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.
Tiana
I tried this today!!! So easy and super delicious!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, Tiana! Thank you for commenting. 🙂
Triple D
This recipe is off the hook. Definitely an express trip to flavor town!!!!!
Sam
Awesome! So happy to hear you enjoyed, thank you for commenting!
Courtney Strieker
I’m only using about 1.5lbs of chicken and reducing the recipe accordingly. Do I reduce cooking time also?
Thanks in advance!!
Sam
Hi Courtney! I’ve found that I still need to cook as long (or close to it) even when reducing the amount that I cook.
Nikki
What is a good substitute for smoked paprika?? Making this recipe today – looking forward to trying it out 🙂
Will rate after it’s done!
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Nikki! If you do not have smoked paprika, regular paprika will do. If you do not have that on hand you can omit it, it just won’t have that smokey element to it. No worries, it will still be delicious. I hope that you enjoy it! 🙂
Tammy
Followed directions as is. Entire family loved it! Great go to for an easy, tasty dinner with leftovers too!
Sugar Spun Run
I am so glad that it was a hit, Tammy, and was an easy dinner to put together. Thanks for trying my recipe and for commenting. 🙂
Wesley
I am a guy doing the cooking with my wife still at work and me being at home during this time. So this might be a dumb question but I’m not worried. Lol. Do you boil the chicken first or put it in the crock pot raw?
Sam
Hi Wesley! It goes in the crock pot raw. Enjoy!
Wesley
Thank you!
Pina
Can I use chicken thigh ? I mean it’s boneless
Sugar Spun Run
As long as it is boneless, yes! 🙂
Carol
I replace boneless skinless chicken thighs frequently for the breast. They don’t take as long to cook, so check them for doneess. They aren’t as dry as the breast and they shred with forks easily as well.
Celyn
I am using chicken breasts with rib meat. Will the instructions stay the same? Thanks
Sam
Yup! Enjoy 🙂
Nate Savage
What ingredient breakdown would you use if I only want to use 1-1.5 lbs of chicken? There’s only 3 of us and I usually only cook chicken with about that much chicken. I don’t want it to be too saucy, but I also don’t want it to scorch.
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Nate! I would recommend cutting the recipe in half. 🙂
Lisa
Approximately how many chicken breast do you use? I have 4 large skinless boneless chicken breasts but I’m not sure weight wise what they amount to.
Sam
Hi Lisa! It really depends on the size of the chicken breasts available. Sometimes it’s 4 sometimes it’s 6 or 7. 😊
Claire
I don’t have apple cider vinegar. Do I need to use it or can I substitute it for something else?
Sam
Hi Claire! If you have white vinegar you can use that. 🙂
Jennifer
Can it be made in an instant pot?
Sam
I don’t see why not, though having not tried it myself I can’t say exactly how to do it.
Judy
Can you use frozen chicken filets
Sam
Hi Judy! You will want to thaw the chicken before cooking but yes filets will work. Enjoy!
Suzanne Hudd
I’ll be using a homemade BBQ sauce that has most of the ingredients listed here. Does this recipe call for those ingredients in addition to the BBQ sauce or instead of? I’m not sure what is in Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce. Thanks!
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Suzanne! Sweet Baby Rays is a brand of bbq sauce that is sold in the U.S. You can most certainly use your own. You will use 2 cups of your homemade BBQ sauce, along with the other ingredients listed. I hope that you enjoy it! 🙂
Mike
Can you freeze the leftover? I’m cooking for one
Sugar Spun Run
Hi, Mike! Yes, you can. Enjoy! 🙂