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    You are here: Home / Savory / Pulled Chicken (Crock Pot BBQ Chicken)

    Pulled Chicken (Crock Pot BBQ Chicken)

    July 6, 2018 By Sam 487 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure policy.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

    A simple recipe that shows you how to make Crock Pot BBQ chicken (also known as BBQ Pulled Chicken!) at home in your slow cooker!  This is a quick, easy, and so flavorful recipe that’s perfect for any party, potluck, or picnic!

    Pulled chicken in the basin of a slow cooker

    My oven broke earlier this week and as I type this it is currently in pieces across the kitchen while Zach works on repairing it. If all goes as planned, we’ll be back in the baking business by the end of the day, but just in case it doesn’t I have a batch of Crock Pot BBQ Chicken simmering in my slow cooker and ready to go for dinner tonight.

    This Crock Pot BBQ Chicken has come in handy a lot this week while I’ve been oven-less, but it’s actually been my go-to dinner option for the past few summers. It’s a great and simple dinner option any time of the year, but especially during the summer when the weather’s too hot and humid for me to feel like turning on the oven.

    Preparation involves the following:

    • Pour BBQ sauce (I use Sweet Baby Ray’s) and spices in crockpot.
    • Add Chicken and cover with sauce.
    • Cook.  Shred.  Enjoy.

    A BBQ Chicken sandwich with extra bbq sauce over the meat

    Boom, done. Delicious.

    And yes, I do use a pre-made BBQ sauce as the base for this recipe, though I also add other seasonings and spices to really develop the flavor. This is how I’ve made this Crock Pot BBQ Chicken for years and it keeps it simple, something you can toss together in the morning before you go to work without a second thought and it’ll be ready to serve when you walk back through the door in the evening.

    That said I may also be working on developing my own BBQ sauce, which I’ll definitely link to whenever I get that down 100%… stay tuned.

    Until then I’m sharing this well-tested and well-loved pulled chicken recipe, It tastes great on a fresh roll but I also enjoy eating it by the forkful out of a bowl, no roll required.

    Chicken breast in a barbecue marinade in the slow cooker

    This recipe is so simple that I don’t have many tips to include today — it’s essentially foolproof, there are just a few FAQ’s I’d like to cover.

    Can you overcook chicken in a slow cooker?

    Yes, overcooking your chicken will result in meat that is tougher and drier than desired.  For best results, monitor your chicken for it to reach a temperature of 160F and it should be easy to shred.  For this recipe that means cooking it around 3-4 hours on high, or 6-7 hours on low.

    What goes well with pulled chicken?

    Most salads and side dishes go well with pulled chicken.  These are my personal favorites:

    • Deviled eggs
    • Broccoli salad
    • Macaroni and Cheese
    • Corn Salad

    BBQ Pulled Chicken sandwich on a wooden platter beside a ketchup dish

    Alright, wish me luck with my oven because this is a pretty nerve-wracking ordeal for me, seeing it in 20 pieces across my kitchen!

    Enjoy!

    How do you make pulled chicken in a crock pot?

    BBQ chicken

    Crock Pot BBQ Chicken

    A simple recipe for how to make BBQ pulled chicken (also known as Crock Pot BBQ Chicken!) at home in your slow cooker!  This is a quick and easy recipe that's perfect for any party, potluck, or picnic!
    4.97 from 130 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 3 hours
    Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 394kcal
    Author: Sam Merritt

    Ingredients

    • 3.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast¹ (1.5kg)
    • 2 cups BBQ sauce (I use Sweet Baby Ray's)
    • ¼ cup light or dark brown sugar packed (60g)
    • 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ¼-½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Combine BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and crushed red pepper in the basin of a slow cooker
    • Place chicken breast in sauce and use a spoon to cover with sauce.
    • Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high 3-4 hours.  Chicken is done when it is easily shredded with a pair of forks.  
    • Shred chicken and stir well to coat with BBQ sauce.  Serve.

    Notes

    ¹As per food safety guidelines, frozen chicken breast should be thawed before being cooked in a slow cooker and you should not cook chicken breast from frozen.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 394kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 127mg | Sodium: 968mg | Potassium: 922mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 300IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.

    Tried this recipe? Show me on Instagram!Mention @SugarSpun_Sam or tag #sugarspunrun!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Angie

      May 21, 2022 at 2:56 pm

      Oh dear! We don’t eat much bread. Do you think this would taste good over rice? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        May 23, 2022 at 9:33 am

        Absolutely, Angie! Enjoy ❤

        Reply
        • Angie

          May 23, 2022 at 11:03 am

          Thanks, Emily: What I loved about this recipe was how little time it took to make. I used walnuts (pre soaked and dehydrated) instead of almonds and it was so good! (I have to soak my nuts in order to digest them.)

    2. kristine frey

      March 31, 2022 at 9:56 am

      5 stars
      We love this in our house! There’s nothing like a taste of a summer cookout in the middle of winter 😊

      I’d like to make this for a birthday party coming up. Could I double (or triple) the recipe? Would I need to manage any adjustments to the cool time? thanks for any ideas or ideas!

      Reply
      • Sam

        March 31, 2022 at 10:18 am

        Hi Kristine! As long as it all fits in your crockpot you probably won’t need to make many adjustments to the cook time, but I haven’t tried it. You’ll just want to make sure to check it to ensure it’s completely done. 🙂

        Reply
        • kristine frey

          April 01, 2022 at 6:27 pm

          5 stars
          Ok, thanks so much, Sam. Really grateful for this recipe—and your helpful feedback! I’ll give it a whirl 😊

    3. J Salt

      March 23, 2022 at 5:28 pm

      5 stars
      Always a hit at my house! I add an onion sliced and it almost caramelizes while the chicken is cooking. Yum!

      Reply
    4. Sam

      February 02, 2022 at 10:43 am

      5 stars
      Always a big hit when I make this!

      Reply
      • Jen

        March 12, 2022 at 6:49 pm

        Can I freeze half the recipe/ leftovers after its already been cooked? I’m only cooking for 2 people so that would be helpful

        Reply
        • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

          March 14, 2022 at 10:14 am

          You sure can, Jen! Enjoy 😊

    5. Beth

      January 30, 2022 at 10:29 am

      Could you use frozen chicken breasts? And approximately how many breasts is 1.5 pounds?
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        January 31, 2022 at 3:05 pm

        Hi Beth! It’s not recommended to cook frozen chicken in a crock pot–it makes a breeding ground for bacteria. Also, it really depends on the size of the chicken breasts, but typically four breasts usually end up being 1.5 lbs. 🙂

        Reply
      • sam

        February 02, 2022 at 10:44 am

        I only use frozen chicken breasts. I cook the same amount of time.

        Reply
      • Mary

        February 10, 2022 at 1:39 pm

        Is there s recipe for buns? Look so yummy!

        Reply
        • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

          February 10, 2022 at 4:05 pm

          Hi Mary! You can always try our burger buns or potato buns. 😊

      • Jen

        February 16, 2022 at 12:39 pm

        Never use frozen chicken in the Crock-Pot, only the Instant Pot. The Crock-Pot doesn’t come to temp quickly enough to kill the bacteria.

        Reply
    6. Ally

      January 19, 2022 at 11:42 am

      Do you need the apple cider vinegar? Just curious I have everything else was trying to avoid a trip to the store! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Emily @ Sugar Spun Run

        January 19, 2022 at 12:08 pm

        Hi Ally! You could use white vinegar instead. We don’t recommend skipping the vinegar entirely though! Hope that helps 😊

        Reply
    7. Alexander kelly

      December 24, 2021 at 6:35 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious. Very easy. Family loved it. Will make again. Amazing

      Reply
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    The author (Sam) in blue shirt holding donut Hi, I'm Sam! I'm dedicated to bringing you sweet, simple, and from-scratch dessert recipes. My life may or may not be controlled by my sweet tooth. Send help (or chocolate). Read more about me.

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