If you’re craving a savory, tender pulled chicken that’s packed with flavor and super easy to make, this Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken recipe is for you! This dish is perfect for weeknight dinners, parties, or meal prep.
With just a few simple ingredients and your slow cooker, you’ll have juicy, shredded chicken in no time.
The BBQ sauce soaks into the chicken, making it incredibly flavorful and perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or over rice.
Ingredients List
Main Ingredients for Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken
- 3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 5-6 breasts)
- 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce (I recommend Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey BBQ for a nice balance of sweetness and tang)
- ½ medium onion (grated, with juice)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar (for that extra hint of sweetness)
Required Kitchen Tools
To make this Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken, you don’t need many fancy tools, but here are a few essentials to ensure the process goes smoothly:
- Slow Cooker (Crockpot): A 5-6 quart slow cooker is perfect for this recipe. It allows enough room to cook the chicken breasts while keeping them juicy.
- Meat Thermometer: This will help you make sure the chicken is fully cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165˚F.
- Forks for Shredding: After the chicken is cooked, you’ll need a couple of forks to shred it to perfection. This is an essential step to getting that pull-apart texture.
- Cutting Board: For shredding the chicken and handling it after cooking.
Having these tools ready will make the process quick and easy, so you can enjoy your delicious meal!
How to Make Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken
Making this Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken is incredibly simple, and you’ll be amazed at how effortlessly the flavors develop. Follow these steps to create a delicious, tender, and flavorful pulled chicken meal:
Preparing the Chicken and Sauce
Start by preparing the sauce. In your slow cooker, mix together the BBQ sauce, grated onion with juice, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Stir everything together until well combined, creating a smooth, flavorful sauce base. The brown sugar adds a hint of sweetness that complements the tangy BBQ sauce perfectly.
Adding the Chicken
Next, add your chicken breasts to the slow cooker. Make sure the chicken is fully coated with the sauce by turning the breasts over once or twice. This helps the chicken soak in all the savory flavors from the sauce, ensuring each bite is juicy and flavorful. Once coated, cover the slow cooker with the lid.
Cooking the Chicken
Now it’s time to let the slow cooker work its magic! Cook the chicken on high for 2 to 3 hours or on low for 6 to 7 hours. The cooking time depends on your slow cooker’s model and the size of your chicken breasts. Check the chicken early if you’re making a smaller batch or if your slow cooker runs hot, as chicken breasts can cook quickly in a slow cooker. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F and shreds easily with a fork.
Shredding the Chicken and Mixing with Sauce
Once your chicken is fully cooked and tender, it’s time to shred it. Carefully remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and place them on a cutting board. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. You’ll notice how easily the chicken falls apart, thanks to the long, slow cook time that makes it super tender.
Mixing the Shredded Chicken with the BBQ Sauce
After shredding the chicken, place it back into the slow cooker. Stir the shredded chicken well to coat it in all the flavorful BBQ sauce. The chicken will soak up even more sauce, enhancing the overall flavor. If you want a little more sauce, feel free to add a bit more BBQ sauce at this stage, depending on your preference.
Let the shredded chicken sit in the sauce for an additional 15-20 minutes on low to ensure it’s heated through and fully infused with that smoky, tangy BBQ flavor.
Serving and Enjoying Your Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken
Now that your Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken is all ready, it’s time to serve it up and enjoy! This versatile dish can be served in many delicious ways, so feel free to get creative with how you enjoy it.
Suggested Serving Ideas
- BBQ Chicken Sandwiches: Pile the pulled chicken on soft burger buns for a classic BBQ chicken sandwich. Top with coleslaw, pickles, or extra BBQ sauce for a tasty twist.
- Tacos: For a fun and flavorful dinner, serve the pulled chicken in soft taco shells with fresh toppings like avocado, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.
- Over Rice: Serve the shredded chicken over a bed of steamed rice for a hearty meal. Add a side of veggies to complete the dish.
- Salads: For a lighter option, top a fresh green salad with pulled BBQ chicken for a savory and satisfying meal.
Storing Leftovers
If you happen to have any leftovers, don’t worry! Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken stores beautifully. Simply transfer any remaining chicken and sauce into an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the pulled chicken for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, simply reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- Slow Cooker (Crockpot)
- Meat Thermometer
- Forks for Shredding
- Cutting Board
Ingredients
Main Ingredients for Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken
- 3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 5-6 breasts)
- 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce (I recommend Sweet Baby Ray's Honey BBQ for a nice balance of sweetness and tang)
- ½ medium onion (grated, with juice)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar (for that extra hint of sweetness)
Instructions
Preparing the Chicken and Sauce
- Start by preparing the sauce. In your slow cooker, mix together the BBQ sauce, grated onion with juice, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar. Stir everything together until well combined, creating a smooth, flavorful sauce base. The brown sugar adds a hint of sweetness that complements the tangy BBQ sauce perfectly.
- Next, add your chicken breasts to the slow cooker. Make sure the chicken is fully coated with the sauce by turning the breasts over once or twice. This helps the chicken soak in all the savory flavors from the sauce, ensuring each bite is juicy and flavorful. Once coated, cover the slow cooker with the lid.
Cooking the Chicken
- Now it’s time to let the slow cooker work its magic! Cook the chicken on high for 2 to 3 hours or on low for 6 to 7 hours. The cooking time depends on your slow cooker’s model and the size of your chicken breasts. Check the chicken early if you're making a smaller batch or if your slow cooker runs hot, as chicken breasts can cook quickly in a slow cooker. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F and shreds easily with a fork.
- Once your chicken is fully cooked and tender, it’s time to shred it. Carefully remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and place them on a cutting board. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. You’ll notice how easily the chicken falls apart, thanks to the long, slow cook time that makes it super tender.
- After shredding the chicken, place it back into the slow cooker. Stir the shredded chicken well to coat it in all the flavorful BBQ sauce. The chicken will soak up even more sauce, enhancing the overall flavor. If you want a little more sauce, feel free to add a bit more BBQ sauce at this stage, depending on your preference.
- Let the shredded chicken sit in the sauce for an additional 15-20 minutes on low to ensure it’s heated through and fully infused with that smoky, tangy BBQ flavor.
Conclusion
This Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken is a crowd-pleaser, packed with flavor and easy to make. Whether you’re hosting a gathering or simply looking for a quick weeknight meal, this recipe is sure to satisfy. Enjoy the juicy, tender chicken and all the delicious possibilities for serving it!
