This crockpot BBQ chicken is an easy way to make pulled chicken that's mouthwateringly good with minimal effort. It's chicken breasts that are slow cooked in a simple mix of BBQ sauce and seasonings.
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About This Recipe
This recipe will make you the hero at your next BBQ party or family dinner. It's sweet, flavorful pulled chicken that can be served plain or in a variety of ways (see further down the page for ideas)!
We also like to make this recipe for meal prep — my husband has been requesting a large batch every week as his lunch to take to work.
How to Make Crockpot BBQ Chicken
It doesn't get any easier than this recipe: simply add all of the ingredients to your slow cooker and let it do the cooking. Once your chicken is cooked through, shred it into pieces and enjoy!
Ingredient Notes
- BBQ Sauce: this recipe tastes best with a sweet, dark sauce but you can use your favorite brand.
- Chicken: this recipe calls for chicken breasts but you could also use chicken thighs.
- Apple cider vinegar & Worcestershire sauce: these are both not completely necessary but they really ramp up the flavor of the chicken.
How to Use BBQ Chicken
You can eat this chicken plain (we love it served with mashed potatoes and a side salad) or use it in a few different ways:
- Serve it in a bun
- On top of a salad
- In a wrap
- Taco filling
- Pizza topping
- Use it in our BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Frequently Asked Questions
We like to use a sweet, dark sauce for this recipe but you could use your favorite brand or flavor.
Cook your chicken for 6 - 8 hours on low or 3 - 4 hours on high, until the chicken is cooked through to 165°F.
The easiest way to tell if your chicken is cooked is with an instant read thermometer. This one is our favorite (and it has 30,000+ reviews)!
Yep, you sure can: cook your chicken in the oven at 425°F for about 25 minutes, or until cooked through. Shred it and then toss it with the sauce. Sometimes you'll need a little more BBQ sauce with this method.
Storage
Cool and store your leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 - 4 days in the fridge. It's not recommended to freeze your leftovers as it will change the texture of the chicken.
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Recipe
Crockpot BBQ Chicken
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 - 7 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This crockpot BBQ chicken is an easy way to make pulled chicken that's mouthwateringly good with minimal effort. It's chicken breasts that are slow cooked in a simple mix of BBQ sauce and seasonings.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 4 - 5 breasts)
- 2 cups BBQ sauce
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Make the sauce: add all of the sauce ingredients to a small bowl and stir to mix: BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, paprika and onion powder.
- Add to crockpot: place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker. Pour the sauce over them and toss to coat. Arrange the chicken breasts so that they are in a single layer, if possible.
- Cook: cook on low for 6 - 8 hours or high for 3 - 4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through to 165°F.
- Serve: remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred with 2 forks or your fingers into bite-sized pieces. Return it to the slow cooker and toss until it’s coated in the sauce. Serve plain or on a bun.
Notes
- BBQ Sauce: I use a dark, sweet sauce for this recipe but you can swap it out for your favorite brand and flavor of sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: bbq, chicken, crockpot, pulled, shredded, slow cooker
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