Crock-Pot Bbq Cubed Chicken: Tender, Tangy, Succulent

BBQ chicken is a great dish to make in a crockpot, and it's so easy to prepare. You'll need boneless, skinless chicken breasts, BBQ sauce, and some spices. You can also add other ingredients like onion, apple cider vinegar, or brown sugar to enhance the flavor. Simply place the chicken in the crockpot, cover it with the sauce and spices, and let it cook for a few hours. Once it's done, shred the chicken and stir it into the sauce. Serve it on a bun, in a taco, on a salad, or however you like! It's a delicious and versatile dish that's perfect for any occasion.

Choosing the right crock pot size

Slow cookers range from 1 quart to 10 quarts, with the standard size being between 5 quarts and 7 quarts. Here are some guidelines to help you choose the right size for your needs:

• 1 to 2-quart slow cooker: Best for small servings, sauces, and dips.
• 2 to 3-quart slow cooker: Ideal for meals for 1-2 people.
• 3 to 4-quart slow cooker: Suitable for meals for 2-3 people.
• 5 to 7-quart slow cooker: The most common and popular size range. This size is perfect for large roasts or whole chickens and can accommodate a variety of dishes such as soups, stews, chilis, and casseroles.
• 8 to 10-quart slow cooker: Ideal for serving larger groups or cooking turkeys.

It's important to note that slow cookers work best when they are two-thirds to three-quarters full. Therefore, it is crucial to consider the amount of food you plan to cook and the number of people you need to serve when choosing the right crock pot size.

Preparing the chicken

Once you have all your ingredients, it's time to prepare the chicken for cooking. Start by trimming any fat from the chicken breasts. Then, if desired, you can cut the chicken into cubes or leave them whole, depending on your preferred level of doneness and the recipe you are following.

Next, you'll want to season the chicken. This can be done by simply sprinkling the seasonings over the chicken breasts, ensuring an even coating. Alternatively, you can create a marinade or sauce by mixing the seasonings with other liquids like BBQ sauce or olive oil.

After seasoning, place the chicken in the crockpot. If using a marinade or sauce, pour it over the chicken, ensuring that the chicken pieces are well-coated. You can also add other ingredients like onions or peppers at this stage, depending on your recipe.

Cover the crockpot and set it to cook. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of your chicken pieces and the specific model of your crockpot, but generally, it will take around 2-3 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low. It's important to check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it's fully cooked; it should be at least 160°F and easy to shred.

Once the chicken is cooked through, remove it from the crockpot and place it on a cutting board. Use two forks to shred the chicken, pulling the meat apart into small pieces. Finally, return the shredded chicken to the crockpot and stir it into the sauce. Your BBQ cubed chicken breast is now ready to be served!

Making the sauce

• BBQ sauce
• Apple cider vinegar
• Brown sugar
• Olive oil
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Smoked paprika
• Red pepper

Stir the ingredients together until the sugar has dissolved. You can also add other spices and seasonings to develop the flavour.

Once you have your sauce, pour it over the chicken in the slow cooker, ensuring the meat is fully covered.

Cooking the chicken

Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker. If you are making a larger batch, use a bigger crockpot. For 4 chicken breasts, a 2.5-quart crockpot is ideal. For more chicken, you'll likely want to use a 4-6 quart crockpot.

Pour the BBQ sauce over the chicken breasts, ensuring they are fully covered. You can use any type of BBQ sauce for this recipe, from a basic and inexpensive option to a fancier or more specialised sauce. You can also add other seasonings and spices to develop the flavour.

Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 2-3 hours or on low for 4-6 hours. Check the chicken early if you are using smaller chicken pieces or if your slow cooker runs hot. The chicken is done when it is cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F and is easy to shred.

Once the chicken is cooked, shred it using two forks. You can do this directly in the slow cooker or on a cutting board. Then, place the shredded chicken back into the crockpot and stir to coat it with the sauce.

Serving suggestions

Sandwiches

You can serve the chicken on a bun, in a roll, or between slices of bread. For an extra special touch, try using pretzel buns or whole wheat tortillas. You can also add toppings such as coleslaw, coconut coleslaw, dill pickle chips, or cheese.

Salads

The BBQ chicken can be a tasty addition to a salad. Try it with a BBQ chicken salad or any other salad of your choice.

Tacos and Quesadillas

Use a tortilla to make BBQ chicken tacos or a quesadilla. You can also add cheese, green onions, or other toppings of your choice.

Nachos

Layer the BBQ chicken on top of nachos for a delicious and hearty snack or meal.

Pizza or Flatbread

Everyone loves a good BBQ chicken pizza or flatbread. You can either use the BBQ chicken as a topping or mix it with other ingredients to create a unique sauce.

Baked Potato or Sweet Potato

The BBQ chicken can be served on top of a baked potato or sweet potato. For an extra special touch, sprinkle some green onions on top.

Sides

When serving BBQ chicken, you can offer classic comfort food sides such as potato salad, coleslaw, mac and cheese, three-bean salad, fried cabbage, or cowboy caviar.

Frequently asked questions