Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken Recipe
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.
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.