3 ways to use easy slow cooker shredded bbq chicken

not only is slow cooker shredded bbq chicken an easy & healthy weeknight dinner, it’s SUPER versatile. here are 3 of my favorite ways to use it (without eating the same thing all week long!).
this Recipe for Later!

this is the story of a gal who loves to eat, cook, & spend time in the kitchen. she lives with her husband, who also loves to eat & spend time in the kitchen, but he also really hates eating leftovers. & while she doesn’t mind eating leftovers, eating the exact same thing all week long gets old pretty quick.

do you feel me?!?!

??????????

& while cooking for 2 isn’t particularly hard, cooking for 4-6 is so much easier, especially when it comes to easy weeknight cooking – like spicy white chili, eggplant lasagna, or easy & healthy 5-ingredient slow cooker bbq chicken.

so. what’s our leading lady to do??

she gets creative with leftovers, that’s what.

easy & healthy shredded bbq chicken is the perfect slow cooker recipe to get creative with.

earlier this week, i shared one of my favorite easy & healthy weeknight dinner solutions: 5-ingredient slow cooker shredded bbq chicken. it’s so freakin’ easy (thanks to a handy-dandy instant pot or slow cooker), pretty freakin’ healthy (it can even be paleo-friendly or whole30 complaint depending on the bbq sauce you use!), & really freakin’ versatile (sandwiches! quesadillas! nachos! salads!).

the only real downside about shredded bbq chicken is the leftovers dilemma.

because it’s so easy to make, i’ll always opt to make a big batch all at once. & while freezing the extra shredded bbq chicken (that you know you’re not going to use from the get-go) is an easy enough solution, what’s even easier is figuring out how to use it as our main protein in different dishes throughout the week.

& since you guys have been going crazy for the easy & healthy everyday weeknight dinners i’ve been sharing this fall, i thought this would be the perfect opportunity to show you exactly how i deal with the shredded bbq chicken leftover dilemma in our house by finding slightly different ways to use the chicken throughout the week.

creatively repurposing leftovers a few different ways throughout the week is a totally achievable way to keep dinnertime delicious, easy, & stress-free.

here are 3 of my favorite ways to use easy slow cooker shredded bbq chicken throughout the week – without eating the same meal over & over & over again: [envira-gallery slug=”3-ways-use-easy-slow-cooker-shredded-bbq-chicken”]

1. shredded bbq chicken stuffed sweet potatoes.

aka the ultimate weeknight dinner. i love serving loaded sweet potatoes during the week because they are so dang easy, especially with the shredded bbq chicken already prepped. typically, i get home & throw the potatoes in the oven to bake while i do my evening workout & dinner is ready to be prepped by the time my workout is over. plus, there’s the whole spicy-sweet thing going on with the bbq sauce & the sweet potatoes. a totally satisfying easy & healthy dinner!

here’s what you need:

1 sweet potato per serving (i’ll usually do 2-3 & keep one on hand for an easy lunch)
a splash of olive oil
a handful of shredded kale (or any other greens you like or have in your crisper)
shredded bbq chicken
toppings as desired (greek yogurt, sour cream, shredded cheese, perfect guacamole, etc. all optional, all delicious!)

here’s how i do it:

preheat the oven to 425 degrees. poke the sweet potatoes a few times with a fork & place on a foil- or parchment-lined baking sheet. bake for 45 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender.
place a pan on the stove over medium heat. toss in the oil & greens, seasoning with a pinch of salt to taste. heat until slightly wilted, about 3 minutes. add in the shredded bbq chicken & continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is heated through.
slice a slit lengthwise in each potato. gently press each end towards each other to open the potato a little bit. use a fork to fluff the flesh of the potato & stuff with the kale & shredded bbq chicken mixture. serve with toppings of choice, as desired.

2. shredded bbq chicken meal prep bowls.

say hello to the easiest weekday lunch ever. shredded bbq chicken gets paired with quinoa, black beans, & mashed avocado (or perfect guacamole!) & topped off with a little sprinkle of cheese & fresh cilantro. it’s easy to make a few all at the same time & boom – you’ve got a grab & go lunch ready for a few days of the week!

here’s what you need:

1 cup uncooked quinoa
1 15-oz can black beans, drained & rinsed
shredded bbq chicken
queso fresco (or cheese of choice), for sprinkling over top
cilantro, chopped
2 avocados or one batch of perfect guacamole

here’s how i do it:

cook the quinoa according to package directions.
set out 4 reusable storage containers. i love using pyrex because it’s heat-resistant, microwave-safe, & easy to store, but use whatever you like.
divide the quinoa & beans evenly between all of the bowls. add shredded bbq chicken to each bowl & top with queso fresco & cilantro.
pack the guacamole separately, in a small airtight container with plastic wrap pressed down onto it. as long as you can keep air from getting to the surface of the guac, it should hold. if you’re packing an avocado, halve it in the morning before you head out the door. store each half in an airtight bag, with as much air as possible pressed out.
to serve, reheat the bowl until heated through & top with guacamole/avocado. enjoy!

3. shredded bbq chicken sliders.

aka the easiest party food ever. i looooooove serving up shredded bbq chicken sliders at casual get-togethers like a game-day party or an impromptu girls’ night. warm up the chicken, set out all of the shredded bbq chicken sliders fixings, & let your guests build their own sliders. totally low maintenance party food, & totally delicious.

here’s what you need:

shredded bbq chicken (be sure to ask about any dietary restrictions or allergies your guests may have so you can choose a barbecue sauce that everyone can enjoy!)
slider rolls (hawaiian dinner rolls will forever be my favorite!) & bibb lettuce cups (for any celiac or paleo guests!)
perfect guacamole (aka the ultimate shredded bbq chicken topping)
other toppings of choice: sliced jalapeños, finely diced pineapple, shredded cheese, thinly sliced roasted red bell pepper, chopped cilantro, etc.

here’s how i do it:

set out all of the toppings & rolls in advance, before your guests arrive.
when you’re ready to serve, reheat the shredded bbq chicken & set in the center of your spread.
let your guests build their own sliders, & enjoy!

if you like these 3 ideas to use slow cooker shredded bbq chicken, here are some other easy dinner recipes you’ll be obsessed with: [envira-gallery slug=”slow-cooker-bbq-chicken-related-posts”]

pin these these 3 ideas to use slow cooker shredded bbq chicken for later!

this post may contain affiliate links to products i use & truly love. thank you, as always, for supporting plays well with butter!