Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Recipe: 3-Ingredient Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
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Craving a delicious and effortless dinner? This Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe is your answer! With only three simple ingredients, you can create incredibly flavorful pulled chicken that’s perfect for sandwiches, salads, or even tacos. The ease of preparation and the mouthwatering results make this recipe a weeknight dinner champion.

Essential Ingredients for Your Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
What makes this BBQ chicken recipe so special? It’s the simplicity! You only need a handful of ingredients to achieve amazing flavor. The star of the show is the bottled Italian dressing. Using Italian dressing adds a complex layer of herbs and spices, infusing the chicken with a depth of flavor that’s both surprising and delightful. If you are seeking an approachable recipe with minimal prep, this is for you!
- Chicken breast: The foundation of our flavorful creation.
- Barbecue sauce: Choose your favorite brand to customize the taste.
- Italian dressing: I recommend Olive Garden brand for the best flavor profile, but any will work.
- Hamburger buns: Soft and toasted, perfect for building your pulled chicken sandwiches.
- Coleslaw (Optional): a great addition to balance out the richness of the chicken.

Step-by-Step Guide: Making Your Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
This recipe truly lives up to its “easy” claim. The process is straightforward, requiring minimal effort for maximum reward. After the cook time is finished, the chicken is easily shredded and coated with the sauce, resulting in a delicious and satisfying meal. The slow cooker does all the work, leaving you free to focus on other things. This is an ideal approach to get dinner on the table with little to no effort!
First, combine the chicken, barbecue sauce, and Italian dressing in your slow cooker. Then, simply cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Once the chicken is cooked through, shred it using two forks. For an even quicker method, use a hand mixer to shred the chicken in seconds! The hand mixer method is a great time saver.
To assemble your pulled chicken sandwiches, lightly toast some hamburger buns. Pile the shredded BBQ chicken high onto the toasted buns, and add a generous helping of coleslaw for a complete meal. The contrast of the warm chicken and the cool, creamy coleslaw is simply divine. This dish is truly a versatile option. This is not only for sandwiches, you can also add to salads, baked potatoes and tacos.
Perfect Pairings: What to Serve with Your Pulled BBQ Chicken
While the pulled BBQ chicken sandwiches are delicious on their own, they’re even better when paired with the right side dishes. Coleslaw is a classic choice, offering a refreshing crunch and tanginess that complements the rich and smoky BBQ flavor. I recommend my Classic Coleslaw.
Looking for other options? Consider serving this BBQ chicken with Tortellini Greek Pasta Salad or Corn Avocado Salad for a burst of fresh flavors. These salads provide a nice contrast to the savory chicken and add a touch of brightness to the meal.
If you’re planning a larger gathering, consider adding some classic BBQ sides such as Mac and Cheese, potato salad, corn on the cob and baked beans. Everyone enjoys these easy side dishes and makes for a perfect cookout!
Explore More Delicious BBQ Chicken Dishes
Are you a true BBQ chicken enthusiast? Then you’ll love these other easy and flavorful recipes:
Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken and Vegetables: A complete meal cooked on one pan, making cleanup a breeze.
BBQ Chicken Pizza: A fun and easy twist on classic pizza, perfect for pizza night.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs: Another slow cooker favorite, ideal for a casual and flavorful meal.
These are a few examples of BBQ Chicken that everyone will enjoy! There are many different ways to prepare BBQ chicken for a crowd or just for you. The options are endless!

65 votes
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
Julia Pacheco
5
minutes
4
hours
4
hours
5
minutes
4
servings
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