When the weather is hot and nobody wants to stand over the stove, this 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Dog Days Chicken is the kind of supper that saves the day. It uses raw boneless skinless chicken thighs and a handful of everyday pantry ingredients to make a tender, saucy main dish with almost no fuss. Slow cooker chicken dinners like this are a favorite in busy family kitchens because they turn simple ingredients into something comforting and flavorful by dinnertime.
This chicken is wonderful served over fluffy white rice, buttered egg noodles, or mashed potatoes to soak up every bit of the sauce. For a fresh side, add steamed green beans, sweet corn, a crisp garden salad, or simple cucumber slices. If you are feeding a hungry crowd, warm dinner rolls and a bowl of fruit make it feel like a full summer family meal without much extra work.
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Dog Days Chicken
Servings: 6
Ingredients
2 pounds raw boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup apricot preserves
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
Directions
1. Lightly coat the inside of a slow cooker insert with nonstick spray if desired. Arrange the raw boneless skinless chicken thighs in an even layer in the bottom.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the barbecue sauce, apricot preserves, soy sauce, and yellow mustard until smooth and fully combined.
3. Pour the sauce over the chicken, making sure all the pieces are coated. Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is very tender and cooked through.
4. Use two forks to gently shred the chicken right in the slow cooker, or leave the thighs whole if you prefer. Stir well so the chicken is coated in the thickened sauce.
5. Serve hot over rice, noodles, or potatoes, with extra sauce spooned over the top.
Variations & Tips
For picky eaters: If your family likes milder flavors, use a sweeter barbecue sauce and reduce the soy sauce slightly. Serving the chicken over plain rice helps balance the sauce and makes it easy for little ones to enjoy.
Make it a sandwich: This chicken is delicious piled onto soft sandwich buns for an easy slow cooker chicken sandwich night. Add a scoop of coleslaw on top if your family likes a little crunch.
Keep the sauce thicker: If the sauce seems a little thin after cooking, remove the lid and let the chicken sit on HIGH for about 15 to 20 minutes before serving. Stirring the shredded chicken back into the sauce helps it soak up even more flavor.
Add vegetables: For an easy all-in-one meal, serve this chicken with steamed vegetables on the side, or stir in cooked bell peppers or tender green beans just before serving so they keep their color and texture.
Storage tip: Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in a covered container. The chicken reheats nicely for quick lunches, wraps, baked potatoes, or another simple supper later in the week.