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4.8 from 12 votes

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Tender, juicy chicken is simmered with barbecue sauce and served up on a soft bun with a refreshing, crunchy slaw. This dish is a definite crowd-pleaser!

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
3 hrs
Total Time
3 hrs 5 mins
Servings: 8 sandwiches
Calories: 314 kcal
Course: Main Course , Lunch
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Pulled Chicken:
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or breast
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • salt and pepper
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce*** (for my homemade BBQ sauce recipe, see recipe card below)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 8 hamburger buns
Vegetable Slaw:
  • 1 bag (10 ounces) coleslaw or vegetable slaw mix
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Place the chicken in the bowl of a slow cooker. Sprinkle the onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, and a pinch of salt and pepper on top. Pour the barbecue sauce and vinegar over the chicken so that it covers it completely.
  2. Cover the slow cooker and cook on high heat for 3-4 hours or low heat for 6-7 hours.
  3. Remove the chicken and place it on a cutting board. Shred the chicken using two forks. If the sauce is very watery, put the slow cooker in sauté mode and simmer it for several minutes to thicken it. Return the chicken to the slow cooker and toss it with the sauce.
  4. To make sandwiches, serve the pulled chicken on rolls and top with desired toppings like vegetable slaw or pickles.
  5. To make the vegetable slaw, mix the slaw, oil, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper together in a bowl.

Notes

  • ***Many store-bought brands of BBQ sauce have a lot of sugar. Choose a BBQ sauce that's lower in sugar (see "Low Sugar Barbecue Sauce" section on blog post). You can also make my delicious homemade bbq sauce (see recipe card below). Some of my favorite options are Stubb's original barbecue sauce, Annie's original barbecue sauce and Primal Kitchen classic barbecue sauce.
  • Stubb's original barbecue sauce
  • Annie's original barbecue sauce
  • Primal Kitchen classic barbecue sauce
  • You can use chicken thighs or breast to make this pulled chicken burger. I prefer using thighs because they're more juicy, flavorful and cheaper.
  • If the sauce in the slow cooker is too thin when you take the chicken out, you can put the slow cooker in sauté mode and simmer it for several minutes to thicken it.
  • Besides sandwiches, you can also serve this healthy bbq pulled chicken in quesadillas, tacos, lettuce wraps, or on salads or rice bowls.
  • Leftover pulled chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrgierator for 3-4 days. It can also be frozen in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months.
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Nutrition Information

Serving 1 sandwich Calories 314kcal (16%) Carbohydrates 30g (10%) Protein 27g (54%) Fat 9g (14%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 4g Trans Fat 0.02g Cholesterol 108mg (36%) Sodium 567mg (24%) Potassium 476mg (14%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 9g (18%) Vitamin A 171IU (3%) Vitamin C 34mg (38%) Calcium 72mg (7%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8sandwiches

Amount Per Serving

Calories 314

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 sandwich
Calories 314kcal 16%
Carbohydrates 30g 10%
Protein 27g 54%
Fat 9g 14%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 4g 20%
Trans Fat 0.02g 1%
Cholesterol 108mg 36%
Sodium 567mg 24%
Potassium 476mg 10%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 9g 18%
Vitamin A 171IU 3%
Vitamin C 34mg 38%
Calcium 72mg 7%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.