Looking for a fast, delish dinner celebrating the best berries you’ll eat all year? This Spicy Strawberry BBQ Shredded Chicken is a unique way to showcase the versatility of strawberries – and can be ready in less than 30 minutes in your electric pressure cooker!
I took the plunge, ya’ll.
After months of people telling me I should get a pressure cooker, Black Friday finally made me crack. I couldn’t pass up half-off the fastest way to cook…well, everything.
The big, smiling Amazon box showed up at my door the following day, and it was like Christmas had come early when I opened that shiny new Instant Pot. Of course, Mr. Crumby and I were leaving on vacation a couple of days later, so I christened it a week later by making some shredded chicken.
Holy moly, you guys don’t know what you’re missing.
This Spicy Strawberry BBQ Shredded Chicken can be made on the stove top or in the slow cooker and it will taste just as delicious – but when you’re pressed for time? Pull out that Instant Pot!
JUST TAKE ME TO THE SPICY STRAWBERRY BBQ SHREDDED CHICKEN ALREADY!
If you’d rather skip my (pretty darn helpful) tips and tricks, essential cooking info, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to this deliciously easy shredded chicken recipe, just scroll right on down to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card!
This Spicy Strawberry BBQ Shredded Chicken is unbelievably delicious!
Being a Southern girl, I was raised to love love LOVE BBQ. It’s like a religion down here.
Beef, brisket, ribs, chicken, pulled pork, beans: as long as it’s smothered in tangy, smoky reddish-brown sauce, consider it eaten.
Not all BBQ sauces were created equal.
One particular flavor that deserves its fair share or drool – how does spicy roasted strawberry BBQ sauce sound?!
YEAH?! That’s what I thought, too.
I’ve had some super creative BBQ flavors – this Blackberry BBQ Sauce immediately comes to mind.
I had my first bite of strawberry BBQ sauce a few years ago during a media tour with Florida Strawberries.
To say I fell in love would be an understatement. I cobbled together a quick version shortly after I got home and smothered it all over some baked chicken…and ate it far too fast (and very much like a heifer at her trough if I’m being honest) to even snap a pic as proof that I made it.
So, that happened. Now here we are, practically a year later, and I’m finally sharing the beauty of an adapted version of that recipe with you – paired with the simplest pressure cooker shredded chicken.
Sorry if I’m a bit tardy with it. I’m glad I held out on the first recipe, though, because this one is soooooooo much better.
I love that I can brag about using some of the freshest Florida strawberries to make it for you, though! November ushered in berry season here in Florida, and I can’t wait for them to make it to where you live this winter!
So you can whip up a batch of that sauce, obvs, and serve your family the goodness that is this shredded chicken.
Speaking of vacations, since returning from ours, Mr. Crumby has been eating really well while he tries to get us both in half-marathon shape. Even though the holiday season is full of sweets and other nasty temptations, we’ve been doing our best to keep our portions small, our ingredients clean, and our appetites calm.
Because resisting licking the bowl while I bake is totally impossible. And try to keep me from quality control when the goods are out of the oven.
Meal planning (and that pressure cooker!) has helped a TON, and I’m so proud of my hubby for how proactive he’s been on that front. I play my part in it, of course, and we ate this shredded chicken for 3 days last week and never got tired of it.
BBQ may not be the most health-forward food, but pouring strawberry-loaded sauce on chicken breasts is about as healthy as you can make it!
Take into account the protein in the chicken, plus the fact that eight medium strawberries contain more vitamin C than an orange – you’re definitely getting a good helping of nutrition with every bite.
Strawberries are also virtually fat-free, contain no cholesterol, and are an excellent source of folic acid and potassium – meaning you don’t have to feel bad about sweetening your sauce with a bit of sugar or honey. Research by the USDA indicates that strawberries also may help fight cancer and heart disease.
So pile that mound of saucy pressure cooker shredded chicken and strawberry goodness high, and feel good about your pre-holiday meal decisions!
They don’t call this the most wonderful time of the year for nothing.
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Spicy Strawberry BBQ Shredded Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless chicken breasts
- 2 cups chicken stock
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Garlic powder to taste
Spicy Strawberry BBQ Sauce
- 1 pound fresh strawberries halved
- ¾ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tablespoons strawberry preserves
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or more if desired
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 3-4 drops Liquid Smoke optional
Instructions
- Season chicken breasts as desired (I used salt, pepper, and garlic powder) and place them in pressure cooker or slow cooker with chicken stock. Cook according to appliance directions (they took 20 minutes in my pressure cooker.) When chicken is cooked, remove from stock and place in a large bowl. Use 2 forks to shred chicken. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a large sheet of aluminum foil and fold the sides up to form short walls to hold in the juices. Place the strawberries in a single layer and roast for 15-20 minutes.
- While berries are roasting, combine remaining ingredients in a medium sauce pot set over medium-high heat, stirring well to combine. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- When strawberries are out of the oven, stir them in to the sauce pot. Simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until sauce is thick and coats the back of a spoon.
- Remove sauce from heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes, then use a blender or immersion blender to puree to a smooth consistency.
- Mix half of BBQ sauce in with shredded chicken and serve on buns, leaving remaining BBQ sauce on the side for drizzlin’. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Take a gander at these beautiful recipes highlighting our pride and joy Florida strawberries!
Appetizers
- Balsamic Strawberry Brie Bites by Casa de Crews
- Roasted Strawberry Chipotle Sauce by Grumpy’s Honeybunch
- Savory Strawberry Crostini by Cooking Chat
- Strawberry Apple Salsa by Renee’s Kitchen Adventures
- Strawberry Hummus by The Freshman Cook
Desserts
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries by Desserts Required
- Classic Eton Mess by Sunday Supper Movement
- Fresh Strawberry Pie by Recipes Food and Cooking
- Goopy Goop – A Healthy Strawberry Sauce by Cricket’s Confections
- Strawberry Bundt Cake by Caroline’s Cooking
- Strawberry Layer Cake with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting by Family Around The Table
Main Dishes
- Grilled Balsamic Strawberry & Chicken Kabobs by Books n’ Cooks
- Grilled Fish Topped with Strawberry Salsa by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Spicy Strawberry BBQ Shredded Chicken by The Crumby Cupcake
- Strawberry and Arugula Pizza by A Mind “Full” Mom
- Strawberry Balsamic Brie Grilled Cheese by Authentically Candace
Side Dishes
- Strawberry Almond Couscous by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Strawberry Bread by An Appealing Plan
- Strawberry Bruschetta Side Salad by April Golightly
- Strawberry Coleslaw by Family Foodie
- Strawberry Pecan Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
Marion Myers says
Loving this recipe! That sauce! Yummmm Thanks for sharing, and I hope you have a very merry holiday season, Erica 🙂
Ellen says
I love making shredded chicken sandwiches. Can’t wait to try your strawberry BBQ sauce!
David @ CookingChat says
what a creative use of strawberries! sounds so flavorful! healthy too.
Cindy Kerschner says
Great for game day!
Caroline Williams says
You know, strawberry BBQ sauce had been my other thought before I decided on cake, so I’m so glad you made this as this way, I can try both! Looks great!
Shelby says
Girl, I want to take a huge bite out of that right now! Looks yummy!
Betsy @ Desserts Required says
OMG….I am literally drooling over my screen. I HAVE to make this dish for baby boy and me!!! Great tips about our delish Florida Strawberries, too!
Alicia says
Can you water bath this bbq sauce for canning?
Erica says
I would imagine that you can, yes! I’m not sure 100% if it will keep as long as regular BBQ due to the strawberries, though – but maybe since they’re roasted and then cooked down, it might!