When the weather turns hot, this 3-ingredient slow cooker chicken is the kind of supper that saves the day. You can get everything into the cooker in just a few minutes, let it gently simmer away, and come back to tender shredded chicken coated in a rich, glossy sauce. It is a practical, family-friendly dinner for busy summer days when nobody wants to stand over a hot stove.
This chicken is wonderful served over fluffy rice, buttered noodles, or creamy mashed potatoes to catch every bit of the sauce. For a lighter summer plate, spoon it onto sandwich buns with a simple slaw, or pair it with sliced watermelon, corn on the cob, or a crisp green salad for an easy meal that feels complete without heating up the kitchen any more than necessary.
3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Summer Heat Relief Chicken
Servings: 6
Ingredients
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
1 cup barbecue sauce
1 packet dry Italian dressing seasoning
Directions
1. Place the chicken in the bottom of your slow cooker in an even layer.
2. Pour the barbecue sauce over the chicken, then sprinkle the dry Italian dressing seasoning evenly across the top.
3. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is very tender.
4. Shred the chicken right in the slow cooker with two forks and stir well so all the pieces are coated in the sauce.
5. Serve warm over rice, on buns, or however your family likes it best.
Variations & Tips
Use chicken thighs: If your family likes especially juicy shredded chicken, boneless skinless thighs are a lovely choice. They stay tender and flavorful in the slow cooker and shred very easily.
Make it sweeter or smokier: Since there are only three ingredients, the flavor of your barbecue sauce matters a lot. A honey-style sauce makes it a little sweeter for kids, while a smoky sauce gives it more backyard cookout flavor.
Turn it into sandwiches: Pile the shredded chicken onto soft hamburger buns and add crunchy slaw or pickle slices. This is one of my favorite ways to make the meal feel fun and easy for a family dinner.
Freeze for later: Let the chicken cool, then pack it into freezer containers with some of the sauce. It reheats nicely for another busy day, and having it ready ahead is a real gift during warm weather.
Keep it from drying out: Check the chicken at the earlier end of the cooking time, especially if your slow cooker runs hot. As soon as it shreds easily, it is ready, and that helps keep the texture nice and tender.