Juicy, candy and smoky apple BBQ hen made straightforward within the gradual cooker. With simply 10 minutes of prep, it’s a weeknight lifesaver you’ll be able to serve by itself, in sandwiches, grain bowls or stuffed into candy potatoes.
It’s formally fall, and round right here which means I’m all about cozy dinners that don’t take a ton of effort. This gradual cooker apple BBQ hen has turn out to be considered one of my go-to recipes as a result of it’s hearty, flavorful and virtually cooks itself.
The magic comes from recent apples mixed with hen breasts, smoky BBQ sauce, onion and some easy seasonings. Because the hen gradual cooks, the apples break down and mix with the sauce, making a candy and savory taste that’s onerous to withstand. The top result’s tender, juicy shredded hen with the right steadiness of tangy, smoky and barely candy notes.
By the point dinner rolls round, you’ve obtained a wholesome, family-friendly meal on the desk and a kitchen that smells completely wonderful. Even higher, my youngsters cherished this one, which makes it a repeat recipe in our home.
Why I Love This Apple BBQ Rooster Recipe
I’ve made loads of BBQ hen recipes through the years, however this one has a particular place in my fall lineup.
- Really easy: Simply 10 minutes of prep and the gradual cooker does the remaining.
- Serves a crowd: Makes a beneficiant batch that’s nice for household dinners, informal get-togethers or recreation day.
- Excellent for meal prep: Leftovers hold nicely and the flavour will get even higher the following day, so lunches are already performed.
- Versatile: Scrumptious on buns with coleslaw, by itself with roasted veggies, stuffed into candy potatoes, layered over rice or tossed on a salad.
- Child-approved: Even with the smoky BBQ taste, the trace of sweetness makes it successful with youngsters and adults. My two wolfed it up!
Substances Wanted
This recipe retains issues easy however nonetheless packs in a lot taste. Just a few recent picks and pantry staples come collectively for essentially the most scrumptious BBQ hen:
- hen breasts – boneless, skinless hen breasts are the bottom of this recipe. They cook dinner down tender and shred completely into the sauce.
- apples – recent apples are what make this recipe shine. As they cook dinner down, they mix into the BBQ sauce, including pure sweetness and depth of taste. Honeycrisp or Fuji are nice picks.
- BBQ sauce – use your favourite store-bought BBQ sauce (I used Dealer Joe’s) or strive my selfmade BBQ sauce for a cleaner possibility with much less sugar.
- apple cider vinegar – provides a contact of tang that balances the sweetness of the apples and BBQ sauce.
Discover the complete ingredient record with measurements within the recipe card under.
The way to Make Sluggish Cooker Apple BBQ Rooster
Making this apple BBQ hen couldn’t be simpler. With only a few minutes of prep, the gradual cooker does the remaining:
Step 1: Place the hen breasts within the backside of your gradual cooker. Add the chopped apples, onion, garlic, salt and pepper proper on prime.
Step 2: Pour the BBQ sauce and apple cider vinegar over all the things. Give it a fast stir so the hen is coated.
Step 3: Cowl and cook dinner on low for six–7 hours or on excessive for 3–4 hours. Shred the hen with two forks.
Step 4: Enable the hen to sit down within the gradual cooker for an additional 10–quarter-hour to actually take in the flavors. Serve instantly or retailer within the fridge for later.
Brittany’s Ideas for Success
These easy suggestions will make your gradual cooker apple BBQ hen foolproof:
- Lower apples into chunks: Skinny slices break down an excessive amount of and disappear into the sauce. Chunkier items maintain their form and offer you that candy chew in each forkful.
- Shred whereas heat: Shredding hen is way simpler whereas it’s nonetheless heat, so don’t wait till it cools.
- Use a meat chopper: My private favourite strategy to shred my hen is through the use of this helpful dandy meat chopper! It’s a recreation changer!
- Desire a thicker sauce? After shredding, go away the lid off and let it simmer on “heat” or “low” for 15–20 minutes. The additional liquid will cook dinner down right into a richer, stickier sauce.
The way to Serve Sluggish Cooker Apple BBQ Rooster
This recipe is tremendous versatile and pairs nicely with quite a lot of sides. Listed here are a few of my favourite methods to serve it:
The way to Retailer & Reheat
This gradual cooker apple BBQ hen retains rather well, which makes it good for meal prep.
- Fridge: Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or within the microwave till warmed by way of.
- Freezer: Let the hen cool fully, then switch to a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for as much as 3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
- Meal prep tip: Portion the hen into particular person containers with rice, roasted veggies, or candy potatoes for grab-and-go lunches all week.
Extra Sluggish Cooker Recipes to Strive
In case you loved this recipe, please think about leaving a ⭐ star ranking and let me know the way it went within the 📝 feedback under.
