping-hot oven. It’s almost as good as these toppings together—they’re ooey, gooey, and just sing.
Uses: our Original sauce
FULL RECIPE: BBQ Chicken Sheet Pan Pizza
Loaded BBQ Chicken Stuffed Bread
What it is: A party’s worth of sandwich. A loaf of French bread is loaded with BBQ chicken, cheese, red onion, cilantro, and BBQ sauce, then toasted in a hot oven.
Why we love it: This dish is a show-stopper as the centerpiece of a tailgating or game-day party. Keep the small plates, sturdy forks, and plenty of napkins coming. Your guests will thank you.
Uses: our Original Championship Seasoning, our Original sauce
FULL RECIPE: Loaded BBQ Chicken Stuffed Bread
