Crock Pot BBQ Chicken with Applesauce

Grab a napkin and dig into this easy BBQ Chicken in the Crock Pot recipe! This dinner recipe is sponsored by Smart & Final stores.

This crockpot BBQ chicken is definitely finger lickin' good (and super easy too)!

You can’t beat a pot of succulent, tender BBQ chicken that is pretty near effortless. That’s what you get with this slow cooker recipe. It’s perfect for feeding a big group because it’s just as easy to make four pounds of chicken as it is one (as long as it will fit in your crock pot)! The homemade BBQ sauce is made with a few common ingredients including applesauce, and it has a nice sweet, tangy flavor you’ll love.

This crock pot BBQ chicken is definitely finger lickin' good (and super easy too)!

You can get everything you need for this chicken recipe at your local Smart & Final store, which is great for shopping for group events because they sell most of their items in bulk. They have the value of a warehouse store but without the membership fee. Their stores are also manageably sized, so you don’t have to be in there for two hours to find what you need. I always look for their store brand, First Street, for the best value. Not only is the price right, buying this brand also supports their First Street, First Percent Program.

The Smart & Final Charitable Foundation supports four important areas – health and wellness, education, hunger relief, and team sports and youth development. Through their new First Street, First Percent program, when you buy First Street products, Smart & Final will give the first percent of net profit to their Smart & Final Charitable Foundation which supports local community nonprofits. I love when my shopping dollars can do some good, so I’m proud to promote their charity efforts.

Shop at Smart & Final for this crockpot BBQ Chicken, and support their charitable foundation with your purchase!

This crockpot BBQ chicken is such an easy way to cook for a crowd. It takes maybe 10 minutes to get it going, and then it cooks away in your slow cooker while you go on about your day. I recommend bone-in chicken with the skin because it stays juicy when cooked all day. However, you could also make this recipe with boneless, skinless chicken breasts and shred the cooked chicken at the end. Then you’ve got BBQ pulled chicken ready for sandwiches!

This slow cooker BBQ chicken is definitely finger lickin' good (and super easy too)!

I’m no stranger to bottled BBQ sauce, and you could definitely make this recipe just as written with store-bought sauce. I wanted to try making my own sauce this time though, and I used applesauce to sweeten it instead of sugar. The flavor turned out so great! I used hot sauce for the tangy vinegar flavor plus a little heat, but if you want mild sauce, try using apple cider vinegar instead. (I made a note about that in the recipe.)

This crockpot BBQ chicken is definitely finger lickin' good (and super easy too)!

If you really want to wow your friends at your next get together, serve this BBQ chicken crock pot recipe with ham and cheese potato salad! I made that easy side dish with First Street ingredients too, so you’ll be able to find everything in one place. Did you know there are over a dozen NEW Smart & Final Extra! stores? These larger stores have everything you need for day-to-day shopping, including local­ly grown and organic produce, fresh baked goods, baby products, and lots of grocery items in smaller sizes. To find a store near you, you can use the Smart & Final store locator!

To celebrate all these grand openings, Smart & Final is hosting a Grand Opening sponsored Twitter chat on Wednesday, May from 11, 12­-1 PM PST. They will be giving away a $250 SmartCash Card to a random winner! Anyone who follows @SmartFinal and tweets at least once with the #SFSnackChat tag during the scheduled party will be qualified and entered to win. Be sure to put it on your calendar!

Join a Twitter party on May 11 for a chance to win a $250 gift card!

Speaking of calendars, you should also add this BBQ chicken to your meal planning calendar! Let me know how you like it!

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This crock pot BBQ chicken is definitely finger lickin' good (and super easy too)!

Crock Pot BBQ Chicken with Applesauce

This easy slow cooker recipe is a simple way to make a big batch of BBQ chicken!

  • Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 3/4 cup First Street Ketchup
  • 1/4 cup First Street Cayenne Pepper Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon First Street Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 812 pieces bone-in skin-on chicken

Instructions

  1. Whisk together all ingredients (except chicken) in the crock of your slow cooker.
  2. Add chicken pieces, rolling them in sauce as you go. Spoon sauce over the top of each piece.
  3. Cook on low for 8 hours or until chicken is cooked through and tender.

Notes

If you prefer, you can substitute apple cider vinegar for the pepper sauce to make a milder dish. However, it is not too spicy as written.

  • Author: Andi
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Cook Time: 480

Thank you again to Smart & Final for sponsoring today’s recipe.

Andi Gleeson

16 comments

Cyndi - My Kitchen Craze
8 years ago

You had me at crock pot. These look amazing. I need to make them asap!

Jessica @ Sprinkle Some Sugar
8 years ago

Gahhhh I’m in love with this chicken! I <3 my crockpot

Cookin Canuck
8 years ago

I truly started salivating as soon as I saw these photos. That is some amazing looking chicken! We don’t have Smart & Final stores here, but it sounds as though their foundation is doing a lot of good.

Becky Hardin | The Cookie Rookie
8 years ago

This looks so tantalizing

Andi Gleeson
8 years ago

That sounds exciting :) Thanks, Becky!

Des @ Life's Ambrosia
8 years ago

I really need to do more chicken in the crockpot. This looks wonderful, Andi!

Andi Gleeson
8 years ago

I think it works best with dark meat chicken or bone-in chicken with the skin. I have to admit that I’m not always a fan of boneless skinless chicken breast in the slow cooker because they dry out so easily! Thanks, Des :)

Katerina @ Diethood
8 years ago

Lawwwd, that bbq sauce!! I could eat it by the spoonful. Awesome recipe!

Andi Gleeson
8 years ago

Thank you, Katerina!!

Hafsa
8 years ago

I love your bbq chicken. I really like your recipe. I will soon try this. Thanks for sharing :)

Andi Gleeson
8 years ago

Thank you so much, Hafsa! I hope you like it :)

Erin @ The Speckled Palate
8 years ago

Oh my goodness, Andi! This recipe… WOW. Droolworthy for sure! There’s something amazing about throwing your protein and a few ingredients into the slow cooker and letting them do their thing low and slow for hours, and this dish? Yeah, we’re gonna have to make it soon. It gets SO hot in Texas in the summertime that I’m always looking for entrees where I don’t have to turn on the oven or fire up the grill (because while we love grilled food, standing by the grill? H-O-T in the 100+ degree weather!) I’ve pinned this for later. Thanks for sharing!

Andi Gleeson
8 years ago

Thank you, Erin! I grew up in Mississippi, but I’m so spoiled now that I’ve been in San Francisco most of my adult life. It doesn’t get that hot here most of the time and definitely not muggy like back home. Now when I go home to visit, I try to avoid going in the summer because I feel like I will melt. Hang in there, and definitely enjoy your slow cooker this summer :) Thank you!

Erin @ The Speckled Palate
8 years ago

I didn’t know you were a Mississippi girl! I’m originally from Memphis, but I’ve lived all over… including a stint in Hattiesburg.

I’m jealous that you’ve been in San Francisco for most of your adult life and that you don’t have to deal with the sweltering summer heat of the South. We’re hoping to check out your neck of the woods sometime this or next because it sounds lovely!

And we absolutely WILL enjoy our slow cooker this summer! Cannot wait to try this recipe. We love barbecue!

Liz
8 years ago

THANK YOU ANDI FOR THE NICE RECIPE.

Andi Gleeson
8 years ago

Thank YOU for coming to see it :)

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