It is too darn hot to be using the stove/oven, don’t you think? The grill is a great option for hot days, but we have recently been getting the most inconvenient thunderstorms right around dinnertime. I wanted to find some recipes that are perfect for summer but can also be made in a slow cooker so your whole kitchen doesn’t heat up. This one for Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Sandwiches is really easy to make: you brown the chicken, line the slow cooker with onions and garlic, pour the sauce over the chicken, and let it cook for 3 hours. You’re left with a really tender pull-apart chicken perfect for summer evenings!
![]()
Ingredients:
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Sriracha
- 8 hamburger buns, toasted
- radicchio, sliced
I made this in my Ninja Cooking System, which allows me to brown the chicken in the system instead of using a separate pot. Either way works!
Begin by turning your Ninja Cooking System to high heat. (If using a normal slow cooker, heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat). Drizzle with olive oil. Add the chicken and cook about 5 minutes on each side, or until browned.
![]()
If using a Ninja Cooking System, remove the chicken and place on a plate. Turn the cooking system to slow cooker low. (If using a normal slow cooker, turn the slow cooker on to low). Arrange the onion and garlic at the bottom of the slow cooker/cooking system and place the chicken on top of the mixture.
![]()
Combine the ketchup, cider vinegar, molasses, Dijon mustard, onion powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and sriracha, mixing with a whisk.
![]()
Pour over the chicken.
![]()
Cover and cook on low for 4 hours until the sauce thickens and the chicken is tender.
![]()
Remove the chicken from the slow cooker. Shred with 2 forks (or if you’re lazy like me, you can use the dough hook on your stand mixer… snazzy trick, right?)
![]()
Mix the shredded kitchen into the sauce.
![]()
Grill the buns and fill with 3/4 cup chicken mixture.
![]()
Top with sliced raddicho.
![]()
When I was mixing the chicken into the sauce, I was really thought there wouldn’t be enough to keep it moist, especially because the recipe called for white meat instead of thighs.
![]()
But. It was the perfect amount of sauce and the chicken was incredibly tender and moist!
![]()
This makes a ton of food which is great for a large group. I refrigerated the leftovers and was able to eat these delicious sandwiches all week. No complaints here!
![]()
Ingredients
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Sriracha
- 8 hamburger buns, toasted
- radicchio, sliced
Instructions
- Begin by turning your Ninja Cooking System to high heat. (If using a normal slow cooker, heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat). Drizzle with olive oil. Add the chicken and cook about 5 minutes on each side, or until browned.
- If using a Ninja Cooking System, remove the chicken and place on a plate. Turn the cooking system to slow cooker low. (If using a normal slow cooker, turn the slow cooker on to low). Arrange the onion and garlic at the bottom of the slow cooker/cooking system and place the chicken on top of the mixture.
- Combine the ketchup, cider vinegar, molasses, Dijon mustard, onion powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and sriracha, mixing with a whisk.
- Pour over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours until the sauce thickens and the chicken is tender.
- Remove the chicken from the slow cooker. Shred with 2 forks (or if you’re lazy like me, you can use the dough hook on your stand mixer… snazzy trick, right?)
- Mix the shredded kitchen into the sauce.
- Grill the buns and fill with ¾ cup chicken mixture.
- Top with sliced raddicho.


What do you think?