Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken Rolls with Crunchy Slaw
Tender chicken thighs slow cooked in BBQ sauce, shredded into soft rolls with a sharp, crunchy cabbage slaw.
Made with Homemade BBQ sauce and Basic vinaigrette. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time4 hr 20
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.37 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put the onion in the bottom of the slow cooker and lay the chicken on top. Season with salt and pepper.
- 2
Mix your ready made BBQ sauce (see the base recipe) with the water and cider vinegar, and pour over the chicken.
- 3
Cover and cook on low for 4 hours, or on high for 2 hours 30 minutes, until the chicken is falling apart and cooked all the way through.
240 min - 4
Shred the chicken with two forks right in the pot and stir it through the sauce. If it is thin, cook uncovered on high for 15 minutes.
15 min - 5
Toss the cabbage and carrots with your ready made vinaigrette (see the base recipe) and a pinch of salt.
- 6
Warm the rolls, fill with pulled chicken and top with the slaw.
Tips
- Thighs stay juicy over a long cook, unlike breast meat, which turns dry and stringy.
- Slow cookers vary. Check the chicken at the minimum time and shred it with a fork to test.
- Make the slaw just before serving so it keeps its crunch.
Storing and freezing
Keeps 3 days in the fridge, cooled within 2 hours. Freeze the pulled chicken for up to 3 months and reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I cook this in the oven?
Yes. Cook covered in a casserole dish at 150C for 3 hours until the chicken shreds easily. Add a splash of water if it looks dry.
Can I use chicken breast?
Yes, but cook it for less time, around 3 hours on low, and keep the sauce around it. It shreds but is drier than thigh.
Is it gluten free and dairy free?
Yes, with gluten free rolls and stock. The sauce and vinaigrette are gluten free, dairy free and egg free.
More made with homemade bbq sauce
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.