Shredded BBQ Chicken Burgers. My go-to foolproof weeknight meal!
I know it’s not technically slow cooker season, but whatever. There are no rules anymore. These Shredded BBQ Chicken Burgers work for any time of the year in my book. And slow cooker recipes are one of the top requests here on WGC so I’m breaking it out today for this recipe!
These Shredded BBQ Chicken Burgers are looking pretty delicious from where I sit. I make this at least a few times a month! Mostly because it’s delicious, but also because Thomas always has something to have for lunch if this is in the fridge. It’s also easy to throw a spoonful of this on a brioche burger bun, slather on some guacamole and some shredded cheese and call it dinner. Or use the chicken portion of this recipe and slap it into a grilled cheese. Or stuff it into some enchiladas. You can’t go wrong. I speak from experience. You could have a beer alongside of it too, but I’d rather skip the beer and go for seconds on the shredded bbq chicken. Why drink my calories when I can eat them!
And if you can’t get your hands on all the ingredients to make the sauce from scratch, you can use 2-3 cups of your favorite BBQ sauce and you’ll still be a few hours away from an incredible meal.
Stuck in a dinner rut? Looking for new delicious dinner ideas? Check out my roundup of 50+ easy dinner ideas here.
Shredded BBQ Chicken Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 medium onion finely sliced
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons sweet paprika
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 3 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 8-10 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 6 hamburger buns
- 1 recipe Guacamole
- 1 cup shredded colby jack cheese
Instructions
- In your slow cooker, combine the onion, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, tomato paste, paprika, Worcestershire, salt and pepper. Whisk to combine.
- Add the chicken thighs and make sure they are all evenly spread out and coated with the sauce ingredients.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and turn to high heat for the Shredded BBQ Chicken to be done in 4-5 hours, and low for Shredded BBQ Chicken to be done in 7-8 hours.
- Once the timer is up, remove the lid and using 2 forks, shred the chicken while still in the crock pot. Turn the crock pot to warm and serve the Shredded BBQ Chicken on top of burger buns with a heaping spoonful of guacamole and shredded colby jack cheese.
Thank you so much for this recipe! We love the Easy Mexican Shredded Chicken recipe and this sounds as if it’s a delicious variant. Also, as a relatively new Crockpot user, I’m always grateful for new recipes to make with it.
Fabulous-looking burgers, Gaby! 🙂
Oh MAN! This looks great, Gaby. And I’m using my slow cooker right now for a chicken. ‘Tis the season.
This is exactly what we’ve been eating for the past week now. Sooooo good!
Why don’t I do something like this more often? These burgers looks absolutely perfect! Thanks for the okay to just leave the crock pot on the counter!
omg, this is ridic. I totally want this for dinner – it looks AMAZING!! good gosh, i love that mile high guac stack!
These look so yummy! My husband will flip over this I will be making them soon!
Usually hubby doesn’t eat a lot of chicken but I am trying this!
Love all the guac in these burgers!
I need that. Right now. I wonder if the Crock-Pot Hook Up is available in Canada? I’m going to have to do some sleuthing.
I showed this to my hubby for a dinner option for “Fun Food Friday”. His response: “I love you”. So I’d say that’s a yes!
hahahaha BRILLIANT!
Those sandwiches look so amazingly good!
Whoa, does those ever look good! I need to make this a regular meal in our house.
This looks so very yummy! I see a Crock-Pot night in my future! Thanks Gaby!
I love every single thing about these <3 Guac and shredded bbq chicken and cheese – YUM <3 i want these right now
I love this recipe. I use my crock pot all the time. I tend to make pork most often but I think I see Shredded Chicken in our future.
Absolutely adore these. Great flavors!
yes please!!! I gotta go haul my crock pot out of the basement for a sandwich like this!
Hi Gaby! Reading this at 9 am and drooling! I don’t have a slow cooker (no plans and no room). Howe would you suggest converting this to either a stovetop or oven?
Hi Dana! You could do this in a large heavy bottom pot – and do it over the stove top. Just keep it on low and slow!!
good lord, that looks delicious!! would the spices work well with a pork roast? i’m going to attempt making shredded pork for the first time, and have been hunting for a fantastic recipe (which this definitely looks like!!)
These burgers look super yummy! I can’t wait to try them!
Do you take the skin off of the chicken thighs before or after cooking?
I buy boneless skinless thighs!! I should have clarifies – sorry! So take the skin off before cooking 🙂
Hi Gaby, Where did you get your crock pot?
Thanks, Rachel
you can find it here: http://www.crock-pot.com/top-sellers 🙂
Love my crockpot and delighted to find this recipe! We prefer chicken breasts. Use half the # of thighs? Any other recipe modifications needed?
I’d use 3 chicken breasts for this recipe!!
Thanks! It’s on the menu for the weekend! 🙂
do you put the chicken in frozen or thaw it first?
thaw it first!
Just made this tonight. It was so delicious! My husband and I loved the guac on top of the chicken. So darn tasty. Just an FYI: I used 10 chicken thighs and set the crock pot on high for 6hrs. It was done in 4hrs.
Made these last night and OMG they were so good and a huge hit with everyone. Can’t believe how easy it was to make. Thx, Gaby!
SO happy to hear! xo
This looks yummy! Did you use boneless thighs? Also, how can I adapt this recipe to oven or stove top?
yes to boneless! I haven’t tested it oven or stove top so please let me know if you try it!
Oh man, does this ever look like the best thing ever!!
I made this tonight, was absolutely delicious. I made it in my pressure cooker and the sauce cake out really thin. Any tips for keeping that from happening?
that happens in the pressure cooker because it doesn’t thicken up and evaporate! If you can simmer for a few minutes at the end with the lid open, that will absolutely help
Can’t beat a good slow cooker recipe and this looks incredible! Can’t wait to try for my fam. Pinned!
Would make a good sub when you can’t have pork. Honest to goodness, though, my eyes hurt from trying to read the font on this page. Am I the only one with this problem? It looks all washed out.
you can use boneless skinless chicken thighs
One of my FAVORITES! So easy to make and such a hit. The guac is a must!
It is still slow cooker season here, so this is very timely!! These look so satisfying!!
Approximately how much chicken by weight would you recommend? 8-10 thighs you say is equivalent to 3 breast in a comment below but the size of chicken pieces varies wildly so I think including the weight would be helpful. Thanks!
3 lbs!
I only have chicken breasts/tenders , would this also work? Thighs are more flavorful I know BUT this is what I have on hand right now. I really want to try this !
Thanks
yup! absolutely! might not cook for as long, so once its shreddable, shred it up and eat!
I hate chicken thighs, I know I should live them but I don’t, would chicken breast be suitable? Any adaptations I need to make?
yes!! that works!
Love it .. the fams loves it .. its the bets …. thanks gaby!!!!!
Curious if I can adapt with cooked rotisserie chicken and how I could do that?
yes! you could add some BBQ sauce to a shredded rotisserie chicken and then you’re golden!
Made this tonight using the slow cook function on my instant pot! Had to just reduce the sauce some at the end but this was SO EASY and SO DELICIOUS!! Even my very picky 5 year old loved it. Will absolutely make this again and again.
So easy with so much flavor!
I made this last night and lets just say…YUM! Thank you so much for this haha my family loved it.
So… I didn’t have a whole bunch of the ingredients, but this was the bomb. I didn’t have ketchup (used canned tomatoes, extra vinegar, some brown sugar and some garlic and onion powder), and I used 2 chicken breasts and 4 thighs (these shredded better). I did 5 hours on the high slow cook function on the instant pot. I had to simmer the sauce a bit for it to thicken, but that’s on me for messing with the recipe. I didn’t have Avos, so went for slaw instead, and I didn’t have cheese. I hate reviews that don’t actually follow the recipe, but I’m confident this would only be better (and easier) as instructed. And if you don’t have some of the ingredients, it will still probably be delish.
I’ve been making BBQ chicken sandwiches for years using breasts – switching to thighs and Gaby’s sauce is a definite game changer. No need to try any other combination for the remainder of my days cuz this is THE best! Thanks, Gaby!!
i’ve made this before and it was delicious, as are all gaby’s recipes. i would like to make it for a halloween party (about 20 guests) can this recipe be doubled?
absolutely – no issue at all!
Hi there! Would time be the same to make with chicken breasts instead? Not a fan of chicken thighs! Also,
breasts would cook faster!
Could you do this in a Le Creuset and put in the oven? If so suggestions for timing? I saw this in your GH and G magazine and really want to make for the family. Thanks!!
Can you sub regular paprika for sweet? Can’t seem to find sweet anywhere in my local stores.
yes sweet is regular!!
Super easy to make and taste incredible!!