Slow-cooker North Carolina style Barbecue

My husband had a really depressing weekend last week. His Phillies, who were expected to easily make it to the World Series, fell to “The Freak,” the San Fran Giants’ Tim Lincecum. His Eagles and their ever-going quarterback controversies had a heart-attack inducing loss to Tennessee. He's collecting tied games in his fantasy league. What do you do with a husband with a playoff beard with no playoffs? I knew I had to do something to cheer him up. Isn’t the way to any man’s heart through food?

Personally, I love a different type of barbecue, but Frank’s favorite barbecue is North Carolina style: vinegar based. Any excuse to use my slow-cooker and have my house smell glorious for hours of the day is worth using, though.

Ingredients: 
1 cup cider vinegar
1 tablespoon salt
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Three chicken breasts

Stir all ingredients (minus chicken) together inside crock pot. When thoroughly mixed, add chicken breasts. Cook on low for eight hours. When it’s ready, using two forks, shred chicken (this is really, really easy). Serve alone or on a bun.

Honestly, this recipe didn’t impress me, but as I said, I’m not a huge vinegar based barbecue fan. Frank, on the other hand, absolutely loved it, eating ever last bit of the left-overs for lunch the next day. So maybe it was awesome, and I just didn’t appreciate it. If you’re a NC-style barbecue fan, I hope you like it!

Happy cooking!

-KSP


(Click here for printable recipe)