Slow Cooker Pulled BBQ Chicken

I would love to bear-hug whoever it is that invented the crock pot.  Anybody know?  Hold on a second, I will Google it…

OK, I’m back. Sigh. It was just some white collar R&D guy named Robert Scott who worked for Rival Corporation circa 1970. I was hoping to find an interesting story here.  You know, a harried housewife sick of being chained to her kitchen morning, noon, and night  invents a life-changing cooking device, goes on to defy 1970’s gender stereotypes by becoming CEO of a little-known company which she eventually sells to Big Appliance, allowing her to retire in gazillionaire comfort, never having to step foot in a kitchen again.

Not this time, I guess, but sounds like a good made-for-TV movie, doesn’t it?

So, here I was on Friday afternoon with nary an idea in my head as to what to make for dinner on what would be another busy night of baseball and soccer.  I hadn’t cooked for the family in a week. We were still living off Memorial Day cookout leftovers, sandwiches, and frozen pancakes. Balanced meals?  Sure. Variety?  Minimal.  Fresh? More questionable by the day.  It was time for me to buck up and figure something out.  I took a look at my crockpot, and then the bags and bags of soft hamburger rolls left over, and realized I had all the makings for pulled BBQ chicken sandwiches.

Sweet and savory, and so easy it can hardly be called cooking.  I threw it all in the crockpot (frozen chicken, even!) and walked away feeling accomplished, like I’d just solved the Rubik’s Cube.  If your family likes BBQ, they should love this!

Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwiches
Serves 4

1 lb. boneless chicken tenders or chicken breasts
1 c. ketchup
2 T. brown sugar
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 T. soy sauce
1 T. cider vinegar
1 1/2 t. garlic powder
1 t. smoked paprika (regular paprika is fine, too)

1) Combine all ingredients except chicken in a small bowl, mix well.
2) Put chicken in crockpot. Cover with sauce, and stir to coat.
3) Cook, covered, on ‘high’ setting for 3-4 hours.
4) Shred chicken in the pot using two forks.
5) Serve on soft hamburger buns or in tortillas.