There is something mighty satisfying about a supper that asks almost nothing of you and still comes out tasting like you fussed half the day. This slow cooker 3-ingredient apple butter chicken is one of those country-kitchen treasures, the kind of recipe passed quietly from one home cook to another because it simply works. The apple butter melts down with the sauce into a sticky, sweet, gently spiced glaze that keeps the chicken tender clear through, making it a fine warm-weather dinner when you do not want to heat up the whole house.
This chicken is especially good with buttered egg noodles, fluffy mashed potatoes, or a scoop of plain white rice to catch every bit of that glossy sauce. For a summer table, I like it with green beans, sweet corn, or a simple cucumber salad to balance the sweetness. A pan of warm biscuits on the side never hurts either, especially if there is extra sauce left in the slow cooker.
Slow Cooker 3-Ingredient Apple Butter Chicken
Servings: 4 to 6
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup apple butter
1 cup barbecue sauce
Directions
1. Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of a black slow cooker in a single even layer.
2. In a bowl, stir together the apple butter and barbecue sauce until smooth and well combined.
3. Pour the sauce over the chicken, covering the pieces as evenly as you can.
4. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours, until the chicken is very tender and cooked through.
5. Spoon the sauce over the chicken before serving, or lightly shred the meat right in the cooker if you want it extra saucy for noodles, rice, or sandwiches.
Variations & Tips
Use chicken thighs: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work beautifully here and often turn out even more tender than breasts. They hold up especially well if your slow cooker runs hot or if dinner gets delayed a little.
Make it smokier: If your barbecue sauce is on the sweeter side, choose one with a little smoky flavor to keep the dish from tasting flat. That smoky note plays especially nicely against the apple butter and gives the sauce a deeper cookout-style taste.
Turn it into sandwiches: Shred the finished chicken and pile it onto soft sandwich buns. A little coleslaw on top makes a fine supper and stretches the recipe nicely if you are feeding extra folks.
Watch the cooking time: Because apple butter contains natural sugars, the sauce can thicken and darken as it cooks. Check the chicken at the earlier end of the time range so it stays tender and does not dry out.
Add a small pinch of spice if you like: Even though the charm of this recipe is its simplicity, a pinch of black pepper, garlic powder, or red pepper flakes can be added if you want a little extra kick without changing the character of the dish.