Make this Slow Cooker Root Beer Chicken this weekend instead of grilling. Great on hamburger buns or on rice!
I had to give this Root Beer Chicken a try in my slow cooker after how good my Root Beer Baked Beans turned out last year. Some may scoff at adding soda to a savory dish but it is no different than adding a brown sugar to a barbecue recipe!
In the summer I look forward to grilling but there are so many days of the week that I have to prepare dinner and grilling isn’t what I have time to do. I love making simple slow cooker recipes that are barbecue flavored and cook up corn on the cob with it! We still eat outside but I am having to do much less work.
How to make:
You will need these ingredients:
- Chicken thighs – well trimmed of fat
- Barbecue sauce- I like Sweet Baby Rays
- Root Beer
- Oregano
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Cayenne Powder
Add the chicken to the slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low for 7 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
Shred the meat with 2 forks and serve on buns or even on rice. What a fun meal for the summer. If you are a root beer super fan you’ve got to make these Root Beer cupcakes from Cincy Shopper to go along with these. The kids would go crazy.
What other cuts of chicken can be used in this recipe?
- Chicken drumsticks
- Boneless skinless chicken breast
- Bone-in thighs or breasts
- Chicken tenderloins
- Whole chicken (more time)
- Chicken wings (less time)
Pretty much any cut of chicken you have on hand will work fine in this recipe.
If you use a whole chicken make sure it is thawed completely and cook until no pink is left, I suggest 8 hours on low for a whole chicken.
If you want to use chicken wings in this recipe you won’t need to cook more than 5-6 hours on low. Beware that chicken wings in the slow cooker fall apart very easily, very tasty but very messy.
Equipment
- Recomended Slow Cooker Size: 3 quart or larger
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs well trimmed of fat
- 1/4 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp. onion powder
- 1.5 cups barbecue sauce I use Sweet Baby Rays Original
- 12 oz. can Root Beer I use A & W
- 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Add the chicken to the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle over the oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne over the chicken
- Pour over the barbecue sauce,
- Pour over the root beer.
- Cover and cook on low for 7 hours.
- Shred chicken with 2 forks and serve over buns or rice.
Question: Is Diet Root Beer OK to use in this?
I am unsure Tim. It would be hard to say without trying it. Sorry!
I may try this using Virgil’s Zero Sugar Root Beer. Looks amazing
For a low sugar diet, is it possible to use a stevia based root beer, like zevia or would it greatly change the taste? Thanks! Looks yummy!
I have not tried, if you do try let me know.
Can coke be used instead.
Yes! would work great.
My family absolutely loves this, I have made it 3 times now and it has turned out great each time.thanks so much for so a simple yet very tasty recipe.
Is it suitable for toddler’s dinner as well? Without chayenne for sure. But soubting about the root beer. Has anyone experienced?