Crockpot bbq pulled chicken is one of my go-tos when I need something super easy for dinner. Barbecue shredded chicken requires minimal ingredients and only 10 minutes of hands-on time. It's perfect for sandwiches, rice bowls and much more!
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Crockpot pulled chicken is an easy dinner idea, yes! But it's also extremely delicious with sweet and tangy flavors. And it happens to be one of the few things my toddler will devour. When my two year old eats a meal, it goes in the weekly rotation since it's officially picky-eater approved. IYKYK
This is the kind of meal that will lighten your mental load because it's so very convenient and hands-off, a main course that doesn't require babysitting the stove. Get everything going in the crockpot and let it be. Come back later and shred right in the crockpot to avoid extra dishes. That's it!
Substitute salsa for bbq to make crockpot salsa chicken. It's equally delicious and easy!
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Great For Weeknights & Entertaining
Simple: When life is extra busy and I've got only a few brain cells left, I love making crockpot barbecue chicken. It's so easy, straightforward and delicious with simple ingredients and no crazy steps.
Pretty fast! Some crockpot recipes take all day. This one is usually done in about 2 hours when cooked on high. Of course, slow cookers will vary brand to brand. Play around and see exactly how long yours takes.
Self serve: Family members or guests eating at different times? No problem! Put a lid on the crockpot to keep it warm and let people serve themselves as needed.
Versatile: Use crockpot bbq chicken to make pulled chicken sandwiches or rice bowls. Serve over mashed potatoes, baked russet potatoes or baked sweet potatoes.
Crowd pleaser: This recipe is perfect for game day, think super bowl party or tailgating! It's also fabulous for picnics, potlucks and 4th of July cookouts (don't forget the watermelon)!
Your Grocery List:
I keep things uncomplicated when I make shredded bbq chicken. Now you CAN season your chicken breasts or add yellow onion slices to your crockpot, but generally I don't do that. I buy three things:
- Chicken: Approximately 2 pounds of boneless and skinless chicken breasts. Chicken thighs will also work! I've found that 3 medium breasts or 4 small breasts is usually about right. Packaging will specify weight.
- Barbecue sauce: Use your favorite bbq sauce. I like Sweet Baby Ray's! You can also use spicy bbq for a kick.
- Buns or rolls: I like to buy big sesame seed buns if I'm making sandwiches, but this chicken can be used in lots of other ways.
If you want to bulk your shredded chicken with onion slices, simply toss them in the crockpot with everything else. You can also add salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder or a bit of brown sugar. I just feel extras are unnecessary because BBQ sauce is already chock full of flavor, spices and sweeteners!
How To Make Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
Keep scrolling for the full recipe card and measurements. We’ll start here with a quick overview!
Add ingredients to crockpot:
- Drizzle a thin layer of bbq sauce on the bottom of your slow cooker. Add chicken and cover with remaining sauce.
Cook, then shred!
- Place a lid on the crock pot and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6.
- Once your chicken shreds easily, it's done! Shredding should be really low-effort, the meat should fall apart easily. If the chicken is still tough, give it a little more time to cook.
- Shred your chicken right in the crockpot to avoid dirtying more dishes, then stir to coat all pieces in sauce!
Serve and enjoy:
- I like to make pulled chicken sandwiches! You can also serve over baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, rice bowls, nachos or a leafy green salad.
Stacey's Top Tip 💡
You can overcook chicken in the crockpot. This can lead to really thin, stringy shreds and mushy texture. And if left for WAY to long, chicken and bbq sauce can dry out and burn. For perfect texture, don't let your chicken sit too long. Cook time will vary depending on your slow-cooker and chicken breast thickness. Check on progress earlier rather than later.
Five BBQ Chicken Meals
- Sammies (my fav!): Use pulled chicken to make juicy sandwiches or sliders. I like to toast my buns in the oven for next level deliciousness. Serve with chips, pickles and fruit salad.
- Baked potato meal: Put a big scoop of savory shredded chicken on a baked russet or sweet potato. Top with coleslaw, green beans & cream corn on the side!
- Bowls: Spoon barbecue chicken over a bowl of rice or mashed potatoes with roasted broccoli and cauliflower on the side.
- Nachos: Add shredded bbq chicken to nachos, tacos, burritos or enchiladas and add your favorite toppings.
- BBQ Plate: Make a classic restaurant-style bbq plate. Serve shredded chicken solo along with sides like corn bread, baked beans, coleslaw, mac n cheese, potato salad or pasta salad.
Can I Make This Recipe Without A Crockpot?
Yes! You can easily make this recipe on the stovetop or in the oven.
Stovetop: Place chicken and barbecue sauce in a large pot or dutch oven. Cover and turn heat to medium high and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and continue simmering until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and shreds easily. Remove from pot, shred, and mix back into sauce.
Oven: Add chicken and sauce to a dutch oven or baking dish. Cover with a lid or foil and bake at 250°F until internal temp reaches 165°F. You can also increase heat to cook faster but I like to recreate the low and slow effect of the crockpot which results in super tender chicken.
Common Questions
Putting frozen chicken in the crockpot can create a breeding ground for bacteria and is not recommended by the USDA. Thaw chicken before adding it to the crockpot. Speed things up by using the microwave or cold water to thaw, this USDA article talks about how to do this safely.
Rotisserie chicken is already cooked. Shred it and mix with barbecue sauce, then heat it up in the microwave or in a pot on the stovetop. There's no need to slow-cook it for hours, in fact this would likely create a mushy mess.
Juices seep out of chicken while it cooks giving barbecue sauce a watery appearance. Trust the process here, once you shred your chicken and mix it back in, the sauce consistency should be perfect. If you still have too much liquid, thicken with a corn starch slurry. Note: air chilled or organic chicken breasts contain less added water solution and will result in less moisture overall.
You can! A pork butt or shoulder is much larger and thicker than chicken breast, so it will take a LOT longer to cook. But you can totally put a pork shoulder in the crockpot, slather it with bbq sauce and slow cook until tender. It will likely take 7-8 hours.
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Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken
Equipment
- Large Crockpot *I use my 7qt slow cooker for this recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds (3 medium or 4 small) organic boneless skinless chicken breasts *or thighs *see note below
- 18 ounces (1 & ¾ cups) bbq sauce *I like Sweet Baby Rays original flavor!
Recipe Notes:
Organic chicken: Chicken packaging will show weight which is helpful for determining number of breasts needed. I prefer organic chicken for this recipe because it usually contains less added water solution, but no matter what, some juices will seep out of your chicken when cooking. General: You can add thinly sliced yellow onion to the crockpot if you want to bulk things up a bit. You can also add brown sugar or seasonings like salt, pepper, paprika or garlic powder. Bbq sauce is really flavor-packed so I find extra seasonings and sweeteners unnecessary. Halving or doubling: A small batch of bbq chicken will cook faster and a larger amount will cook slower. Keep in mind, doubling the recipe can lead to thinner sauce from chicken juices. You can thicken the sauce with cornstarch if need. Layering chicken is okay.Instructions
- Drizzle some barbecue sauce into the bottom of your crockpot and add chicken. Cover with remaining sauce.
- Cook 2-3 hours on high or 4-6 hours on low. All crockpots are different so cook times will vary. Avoid overcooking which can lead to mushy texture or burning, check on progress sooner rather than later!
- Shred chicken right in the crockpot. It should fall apart easily! If it's still a bit tough or rubbery, cook a while longer. Give shreds a good stir to coat with sauce. (*Note: sauce typically looks watery after chicken cooks as juices seep out of the meat. Once you shred and mix chicken into sauce it will soak up this excess moisture. If necessary, you can thicken with a corn starch slurry).
- Serve on buns or over rice/baked potatoes. Enjoy!
Make ahead/meal-prep & storage
- Meal-Prep Friendly: This chicken recipe reheats really well! Freeze in a big container or individual portions. Make ahead of time for a super quick meal down the road. Storage: Place in an airtight container and refrigerate 3-4 days or freeze 3-4 months. Reheat in the microwave or in a pot on the stovetop. Add a splash of water or extra bbq sauce to thin if needed.
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