Easy & Flavorful BBQ Shredded Chicken Burritos: Your New Weeknight Favorite

Following the tremendous success and ease of our Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos with Corn Salsa, we decided to take a beloved recipe and give it a slight, yet incredibly satisfying, twist. This time, we’re transforming that delicious, tender BBQ chicken into mouth-watering burritos, perfect for any meal of the day. If you loved the tacos, you’re going to adore these burritos – they offer the same fantastic flavors with an equally simple preparation method, making them an ideal choice for busy families.

One of the best aspects of making Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken is its incredible versatility and the generous yield it provides. Preparing a large batch means you can easily freeze portions of the shredded chicken, making future meals a breeze to assemble. This recipe truly shines as a perfect way to utilize those delicious leftovers or pre-prepped chicken, transforming them into a fresh and exciting dish in mere minutes. It’s a culinary hack that saves time, reduces food waste, and keeps your family happily fed.

Why These BBQ Shredded Chicken Burritos Will Be a Family Hit

These BBQ Shredded Chicken Burritos are more than just a meal; they’re a solution for hectic weeknights and a canvas for culinary creativity. Here’s why they deserve a permanent spot in your recipe rotation:

• Unbeatable Convenience: If you’ve already prepared your slow cooker BBQ chicken, assembling these burritos takes mere minutes. It’s perfect for those evenings when you need a quick yet satisfying dinner.
• Flavorful & Satisfying: The smoky, sweet, and tangy notes of BBQ chicken perfectly complement the fresh, vibrant crunch of the corn salsa, all wrapped in a soft tortilla. It’s a symphony of textures and tastes.
• Budget-Friendly: Utilizing leftover chicken or making a large batch to stretch meals helps keep your grocery budget in check. Plus, ingredients like tortillas, corn, and beans are generally affordable staples.
• Highly Customizable: These burritos are a fantastic starting point. Add your favorite toppings, switch up the cheese, or introduce new vegetables to cater to everyone’s preferences.
• Freezer-Friendly Meal Prep: The slow cooker chicken is ideal for batch cooking and freezing, making future meal prep even faster. You can have a delicious dinner ready to go with minimal effort.

Crafting the Perfect BBQ Shredded Chicken Burrito: Key Components

The beauty of these burritos lies in the synergy of a few simple yet incredibly flavorful components. Each element plays a crucial role in creating a well-rounded and delicious eating experience.

The Star: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

Our foundation is the incredibly tender and flavorful Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken. The slow cooking process ensures the chicken is fall-apart tender, making it easy to shred and infuse deeply with your favorite BBQ sauce. For this recipe, you can opt for a classic store-bought BBQ sauce for ultimate convenience, or elevate the flavors with a homemade version. Experiment with different types of BBQ sauce – from sweet and sticky honey BBQ to smoky and spicy chipotle varieties – to find your family’s preferred profile. Using chicken breasts ensures a lean protein, but thighs can also be used for a richer flavor and even more moisture.

If you’re making the chicken from scratch for this recipe, simply place 2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in your slow cooker. Add about 1-1.5 cups of your chosen BBQ sauce, perhaps a splash of chicken broth or water to keep it moist, and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is easily shredded with two forks. Once shredded, stir it back into the sauce for maximum flavor absorption.

The Fresh Contrast: Vibrant Corn Salsa

What truly elevates these burritos is the bright and zesty Corn Salsa. It provides a delightful crunch and a burst of freshness that cuts through the richness of the BBQ chicken. This salsa is incredibly easy to prepare and can even be made ahead of time, making it another fantastic meal prep component.

• Frozen Corn (cooked and thawed): The sweetness of corn is essential. Using frozen corn is a convenient way to get consistent flavor and texture year-round. Ensure it’s fully thawed and drained.
• Diced Tomatoes (drained): Canned diced tomatoes work perfectly here. Draining them well prevents the salsa from becoming watery. You could also use fresh, ripe diced tomatoes if they are in season for an extra pop of flavor.
• Black Beans (drained): Black beans add a hearty, earthy element and extra protein, making the burritos even more filling. Rinse them thoroughly before adding.
• Fresh-Cut Cilantro: This herb is non-negotiable for that authentic, vibrant taste. Its peppery, citrusy notes are crucial for lifting the entire dish.
• Fresh Lime Juice: A squeeze of fresh lime juice is the magic ingredient, bringing all the flavors together with a bright, tangy finish. Don’t skip it!

Simply combine all these ingredients in a bowl, toss gently, and let the flavors meld for a few minutes before serving. This salsa isn’t just great in burritos; it’s also fantastic on tacos, with chips, or as a side dish.

The Vehicle: Soft Flour Tortillas

Large, soft flour tortillas are the ideal wrapper for these flavorful fillings. Their pliability makes them easy to fold and hold all the delicious ingredients securely. You can warm them slightly in a dry pan, microwave, or oven for a few seconds before assembling to make them even more flexible and pleasant to eat.

Optional but Recommended: Grated Mexican Style Cheese

A sprinkle of grated Mexican-style cheese blend (or your favorite cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Colby) adds a creamy, melty component that takes these burritos to the next level. It provides a comforting richness that complements the bold flavors of the BBQ chicken and salsa.

You’ll be amazed at how simple it is to bring these incredible flavors together. This recipe is designed to be straightforward, making the most of pre-prepared ingredients to deliver a fresh meal in moments.

Created by: Kristy Still

BBQ Shredded Chicken Burritos

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Ingredients

  

• Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
• Corn Salsa
• Flour Tortillas
• Grated Mexican Style Cheese Optional
• For the Corn Salsa:
• 2 cups frozen corn cooked and thawed
• 1 14.5- oz. can diced tomatoes drained
• 1 15- oz. can black beans drained
• ¼ cup fresh-cut cilantro
• Fresh lime
• Combine all ingredients together and toss.

Instructions

• Prepare the Chicken and Salsa: Ensure your Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken is cooked and shredded according to the recipe instructions, and your Corn Salsa is prepared by combining the thawed corn, drained diced tomatoes, drained black beans, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
• Warm the Tortillas: Lightly warm your flour tortillas in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 10-15 seconds per side, or microwave for 15-20 seconds, until soft and pliable. This step makes them easier to roll and more enjoyable to eat.
• Assemble the Burritos: Lay a warm tortilla flat. Spoon a generous amount of the shredded BBQ chicken mixture down the center, followed by a spoonful of the vibrant corn salsa. If desired, sprinkle grated Mexican-style cheese on top of the fillings.
• Fold and Serve: To fold, bring the bottom edge of the tortilla up over the filling, then fold in the sides, and finally, roll it up tightly from the bottom to create a neat burrito. Serve immediately. These burritos can be enjoyed hot or cold depending on your preference. We recommend warming them slightly before serving for the best experience.
• Note for BBQ Chicken: If you’re preparing the BBQ chicken fresh, you can simply use 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts and top them with your favorite homemade or store-bought BBQ sauce in the slow cooker. Cook until tender enough to shred, then stir well to coat.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Servings

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Tips for Success and Delicious Variations

While the basic recipe is incredibly simple, a few extra tips and tricks can elevate your BBQ Shredded Chicken Burritos even further:

• Warm Tortillas: Don’t skip warming your tortillas! It makes them much more pliable, preventing tearing and making them easier to roll. A quick zap in the microwave, a few seconds in a dry hot skillet, or even wrapping them in foil and heating them in the oven work wonders.
• Don’t Overfill: It’s tempting to load up your burritos, but overfilling can make them difficult to roll and messy to eat. Aim for a balanced amount of chicken and salsa.
• Additional Toppings: Get creative with your toppings! Consider adding a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt, sliced avocado or guacamole, pickled jalapeños for a kick, shredded lettuce for extra crunch, or a drizzle of your favorite hot sauce.
• Spice It Up: If you love heat, add a pinch of chili powder or cayenne pepper to your BBQ chicken, or finely dice some jalapeños into your corn salsa.
• Dietary Adaptations: For a gluten-free option, use corn tortillas (ensure they are warmed well to prevent cracking) or certified gluten-free flour tortillas. For a low-carb alternative, serve the BBQ chicken and corn salsa in lettuce cups or over a bed of mixed greens as a burrito bowl.

Meal Prep & Leftovers: Maximize Your Time and Flavor

This recipe is a meal prepper’s dream. The slow cooker BBQ chicken can be made days in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, or frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw the frozen chicken in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. The corn salsa can also be prepared a day or two ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge, allowing the flavors to deepen even further.

Having both components ready means assembling these burritos is truly a “seconds” task. Just warm your tortillas, fill, and enjoy! This makes it a fantastic option for busy weeknights when cooking from scratch isn’t feasible, or for quick lunches.

If you have leftover filling, don’t let it go to waste! Repurpose it into:

• Tacos: Simply swap the flour tortillas for hard or soft taco shells.
• Quesadillas: Layer the chicken, salsa, and cheese between two tortillas and grill until golden and melty.
• Salad Topping: Add the flavorful chicken and salsa to a bed of fresh greens for a hearty salad.
• Burrito Bowls: Serve over rice or quinoa for a complete and satisfying bowl meal.

These BBQ Shredded Chicken Burritos are truly simple to make, proving that delicious, home-cooked meals don’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. They harness the power of leftovers and smart meal prep to bring a fantastic new meal to your table in a flash. Enjoy!

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