I don’t know about where y’all live, but it has been so hot and humid around D.C. lately. On days with temperatures above 90 degrees and air thick as water, I hardly want to eat, much less turn on the oven. My slow cooker and making salads or cold meals are a life saver on scorching spring and summer days.
For my first recipe on Cocktails with Mom, I thought it was only appropriate to share a tried and true recipe from North Carolina, which is where I was born and raised. We sure love our BBQ in the South. Depending on which southern state you visit, you can get all different sorts of BBQ. In NC, we prefer vinegar based BBQ sauce, which is what I used in this Southern Style Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwich recipe. Just because you don’t turn on your oven doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor.?Although this BBQ chicken is made in a slow cooker, it is just as tender, flavorful, and juicy as the BBQ pork or chicken that is cooked low and slow on the grill.
If you are experiencing scorching hot days, give your oven a break and grab your slow cooker. These sandwiches are a cinch to make and will keep your kitchen cool and family happy.
Southern Style Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders
seasoning salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder to taste
1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
1 16-oz. jar of your favorite BBQ sauce
1/4-1/2 cup cornstarch
6 hamburger buns
2 cups coleslaw
Season your chicken breasts with seasoning salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Lay the chicken breasts on the bottom of the slow cooker; top with chopped onion. Pour the BBQ sauce on top of the chicken and onion. Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 7-8 hours.
One hour before the chicken is done cooking, add the cornstarch to the slow cooker. (If you want a thicker sauce, add 1/2 cup of cornstarch.) Stir the cornstarch into the BBQ sauce; return the lid and cook for another hour.
Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place in a large bowl. Shred the chicken with two forks. (The chicken will be extremely tender, so it will almost fall apart itself.) Toast the hamburger buns. Place some of the BBQ chicken on a toasted bun and top with coleslaw. Enjoy!
Serves 6.
