I’m so late to the slow cooker game.
I’m perpetually late to everything, really.
In true fashion, I started out with a beer-centric recipe. I’m hoping this is strange to you. Even if it’s not, I guarantee you that this slow cooker BBQ Beer Chicken is good.
When I had my place in Atlanta, the kitchen was so small I literally couldn’t shove one more appliance in. Now that I’m in San Diego, the kitchen is huge and Vegas came with a slow cooker. It took me 10 months, but I finally started experimenting.
For my next trick, I was inspired by Rebecca’s Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken. I used her guidance, but added a South-meets-San Diego twist by using BBQ sauce made with a local SoCal beer.
I’m still stunned by how easy this whole slow cooking thing is. I just threw everything into one pot. Not a single bowl or pan for Vegas to clean.
Pssssst… this is the BBQ sauce I included in my holiday gift guide.
I tossed everything in the cooker in the morning, and by dinner we had a delicious meal! The meat was so tender that I decided to serve it shredded over a salad. It would make an awesome sandwich too.
The mushrooms and onions were perfect with the sauce. They softened up perfectly in the cooker… so much easier than having to patiently let them soften in a pan.
Side note: I also made Lindsay’s Crock Pot Sweet Potato Chili and it was fantastic.
[Tweet “Need a quick dinner idea? Try BBQ Beer Chicken in a slow cooker! #fitfluential”]
Slow Cooker BBQ Beer Chicken
- 1 medium red onion, chopped
- 10 baby bella mushrooms, sliced (~2 C)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 bottle (16.9 oz) Stone Brewing Co. Smoked Porter BBQ Sauce*
- 1/2 C lite culinary coconut milk
Place onion, mushrooms, and garlic in the bowl of your slow cooker.
Prepare chicken by removing excess fat and pounding the meat (option, but make it super-tender). Place on top of veggies in cooker.
Pour over BBQ sauce and coconut milk, tossing lightly to coat. Cover with lid and cook on low for 6 hours.
Makes 4 servings.
*Note: No Stone? You can use your favorite BBQ sauce here… and stir in your favorite beer.
How have you enjoyed making co-workers, friends, or family stare with strange but good creations this week? The link up rules can be found here or by clicking on “Strange But Good” in the menu bar above. In short, I want to see what concoctions have earned you weird looks from co-workers, family and friends! Post your Strange But Good creations, grab the logo below for your blog, and link up here.
Remember to use #strangebutgood in any Tweets and Instagrams of your creations. 🙂
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I’m joining in the Foodie Friday fun this week too – so many great recipes here!
Do you have a slow cooker?
What’s your favorite slow cooker recipe?
Just pinned for my husband I think he would enjoy!
Awesome! I hope he does. 🙂
I cannot believe you have not tried a slow cooker. You have been missing out friend! I’ve been wanting to try that BBQ sauce as well since I saw Rebecca’s post!
UM YES> You know I love cooking with alcohol. (BEER ME A BEER), and I’m from Atlanta (praise Daddy D’s), so you know that I love my BBQ
I soooooo miss good BBQ! I used to love Fox Bros.
The slow cooker is awesome. It’s so nice to come home to dinner already ready.
Will you be in ATL for the holidays at all?
No… it’s my first Christmas away. 🙁
That’s all you need! A bottle of some good sauce (salsa, bbq, buffalo) and chicken and BAM…perfect meal that will never let you down!
slow cooked chicken is the best kind of chicken, especially when it involves BBQ! This looks awesome Laura 🙂
Omg I’ll be trying this! Love my slow cooker & I’m from Oklahoma so we definitely love our BBQ haha 😉
OK has some good stuff too!!! California needs to step it up.
I love the coconut milk addition- how yummy! Crock pots are my cooking refuge, but I must say they are a pain to clean!
This is the kind of chicken I’m liking recently – sounds yummy!!
I’m still cracking up over you liking chicken.
I have heard of using beer in recipes, and I’ve never done it, but you sparked that desire again. Maybe next time we have beer in the house, I’ll use it to make this.
I LOVE chicken in the crockpot, but have never thought to add beer to the mix!!! I know John will be on board with it!
Beer makes everything better. 🙂
Fucking need to take you to Bludseo’s – you would die….
Ok. For chopped liver? 😉
Sadly, they don’t have chopped liver there…. But the BRISKET… Oh the brisket!
Droooooling. This looks awesome!
Oh my holy goodness, that looks delicious!! I dont use my crock pot nearly as often as I should!!! <3 – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
This looks SO good and I LOVE slow cooker meals so keep them coming xo C
Thanks Courtney!!! It’s been so fun to experiment.
pretty sure you’re going to be obsessed with all things slow cooker now. It’s magical! let’s see what you come up with next!!
Magical is the perfect word. 🙂
I’m late to everything too.
You inspire me to bust out my slow cooker. I have zero energy or motivation to cook during the week right now. Some slow cooker meals would be fantastic for curbing that. Either that, or you could just come cook for me. I’ll give you booze and granola. 🙂
How about you come here and I’ll cook for you and Lucie. 🙂
Hooray! I’m all about the slow cooker recipes! I’ve never tried cooking with beer before, but this looks so good, I’m probably gonna have to change it up! :O
So funny that this is the first post I stumbled upon..I was literally just drooling over my boyfriend’s beer (which I can’t have because gluten) and then I see this glorious image of bbq beer chicken…the drooling has begun again 😛
You have to get some good gluten-free beer! Have you had Estrella? That’s the one my sister likes.