The Cookin Chicks

  • Home
  • About Kristin
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About Kristin
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About Kristin
    • Recipe Index
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Chicken

    Zesty Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

    Modified: Mar 21, 2023 · Published: Aug 21, 2012 by Kristin · This post may contain affiliate links. · Leave a Comment

    FacebookTweetPinEmail
    Jump to Recipe

    This Zesty Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe calls for only 5 ingredients, most of which you may already have on hand! Perfect for sandwiches, in wraps, on nachos, on its own, and more!

    zesty BBQ chicken made in the slow cooker

    Want to save this recipe?

    Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

    Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
    Loading

    This meal may go down as one of my most favorite recipes of all time! Being a huge foodie, that is a pretty big statement that I don’t take lightly! Using only a few simple ingredients, this BBQ chicken is packed with flavor and perfect to use for just about anything!

    Jump to:
    • Why this is the BEST Crockpot BBQ Chicken
    • Ingredients Needed for this Zesty Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken:
    • How to make Zest Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
    • What to serve with BBQ Chicken
    • Check out these other quick and easy slow cooker recipes
    • Zesty Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

    Why this is the BEST Crockpot BBQ Chicken

    -Simple to prepare

    -The slow cooker does all the work for you. Simply place the ingredients into your slow cooker, move on with your day, and come dinnertime, shred and enjoy!

    -You can use the chicken on sandwiches, nachos, pizzas, wraps, baked potato, on salads, and more!

    -Perfect for potlucks and gatherings as you can easily double, triple, or even quadruple the recipe in your slow cooker

    -Leftovers freeze perfectly to use again at a later date

    -A great meal option to keep the heat out of the kitchen during the summer months

    Ingredients Needed for this Zesty Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken:

    • Chicken- you’ll want to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts as they are tender and shred easily. Yes, thighs and drumsticks work too, just not as simple to shred once cooked. Completely up to you on what meat cut you prefer
    • BBQ sauce- my favorite BBQ sauce to use in this recipe is a Mesquite, however, feel free to use your favorite! Some great options are Sweet Baby Ray’s, Stubb’s, Head Country, and Puckett’s
    • Zesty Italian dressing- a simple bottle, any brand works, but try to make sure it has the Zesty addition as that gives this the most flavor
    • Brown Sugar- adds a sweet addition to the sauce as it cooks
    • Worcestershire Sauce- don’t skip this as it really enhances the flavor! If anything, you can add a bit more if you’re a Worcestershire sauce lover like myself

    How to make Zest Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

    1. In your slow cooker, place chicken on bottom.
    2. In small bowl, combine the BBQ sauce, dressing, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.
    3. Pour mixture over chicken.
    4. Cover slow cooker and cook on high 4 hours, or low 6-7 hours.
    5. Once chicken is cooked, shred with a fork and serve as desired.

    slow cooker bbq chicken served on a hamburger bun with fries

    What to serve with BBQ Chicken

    We typically serve ours on hamburger buns and use the chicken leftovers the next day for nachos, in quesadillas, or even on a homemade pizza. This recipe makes a lot of chicken, so there are lots of way to use up the leftovers.

    When you serve this chicken, think BBQ. Any sides you would serve at a potluck or picnic work great!

    Some great options to consider are:

    ULTIMATE Potato Salad

    Easy BBQ Baked Beans

    Cowboy Beans

    Best Homemade Mac and Cheese

    Mom’s Pasta Salad

    Check out these other quick and easy slow cooker recipes

    Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken Enchiladas

    BBQ Chicken Nachos

    Easy Crockpot Crack Chicken

    Slow Cooker Pot Roast

    Tasty Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers

    Want to save this recipe?

    Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!

    Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
    Loading
    zesty BBQ chicken made in the slow cooker

    Zesty Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

    Recipe by: Kristin
    This Zesty Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe calls for only 5 ingredients, most of which you may already have on hand! Perfect for sandwiches, in wraps, on nachos, on its own, and more!
    4.67 from 3 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 4 hours hrs
    Total Time 4 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
    Course lunch, Main Course
    Servings 10
    Calories 301 kcal

    Equipment

    • Mixing Bowls
    • Slow Cooker
    • Slow Cooker Liners

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 lbs chicken *boneless/skinless is what I use
    • 18 oz BBQ sauce
    • ½ cup Zesty Italian dressing
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

    Instructions
     

    • In a slow cooker, place chicken on bottom.
    • In small bowl, mix together BBQ sauce, dressing, sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour mixture over chicken.
    •  Cover slow cooker and cook on high 4 hours, or low 6-7 hours. 
    • Once chicken is cooked, shred with a fork and serve as desired.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 301kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 13gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 735mgPotassium: 294mgFiber: 1gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 213IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 38mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @TheCookinChicks or tag #TheCookinChicks!

    More Chicken

    • stacked chicken quesadillas on a cutting board ready to serve.
      Southwestern Chicken Quesadillas
    • Jalapeno Chicken Salad on a croissant with lettuce.
      Jalapeno Chicken Salad
    • a one pan meal with simple ingredients.
      Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
    • a BBQ seasoned chicken stuffed tortilla grilled and stacked on a wood board.
      BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
    FacebookTweetPinEmail
    4.67 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Welcome to The Cookin' Chicks…I am so glad you've stopped by! I am Kristin, a busy mom of 3, a wife, and a family chef! There are three things that motivate me each day - Family, Faith, and FOOD! I, along with the occasional help of friends and family, want to share my food creations with you! So, I invite you to join me around my dinner table through the recipes that I will share with you here. I hope you will enjoy the journey as much as I do!

    More about me →

    Summertime recipes

    • Best Ever Juicy Burgers
    • Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken
    • Ultimate Potato Salad
    • a tropical Island themed dessert with simple ingredients.
      Hawaiian Cheesecake Salad
    • cold pasta salad served in a glass bowl
      Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
    • a refreshing BBQ side dish with vibrant colors and flavors.
      Mexican Street Corn Coleslaw

    Popular Recipes

    • Ultimate Chicken Casserole
    • French Onion Rice
    • Strawberry Pretzel Salad
    • an up close view of biscuits and gravy breakfast casserole
      Biscuits and Gravy Breakfast Casserole

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Legal

    • Privacy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About Me

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 The Cookin Chicks

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.