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!
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.
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.
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:
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?
Crock Pot BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
- 3.5 lbs (1.5 kg) boneless skinless chicken breast¹
- 2 cups BBQ sauce (I use Sweet Baby Ray's)
- ¼ cup (60 g) light or dark brown sugar packed
- 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
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 cooker2 cups BBQ sauce, ¼ cup (60 g) light or dark brown sugar, 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
- Place chicken breast in sauce and use a spoon to cover with sauce.3.5 lbs (1.5 kg) boneless skinless chicken breast¹
- 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
Nutrition
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.
N Anderson
I made this with a mix of Sweet Baby Ray’s and Kinder’s black cherry chipotle. It was absolutely DELICIOUS!
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Yum! We’re so happy it was such a hit 😊
Jennifer Altschuler
This was delicious! Simple and easy.
Marquita
If I used boneless skinless chicken breasts and cooked it for 7 hours would it be ok on warm for another 2 hours until I am able to get home?
Sam
Hi Marquita! I think that will work just fine. 🙂
Debbie
How would you cook this with frozen chicken tenders? I’m anxious to try it!
Sam
Hi Debbie! I would thaw the chicken in the refrigerator overnight. The tenders may alter the cook time, but without having tried it I can’t say for sure. 🙁
Christie
could you use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Hi Christie! We haven’t tried it, but others have reported using thighs with a slightly shorter cooking time so, keep that in mind 🙂
Chantal
My husband and I love this recipe. Thinking of doing this for a frozen meal prep for when our baby comes, would this be able to be prepared before and frozen until needed?
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Congrats, Chantal! Yes, this can be frozen. Enjoy 😊
Landra Cartwright
I froze this after shredding chicken and did a slow thaw/warming and it was as delicious as when first made. Would be good to freeze and have after baby arrives
Erykah
What size crockpot was used? I may need to double or triple the recipe for a large group and size of crockpot would be extremely helpful with planning. TIA
Sam
Hi Erykah! I have a 6 quart crock pot. 🙂
Kylie
Could this work with regular white vinegar ? I don’t have any apple cider vinegar on hand
Sam
Hi Kylie! That will work just fine. 🙂
Landra Cartwright
No, you need apple cider vinegar, it adds a different taste.
Gerily
Very good!
Marlene
This was really good. I used Kraft barbecue sauce because that’s what I had in my pantry. I followed the rest of the recipe as is.
Danielle Goodin
Great recipe! Going to make it over the holidays but will have 17 people! How long would you cook for if doubling and would you double all ingredients? Thanks!
Sam
Hi Danielle! I would double all of the ingredients, but I haven’t personally done it so I can’t say for sure what adjustments would be needed for the cook time.
Patty
Everyone loves this recipe that I have made it for. Now they want me to use this same recipe to make pulled pork. Do you think it will work as well?
Sam
Hi Patty! I haven’t tried it! Cook times may vary, but it should work. 🙂
Danielle
So good! Everyone loved. Thank you for sharing!
Proud Mamma
My 10 year old daughter used this recipe to make dinner for the family. We worked together using math to alter the ingredient amounts based on the weight of the chicken that came in the store package. She was able to do most of it all by herself and was so proud. The end result was absolutely delicious and everyone in the family asked for seconds. Thanks for a delicious recipe that will be made again soon.
Emily @ Sugar Spun Run
Sounds like an educational and tasty dinner! We’re so happy everyone enjoyed it. Thanks for using our recipe 🩷
Cheryl
I absolutely LOVE how you brought math into cooking as a teaching tool. Next may be a chemistry discussion when you bake.