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.
Colleen Carpenter
I am making this recipe for 40 people this weekend. I have about 15 pounds of chicken. Have you ever made this much at one time? I was going to use 2 crock pots but am wondering how long to cook the chicken because there will be so much more?
Sam
Hi Colleen! That’s a lot of chicken! I have not tried it with this much. From some research, you may need a little bit longer with so much more in the crock pot, but I am not sure exactly how much, or if it will even be necessary. I would give yourself a little extra time just to be safe. Check the temperature of the chicken when the timer goes off and give it more time if need be. I hope it turns out for you. 🙂
LK
Hi! Great recipe! Could you tell me what the serving size is that goes with the estimated 355 kcals? Thanks so much!
Sam
It’s about 1/8 of the dish. 🙂
Klaire
Which do you prefer…cooking on high or low? Does one produce a drier chicken over the other?
Sam
Hi Klaire! It really depends on how much time I have to make it. 🙂
Jason
Awesome reciepe ive tried it a couple times now, my family loves it. And im about to make a batch today for the game. Go Rams!
Sam
I am so glad everyone enjoyed it, Jason! 🙂
Barbara
I want to make this a day ahead for a Super Bowl Party. What about just slow cooking chicken breasts in stock the day before, then shredding them & putting in BBQ sauce day of party? Thank you!
Sam
Hmmm I suppose that will work. Cooking the chicken in the sauce really helps the flavor soak into the chicken, so I am not sure if it will have quite the same flavor. I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
Roni
Having a party how many will this serve or about how many sandwiches I know it depends on how much they pile on, but an average I need to know if I should double it. Thanks
Sam
Hi, Roni. It should make about 8 servings. 🙂
Catherine
Hello! Do you think this would freeze well?
Sam
Hi, Catherine. I think it will be ok to freeze this chicken. 🙂
Will J
Thanks for the recipe. Gonna be Christmas Eve dinner. Will let you know about how it came out.
Sam
I hope everyone loves it! 🙂
Steven
What is the olive oil’s purpose?
vanessa
Has anyone tried making this without the vinegar?
Stacie
Would you be able to do the BBQ sauce afterwards? Would you need to replace it with like chicken stock? I’m trying to watch my sugar and BBQ sauces (which I love) do tend to have a lot of sugar. Thank you so much. The recipe looks great otherwise. 🙂
Sam
Hi Stacie! You may want to try my slow cooker shredded chicken, then remove that from the liquid after cooking and toss in BBQ sauce, that may work best.
Sunny
Easy and delicious!
Sam
Glad you enjoyed, Sunny!! 🙂
Karla Cain
What is the rest of the nutritional information please?
Sam
Hi Karla! Currently I only calculate calories, if you enter the recipe into a website like My Fitness Pal it will be able to calculate all nutritional information for you. I do plan to be able to share more nutritional info in the future!
Karla Cain
Thank you.
Lee Stone
How much is considered 1 serving?
Sam
It’s 1/8 of the final total amount
Carissa Nelson | Spoonful of Easy
Hi Sam,
Poor you! Hope you guys get it fixed okay! Thanks for the easy recipe — the Crockpot is my go to in the summer anyways and I appreciated the sides round up. Sending good oven fixing thoughts your way!
Terri
This was very easy and very good thank you