Description
Tender, juicy BBQ shredded chicken simmered in a rich, smoky, tangy barbecue sauce. This easy one-skillet recipe is ready in just 30 minutes and perfect for sandwiches, tacos, rice bowls, and meal prep.
Ingredients
1 cup barbecue sauce
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup water
1½ to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper, to taste
3 tablespoons (42g) butter, salted or unsalted
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, and water until smooth and well combined. Set aside.
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Heat a large skillet with a lid over medium-high heat. Add the butter and allow it to melt. Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the skillet and cook until lightly golden on the first side, then flip.
- Pour the prepared barbecue sauce mixture evenly over the chicken breasts. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Cover the skillet and cook for 5 minutes. Flip the chicken breasts, cover again, and cook for another 3 to 6 minutes, or until the thickest part reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Continue cooking if necessary.
- Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, leave the skillet uncovered and gently simmer the barbecue sauce, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
- Use two forks to shred the rested chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the shredded chicken to the skillet and stir until thoroughly coated in the thickened barbecue sauce.
- Serve warm on toasted sandwich buns, in tortillas, over rice, or with your favorite side dishes. Add extra barbecue sauce if desired.
Notes
Barbecue sauce: Choose your favorite thick barbecue sauce, whether sweet, smoky, tangy, or slightly spicy. The sauce provides most of the recipe's flavor.
Chicken thighs: Substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs for chicken breasts if preferred. Adjust the cooking time until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Spicy variation: Add hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or crushed red pepper flakes to the barbecue sauce for extra heat.
Honey BBQ variation: Stir 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey into the barbecue sauce for a sweeter, slightly sticky finish.
Smoky variation: Add a little smoked paprika or a few drops of liquid smoke for a deeper smoky flavor.
Garlic variation: Add minced garlic or garlic powder to the sauce for additional savory flavor.
Butter substitution: Replace the butter with a small amount of olive oil or neutral cooking oil if desired.
Serving suggestions: Serve the shredded chicken on toasted hamburger buns with coleslaw and pickles, in tacos with lettuce and cilantro, over fluffy rice, or on baked potatoes.
Prevent dry chicken: Avoid overcooking, use a meat thermometer, allow the chicken to rest before shredding, and keep the shredded chicken coated in barbecue sauce.
Refrigerator storage: Store cooled chicken with its sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for up to 3 to 4 days.
Freezer storage: Divide the chicken and sauce into meal-sized portions and freeze in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to 2 to 3 months for best quality.
Stovetop reheating: Warm in a covered skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of water or extra barbecue sauce, stirring occasionally until heated to 165°F (74°C).
Microwave reheating: Place chicken in a microwave-safe dish with a little water or barbecue sauce. Cover loosely and heat in short intervals, stirring between intervals until heated to 165°F (74°C).
Reheating from frozen: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating thoroughly.
Make ahead: Prepare the chicken 1 to 2 days in advance and refrigerate with the sauce until ready to reheat and serve.
Cooking time may increase slightly when using particularly thick chicken breasts. Always confirm doneness with a meat thermometer.
Nutrition values are estimates per serving and exclude sandwich buns, tortillas, rice, toppings, and other side dishes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet, Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 250 g)
- Calories: 390 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 43 g
- Cholesterol: 155 mg
