Applesauce BBQ Chicken {Slow-Cooker}

Super easy slow-cooker recipe that I also doubles as a great shredded chicken sandwich recipe!  I loved the taste of this - making this and serving the chicken breast over rice with a vegetable side for dinner, and the leftovers were shredded right in the slow-cooker in the sauce, and served the next day on burger buns as BBQ chicken sandwiches served with a side of homemade coleslaw for lunch.  It's a great recipe find from the folks over at Who Needs a Cape? from their "freezer to crock-pot series."
~Enjoy! Diane 

Applesauce BBQ Chicken {Slow-Cooker}

Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 t ground pepper
3/4 cup chunky applesauce, 
3/4 cup BBQ sauce, your choice
2 T brown sugar
2 tsp chili powder
cornstarch/water
​Directions:
Place chicken breasts and all the seasonings into a freezer gallon bag, seal bag and message all the ingredients together, freeze until ready for cooking.  Thaw out overnight OR thaw for 15 mins on defrost cycle of microwave in the morning (mine doesn't fully defrost, it just gets all the ingredients to the point that it will slide out of bag and into Slow-cooker. I did make and mix in a cornstarch and water 'slurry' to thicken up the sauce near the end of cook-time.  
Cook on High for 6-8 hours,  from frozen or 
6-8 hours on low/medium, if the recipe is being cooked from 'fresh.'
​(always use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked properly)  
Serves 4

Diane's Recipe Note/s: 
1) This is a 'Double Duty Recipe': If you have leftovers, the chicken can be shredded in the sauce and served on fresh hamburger buns for a great chicken BBQ sandwich.
2) If you can't find "chunky" applesauce, use regular and toss in one diced fresh apple into the slow-cooker with other ingredients when ready to cook. 

Recipe Adapted from: Who Need's a Cape?  "Crockpot Applesauce BBQ Chicken"
Photo by: Diane Baker for Canning and Cooking at Home