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.
Catherine
So easy and taste great and clean up a breeze!
Thanks
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it so much, Catherine! 🙂
Dahlia
You have your recipe saying the chicken should be “1.5g”. That would be about half a teaspoon of chicken.
Sam
Thanks, Dahlia! It’s 1.5kg 😉
Megan
I’m planning for a large group and this recipe will be perfect. How large are your serving sizes approx?
Sam
A serving size for me is about 5-6 oz.
Lauren E Clark
Currently in the crock pot now ! Can’t wait to try it
Sam
I hope you love it!
Carolyn
If l used chicken breast & thighs would l need to put thighs in before breast meat?
Sam
Hi Carolyn! It’s really hard to say without being there. If they are much different in thickness they’ll need different cook times. Sorry I can’t be more helpful. 😔
Ben Barry
Awesome recipe, I will be doing some more today
Sam
I’m so happy to hear this, Ben! Thank you so much for commenting.
Tina
This is so simple, but so delicious! This is the second weekend I am making it. We had it last week with pimento cheese grits, perfect pairing! Leftovers are also great as a sandwich or on lettuce during the week when you don’t want to cook.
Sam
I am so glad you enjoy it so much, Tina! 🙂
Stephanie
Wonderful recipe! I’m a new mom and needed to make something quick and easy for dinner. Voila! Didn’t change a thing. I may add more crushed red pepper next time for that extra kick but it’s pretty perfect as is!
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed it so much, Stephanie! My husband would triple the crushed red pepper if I let him. 🤣
Paige Gentry
Hi I am just trying to cook for 2 how do I need to do the seasonings? Also how long should I cook it for? Thank you 🙂
Sam
Hi Paige! You will want to scale the recipe down proportionally. This makes about 8 servings so you’ll want to cut everything by 75%. I’m not sure on the cook time with that amount of chicken. Enjoy! 🙂
Christy
Best bbq chicken I’ve made! Used coconut sugar instead of brown sugar and it was still a hit. Couldn’t stop eating it while shredding lol.
Sam
I’m so glad you enjoyed it so much, Christy! 🙂
Andrea Russell
Excellent recipe, my family really enjoyed it
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that everyone enjoyed it, Andrea! 🙂
Kat Young
Hi. Can you help me with how many lbs of chicken I will need for 10 people? Excited to try!
Sam
Hi Kat! I use 3.5 lbs of chicken and you should be able to get 8 servings out of that. Depending on how much each person eats 4-4.5 lbs should cover it for you. 🙂
Sunnysez
Followed your recipe with two exceptions. I only used a 1# breast (there’s just two of us) and I cooked it four hours on high (it came out to the consistany I desired). I used 1/4c of vinegar (eastern Carolina style). Results were delicious. Mine was on a bun with hot sauce and cole slaw (again Carolina), my wife’s just chicken on a bun (she’s from MN) and she thought it was outstanding. Next time I am going to try it with a piece of pork.
Sam
I am so glad you both enjoyed it so much! There are so many different ways to eat it. It’s always amazing to hear how different people enjoy it. 🙂
Elise
Yum!!!! Made this tonight for dinner and it was so juicy and delicious and EASY. Didn’t have ACV so subbed with lemon juice. Cut recipe in half and it only needed about 2 and a quarter hour. Definitely making this again! So easy for meal prep too.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that it was a hit, Elise! Thanks for trying my recipe. 🙂
Destiny
If i cooked chicken on high and then low would it still be soft?
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Destiny! You can cook the chicken on high, but it will need less time to cook (approx. 3-4 hours). The chicken will still be soft and should not be dry. I reccomend checking it at 3 hours. Chicken is done when it is easily shredded with a pair of forks. I hope that helps! Keep me posted on how it turns out. 🙂