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Slow Cooker Comfort: Pulled Barbecue Chicken

December 1, 2021 General /FamilyRecipes

Imagine a quiet and calm dinner where your entire meal comes together quickly without a fuss! It’s possible with the slow cooker. What could be easier than preparing a few simple ingredients, adding them to the slow cooker, and then walking away while dinner and even dessert practically cook themselves? Our recipe for Pulled Barbecue Chicken is delicious and nutritious, and it is sure to keep you and your family warm and well-nourished during the cold days of winter.

Pulled Barbecue Chicken

If the flavor of barbecue sauce appeals to your family, then they’ll love this Pulled Barbecue Chicken, made easily in the slow cooker with boneless, skinless chicken thighs, barbecue sauce, and three nutritious vegetables: carrot, bell pepper, and onion. You can serve our pulled chicken over rice, in soft tacos, or wrapped inside a lettuce leaf.

Makes 8 to 10 Servings

  • 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 10 thighs)
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and shredded on the large holes of a box grater (1 cup)
  • 1 medium green or red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch dice (1½ cups)
  • 1 small onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice (1 cup)
  • 1¼ cups barbecue sauce, divided
  • Add the chicken, carrot, bell pepper, onion, and 3/4 cup of the barbecue sauce to a 5 or 6-quart slow cooker and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is cooked through, 4 to 5 hours.
  • When done, use two forks to shred the meat apart. You can do this right in the slow cooker. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup barbecue sauce until the meat and vegetables are well coated. See serving suggestions on next page.

Nutrition Information per Serving (about ¾ cup):

260 calories, 9g fat (2.5g saturated fat), 500mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate, 1g fiber, 26g protein, 30% vitamin A, 20% vitamin C

One Meal Served 3 Ways

Our recipe for Pulled Barbecue Chicken is perfect when you are cooking for a big group or if you plan to feed your family throughout the week. (Or freeze the leftovers in zippered bags for later.) To add excitement to this warm and comforting meal and to keep the kids from getting bored with the same chicken dish three days in a row, change up the way you serve it.

chickenbowl

Chicken Bowl

Place half a cup of cooked brown rice in a bowl and top with the pulled chicken and your choice of toppings.

softtacos

Soft Tacos

Warm a stack of soft corn tortillas and then top each with the pulled chicken and your choice of toppings. You’ll need one to three tortillas per person.

lettucecups

Lettuce Cups

Use the outer leaves of iceberg or Bibb lettuce to create cute “cups,” and then fill them with pulled chicken and your choice of toppings. You’ll need one to three lettuce “cups” per person.

Optional Toppings

lime

Lime Wedges

beans

Beans

green-onions

Green Onions

avocado

Avocado

cilantro

Cilantro

Low-fat shredded Cheddar cheese

SourCream

Low-fat plain Greek yogurt or sour cream

Side-Lying

Side-Lying Hold

  1. For the right breast, lie on your right side with your baby facing you.
  2. Pull your baby close. Your baby’s mouth should be level with your nipple.
  3. In this position, you can cradle your baby’s back with your left arm and support yourself with your right arm and/or pillows.
  4. Keep loose clothing and bedding away from your baby.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • You had a C-section
  • You want to rest while baby feeds
  • You are breastfeeding in the middle of the night
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
cross-cradle

Cross-Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, use your left arm to hold your baby’s head at your right breast and baby’s body toward your left side. A pillow across your lap can help support your left arm.
  2. Gently place your left hand behind your baby’s ears and neck, with your thumb and index finger behind each ear and your palm between baby’s shoulder blades. Turn your baby’s body toward yours so your tummies are touching.
  3. Hold your breast as if you are squeezing a sandwich. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  4. As your baby’s mouth opens, push gently with your left palm on baby’s head to help them latch on. Make sure you keep your fingers out of the way.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby is premature
  • Your baby has a weak suck
  • Your baby needs help to stay latched
  • Your baby needs extra head support
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
Football

Clutch or “Football” Hold

  1. For the right breast, hold your baby level, facing up, at your right side.
  2. Put your baby’s head near your right nipple and support their back and legs under your right arm.
  3. Hold the base of your baby’s head with your right palm. A pillow underneath your right arm can help support your baby’s weight.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Bring baby to you instead.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • You had a C-section
  • You have large breasts
  • You have flat or inverted nipples
  • You have a strong milk let-down
  • You are breastfeeding twins
  • Your baby likes to feed in an upright position
  • Your baby has reflux
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
CRADLE hold

Cradle Hold

  1. For the right breast, cradle your baby with your right arm. Your baby will be on their left side across your lap, facing you at nipple level.
  2. Your baby’s head will rest on your right forearm with your baby’s back along your inner arm and palm.
  3. Turn your baby’s tummy toward your tummy. Your left hand is free to support your breast, if needed. Pillows can help support your arm and elbow.
  4. To protect your back, avoid leaning down to your baby. Instead, bring your baby to you.
  5. Reverse for the left breast.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby needs help latching on
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position
laid-back

Laid-Back Hold

  1. Lean back on a pillow with your baby’s tummy touching yours and their head at breast level. Some moms find that sitting up nearly straight works well. Others prefer to lean back and lie almost flat.
  2. You can place your baby’s cheek near your breast, or you may want to use one hand to hold your breast near your baby. It’s up to you and what you think feels best.
  3. Your baby will naturally find your nipple, latch, and begin to suckle.

This hold is useful when:

  • Your baby is placed on your chest right after birth
  • You have a strong milk let-down
  • You have large breasts
  • You and your baby are comfortable in this position