Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Recipe
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This crockpot pulled chicken is so easy to make – everything just goes into the slow cooker without any special prep. It’s fall-apart tender, juicy and delicious. We put it on rolls with our coconut coleslaw and crisp dill pickle chips.
It was sweet, salty, savory and so satisfying. I invited my family over for crockpot bbq chicken sliders and everyone loved them. My son even asked for refills on the chicken (which is a big deal). l’m pretty sure all of the adults had seconds. Great reviews all around on this one! If the picture above hasn’t convinced you yet, the next one will!
This is a great way to make meat for company or your family when you don’t have time to stand over the stove. You can throw everything in your slow cooker before church and it’s ready when you come home. Such a treat! PS. the coleslaw can be made when you start the chicken – just refrigerate it until ready to serve..
Ingredients for Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken:
3 lbs (about 5-6 count) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat
1 1/2 cups BBQ Sauce (Try Homemade BBQ Sauce or Sweet Baby Rays Honey BBQ)
1/2 medium onion, grated (with juice)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp worchestershire sauce
2 Tbsp brown sugar
How to Make Crockpot BBQ Chicken:
1. Stir together all sauce ingredients in a 5-6 qt slow cooker.
2. Add chicken and turn to coat. Cover and cook on high 3 to 4 hours or on low for 6 – 7 hours. Chicken is done when cooked through and easy to shred
3. Remove chicken to a cutting board and shred each breast using two forks. Place shredded chicken back in the crock pot and stir to coat with the yummy sauce
↑↑↑ Wishing I had leftovers…
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs chicken breasts, (boneless, skinless), about 5-6 count
- 1 1/2 cups BBQ Sauce, I used Sweet Baby Rays Honey BBQ
- 1/2 medium onion, grated (with juice)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
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Stir together all sauce ingredients in a 5-6 qt slow cooker.
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Add chicken and turn to coat. Cover and cook on high 3 to 4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours. Chicken is done when cooked through and easy to shred.
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Remove chicken to a cutting board and shred each breast using two forks. Place shredded chicken back in the crock pot and stir to coat with the yummy sauce.
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Serve in buns with the best coconut coleslaw and dill pickle chips. Yum!!
Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
I have a 8qt size crockpot. Would this affect the cook time or recipe at all?
Hi Gianna, it may cook a bit quicker, but it shouldn’t alter the time by much. I would watch it closely for the last little bit. I hope you love this recipe.
I’m planning on making this for a potluck. I was going to cook it the day before and reheat it the next day.
What is the best way to reheat it (for food safety reasons)? Can I just reheat in the crockpot? Thanks!
Hi Sandra, It’s best made the morning of, but you can make it a day ahead and refrigerate then reheat the next day adding a splash of water if needed. It will reheat well since it’s a moist chicken.
Thanks for your response.
Can it be reheated in the crockpot?
Yes, you can reheat the next day adding a splash of water if needed. It will reheat well since it’s a moist chicken.
Can you make this with beef? I already bought the beef but this looks good and simple!
Hi Shauna! I have not tested this recipe with beef to advise. If you experiment, let us know how it turns out.
Hi there! Would I be able to make this on the stovetop if I don’t have a slow cooker?
Hi Charlotte! You can follow my instructions for the sweet and spicy baked chicken to make this on the stove top.
Recipe was bland. Don’t understand how it got so many 5 star reviews.
Hi Lauren, this is normally very flavorful. You might consider if any substitutions were made or it could be due to using a different BBQ sauce? The one we recommend is a sweeter variety which adds great flavor to the sauce. Also, be sure to put the chicken back into the sauce once it’s shredded so it can absorb the sauce.
Great BBQ chicken sandwiches. I halved the recipe and added hot sauce to heat it up. Love the brown sugar, it gave it a smokey taste.
Hi Jeff, great to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for your feedback and review.
Hi, Natasha. I’m going to make this recipe for a party in a few
days. Should the brown sugar be packed on the tablespoon or just be scooped up loosely? Thank you.
Hi Elaine, packed into the tablespoon is fine but this can be adjusted based on preference.
Super duper easy, also easy to modify by adding a little extra honey, red pepper flakes, black pepper, etc. to please any crowd. The chicken was tender with just the right amount of sauce. definitely recommend topping with coleslaw. Delicious!
Awesome and love it! Thank you for your good comments and feedback.
Can I use frozen chicken breasts? Can I put them in the cooker frozen, or do I need to defrost them first?
Hi Debra! You’d have to experiment with it. I worry that frozen chicken would water it down.
I used Costco flash frozen chicken breasts, defrosted them in the fridge for a day and a half until mostly defrosted but still a little crystally. I poured out all the water from the flash freeze and they turned out wonderfully! Thanks for the recipe!
What can I substitute for olive oil? I have a friend who is allergic.
Hi Marilyn, we prefer olive oil, but canola oil, vegetable oil or sunflower oil may also work.
Natasha, Just wanted to let you know I made your Slow Cooker BBQ Recipe as well as your Creamy Coconut Coleslaw Recipe. Both recipes were easy to make and both tasted delicious❤️ Instead of dill chips I steamed corn on cobs. Thank you for posting your recipes!
You’re welcome and I’m happy to know that you’re enjoying my recipes!
Quick question about using skinless, boneless chicken thighs instead of leaner breasts. Would the time have to be adjusted because thighs are a little more fatty or is the time still the same because of weight? I just don’t want the chicken to come out too dry or even undercooked if I need to adjust the time.
Hi Cynthia. I have not tested this recipe with thighs but I think it should work without making adjustments (assuming they are boneless). IF you have a food thermometer to check, the internal temperature of the chicken should be 165℉ for safe consumption.
So easy and so good! This will be my go to recipe for shredded BBQ chicken. Loved it!
Hi Sue! I’m happy to hear that this is your go-to. Thanks for sharing.
Can this recipe be halved? If so, does cooking time have to be adjusted? I can’t wait to make this, it looks delicious!
I Sue, yes, this recipe can be halved. Here’s what one of our readers wrote: “I halved the recipe, and followed it exactly, besides putting a little hot sauce. I cooked it for 2 hours, and a little more after I shredded the chicken. I LOVE pulled pork, but don’t ever have meat to make it. However, THIS RECIPE is just as good as pulled pork, and way cheaper!! I will be using this recipe from now on, whenever I crave the sweet, yet savory flavor of this. Thank you so much for sharing! ❤” I hope this helps!
Tripled this recipe for a group of 25 last night. My only concern was the sauce tasted watered down, probably from all the moisture coming out of the chicken as it cooked. We ended up serving it with more Baby Rays sauce to squirt on top to increase the flavor. I wondered if I should cook and shred the chicken, drain any liquid, then add the sauce ingredients for the last hour? Any suggestions?
Hi April, did you possibly use frozen chicken? That could be the culprit. But I also read from one of our readers that chicken breasts can be injected with up to 20%+ of a saltwater solution, which could be released during the cook. I think it may be a good idea to drain some if you have excess water.
Thanks for sharing this recipe.
I made it loved it and has shared with many friends . I make often love the flavor the sauce gives to the chicken
Hi Deborah! You’re very welcome. I’m glad you enjoy this recipe.
I tried this recipe step by step, and it turned out AMAZING!!!
Thank you for the review, Jenn! So glad you enjoyed this recipe.
It would be nice if you would get rid of the annoying ad in the center of the recipe which no matter how many times you try to cancel it still remains. I finally gave up and went to another recipe on another site.
Thank you for sharing your concerns and feedback, George. The only way we can continue providing free recipes is by having ads on our site so we are not able to remove those at this time. We find that most people would rather see the ads than pay to see the recipes. I appreciate your feedback and I hope you love every recipe you try.
Can I use the Homemade BBQ Recipe to make Bone In Chicken Pieces in the Crock Pot ???
Thank You
Marie Griggs
Hi Marie, I bet that could work! I hope you love this recipe!
I love this recipe! I made it for the first time about a month ago and it became my husbands favorite meal but then I made it again tonight and my bbq sauce was super runny and watery.. do you have any ideas as to what I might have done wrong and how I can fix it? Please let me know! Thanks Natasha ☺️
Hi Angelica, did you possibly use frozen chicken? That could be the culprit. But I also read from one of our readers that chicken breasts can be injected with up to 20%+ of a salt water solution, and that could be released during the cook.
I am serving 10 adults. Could you please tell me what adjustments I need to make to the recipe?
Thanks
Hi Suzanna, I recommend clicking “Jump to recipe” at the top of the post, it will take you to our printable recipe where you’ll have the option to change the number of servings. Hover over the number of servings highlighted in red and slide it to how many servings you would like to make. I hope that helps!
This has become my go-to recipe for BBQ chicken. It’s easy and delicious!
Great to hear that, Rich! Thanks for the review.
Looks delish! Can you start with frozen chicken breasts and cook in the crockpot as suggested? Thanks and looking forward to this!
Hi Stephanie, I haven’t tested that myself, but I also recently read that adding frozen meats to a slow cooker can be unsafe, so it’s best to do a quick-thaw in cold, cold water at least before adding them.
Hi Natasha,
I have used many of your recipes and have loved them all. I am planning for 12-15 people. Would it work to double this recipe or should I used 2 slow cookers?
Glad you’re enjoying them, Joanne. That should work fine to double it as long as your slow cooker is large enough to fit everything. It will probably require a longer cook time, though – I would aim for the higher end of the cook times (i.e., 4 hours on high or 7 hours on low) to check for doneness.
Natasha thank you again for a fantastic recipe. I made the recipe on the stove since I don’t have a slow cooker. I have made many of your recipes. They come out perfect since I follow them exactly as you write them.
Do yoy have a cookbook I could buy?
I’m so glad they came out perfect, Ellen! Thank you for sharing your awesome feedback with me! I don’t have a cookbook out yet, but it’s on my list of life goals and we are working on one! stay tuned!
Thank you so much for adding the metric option! It’s so rare to have the ability to switch between units directly on the site. I look forward to cooking this using my standard kitchen tools without having to do any conversions myself!
You’re very welcome! It’s a neat tool to have. 🙂
Hi Natasha, I made this a few weeks ago and froze half. I defrosted it yesterday and served it for dinner. It was wonderful! Keep. these easy dinners coming! I really enjoy your videos.
I will make sure to keep them coming, Liz. Thank for the review!
I have left over chicken and wondering if you can use this to still get the juicy taste.
Has anyone tried this?
Your recipes just appeal to me..last night I made your Beef Stroganoff..it was delicious…I also made your Bluberry cake…I have made a couple others, but can’t recall this morning….
I enjoy your videos, but love the delicious recipes..this morning, I saw your Barbecue chicken, it is next on my list…seems like your recipes contain things that are in my pantry and refrigerator…
Thanks for sharing your life and recipes..continue cooking❤️🙏
Hi Kay! Thank you for sharing that with me. I’m so glad you enjoy my recipes.
I have been making this recipe for two years now. It is an easy dinner that provides great leftovers. Many friends and family members request this dish at parties! It is so good!
That’s great, Danielle. Thank you for sharing. I am happy you enjoy this recipe and so happy you are sharing it with others who enjoy it as well!
Can I use white sugar in place of the brown sugar? I don’t have any brown sugar.
Hi Bridget, I haven’t tried that or another substitute to advise. I feel this recipe will really miss the brown sugar.
I’m making this for the first time for Super Bowl party and was wondering how to increase the serving size without doubling, and I just saw your reply about using the tool at the bottom of the post! That’s great! Thanks!
Sounds good, Teri. Please update us on how it goes! I hope you love it.
I love this recipe, I use it every time I make pulled chicken! Just wondering- what is the serving size for the nutrition facts posted?
Hi Christina, the serving size for the whole recipe is 8 (if used in sandwiches) the nutrition facts is per serving. Just divide the whole recipe by 8 to get each of the serving size.
Hey Natasha and fellow foodies, I make this recipe in my instant pot/pressure cooker…super quick and easy recipe..I am about ready to head home and make another batch..
Thanks so much for another amazing recipe.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Cheryl!
Love this recipe and was looking to make this in my instant pot for a quicker meal. Did you do anything differently cooking it in the instant pot?
Hi Erika, I haven’t tested that, I think that would be a great experiment, but I really can’t provide specific instructions without testing it. I love my instant pot, but things don’t always translate how I hope they would go in the instant pot. I will add it to my list, but let me know how it goes if you experiment before I do.
Did you do any differently? How long did you do it in instant pot?
So amazing! I made this chicken with no changes to the recipe and it was so good. Had a lot of leftovers and this chicken was very versatile. With pasta, on sandwiches, in quesadillas, on salads. Will 100% be making this again!!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Jordyn!
Hi Natasha, I’ve made your slow cooker BBQ chicken several times and love it. I’ve got it slow cooking just now.
What could be nicer on a cold snowy day in Glasgow Scotland.
We love this recipe on a cold snowy day! I’m so glad you enjoyed this, Marylin!
Hi Natasha ! I’ve made quite a few of your recipes this year
They are always soo good–and easy too ! I’m 77 years old, so I don’t cook every day anymore, but when I do I like it to be worth my while ( if you know what I mean…) I made Thanksgiving dinner !for my family this year (your pumpkin pie,turkey and dinner rolls) my family were pretty impressed !It all started because I love watching your videos .You make cooking look like so much fun !
I’m so glad your family was impressed with it, Susan! I love hearing stories like this! Thank you for your compliment and lovely feedback! Merry Christmas!
Delicious! I didn’t grate the onion, just chopped it very small. Also substituted Worcestershire Sauce with 1 tbsp soy sauce and 1 tbsp ketchup so that combo works well as well! Used Stubb’s Hickory Bourbon Bbq Sauce. Will def make again! Enjoyed it in wraps.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Thea! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
what is a substitute for worchestershire sauce? – we have an allergy situation.
Hi Karen, I haven’t tried a specific substitute for this recipe, but I recommend a google search. There are so many options that come up.
can you freeze this? and for how long?
Hi Michele, I haven’t tried freezing it, but I do think it would work well. The ingredients are freezer-friendly.
I made this for company last night. Big hit and so easy to prepare. Will definitely make again.
Thanks for your great feedback, Karen!
Hi I am planning on trying your recipe today but I do not have a slow cooker. I was planning on slow cooking in the oven. What temp would you reccommend and for how long?
Hi Sigga, You can actually do it on the stovetop or in the oven. I think it’s a little easier (hands-off) and less time-consuming in the oven. You can follow the baking instructions outlined in my sweet and spicy baked chicken.
I just made this last night for my family of 3. Very easy and delicious. I used 1.5 pounds of chicken and i could have used about a half pound more as ours was a little to saucy. That is Ok. Otherwise delicious, super easy and a hit. I will be making this again. Nice basic recipe to expand on. I cooked this for 6 hours on low.
Hello Marcia, so nice to know that you liked and enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for sharing that with us.
Made this last week and now making it again tonight. This recipe is sooo good. The chicken just falls apart. I made a tangy slaw with it and served it with spicy pickle chips. I used the new barbecue sauce from Trader Joe’s-The Carolina gold. We are obsessed!
Isn’t it so good! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Merissa!
Hi Natasha,
I would like to make this as sliders for our 2022 Super Bowl party. I’m assuming I can use thighs and/or a combination of chicken meat.
Can I make it the day before?
That should work, Sharron. It’s best made the morning of but you can make it a day ahead and refrigerate then reheat the next day adding a splash of water if needed. It will reheat well since it’s a moist chicken.
Hi,
Do you use light or dark brown sugar please
Hi Troy, we used golden brown sugar. I hope that helps.
Hi Natasha.. thank you for your WONDERFUL- spot on recipes!
I was thinking about doing half thighs and half tenderloins.. I know they each cook differently… any suggestions 🤔??? Thanks
Hi Koch, I would cook to the doneness of the chicken thighs to be safe. I always make this with chicken breast so I would suggest cooking to your desired doneness.
Can I use a whole chicken to make this pulled chicken?
Hi Michele, that should work fine to debone and remove the skin. I have instructions on how to cut up a whole chicken on my blog here. 🙂
For those of you who like your BBQ chicken spicier or a bit more hot flavored. I have added diced mild to medium jalapenos about 1 pepper worth. I have also used diced green mild to hot chiles in the can (small) drained before adding to the pre-cooking. I hope this helps some of your readers.
Great ideas, Darrel! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Hi Natasha I need to make this to feed 10 adults and 9 kids. Would i be safe to just double the ingredients? Thanks
Hi Brooke, that should work fine to double it as long as your slow cooker is large enough to fit everything. It will probably require a longer cook time, though – I would aim for the higher end of the cook times (i.e., 4 hours on high or 7 hours on low) to check for doneness.
The slow-cooker, chicken BBQ recipe is now one of my “go to” recipes when I need to take meals to friends. I’ve done this three times over the last year or so and it’s received rave reviews each time. Thanks, Natasha!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Susan!
I would like to make this and take it to a Fourth of July picnic. I cant bring my crock pot but I can keep it warm in my pyrex warming bag. Will it still be good served semi-warm?
Hi Seema, we like it warm, and I bet that pyrex warming dish will help keep it warm! I hope you love this recipe! It’s perfect for the Fourth of July!
Seema, this recipe is wonderful just warm. By the time I have taken it to my friends’ home for their dinner, it is “just warm.” And they love it.
I see the nutrition information but don’t see how much a serving size is. Thank you!
Hi Donna, Servings: 8 if used in sandwiches
Hey Natasha! I had the same question. I know it makes 8 servings. But how much exactly is a serving? About how much prepared chicken?
Hi Megan, if you are serving as sandwiches, I would estimate roughly 1/2 cup of shredded chicken.
Instead of shredding with a fork, which takes forever, Try putting the chicken in the bowl of your stand mixer with paddle attachment and let it rip for a few seconds. Easy Peasy!
Thank you for sharing that wonderful tip with us, LK!
Would this also work in the instant pot? And if so, how long would you recommend?
Hi Bonnie, I think that would be a great experiment, but I really can’t provide specific instructions without testing it. I love my instant pot, but things don’t always translate how I hope they would go in the instant pot. I will add it to my list, but let me know how it goes if you experiment before I do.
Hey, can I still cook the sauce without onions? I recently found out that I’m allergic to them.
Hi Deja, are you okay to use onion powder just for added taste? If not, feel free to omit it from the recipe and just add more seasoning to taste.
Yes ma’am I’m okay to use onion powder, just can’t do an actual onion. Thanks for the reply! 😊
How can I double this recipe. Do I need two crockpots
Hi Barbara, that should work fine to double it as long as your slow cooker is large enough to fit everything. It will probably require a longer cook time though – I would aim for the higher end of the cook times (i.e. 4 hours on high or 7 hours on low) to check for doneness.
came out amazing, paired it with some homemade brioche buns and it was a party hit. Everyone had at least two!!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Jacob!
I love your recipes
Thank you so much for sharing that lovely comment with me, Chris! I’m so happy you’re enjoying my recipes!
Thank you for another great recipe! My family loved it.
You’re welcome, Anna! I’m so happy you enjoyed that.
I’ll be making this soon so am going to freeze all the ingredients together in a bag before semi-thawing in the fridge the night before. I’ve used frozen meats in the crock pot a number of times with no difficulties (referring to an earlier question from a reader). My question is, since I’m only using two pounds of chicken, should I reduce the amount of BBQ sauce to one cup?
Hi Lucie, I recommend using the serving size slider on the printable recipe card to help you adjust all ingredients to the 2 lbs of chicken.
I made this few times and wifey and kids loved it. How long can this stay in the fridge? Can I keep this (from safety perspective) 2-3 days in the fridge and reheat parts of it?
Hi Daniel, For max freshness, I would probably refrigerate up to 3 days.
This is by far the greatest recipe ever! Natasha, keep the recipes coming! Almost everything I make is from your page!
I’m so happy you love the pulled chicken recipe. Thanks for sharing your great review!
Hi Natasha! If I wanted to half the recipe, should I adjust the cook time in the slow cooker as well?
Thank you!
Hi Natalie, halving it will work but the time won’t change by much. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
How will it taste if I just use the BBQ sauce in the bottle? I don’t use Worcestershire sauce at all, so i don’t want to waste the bottle.
Thank you!
Hi Tina, we believe we found the perfect balance for this BBQ sauce and chicken recipe. But, if you find a bbq bottle that you like and it works well, I’d love to know how you like it.
What kind of buns did you use ? I’m making this tonight !
Hi Mya, we have photos of the buns we used in the recipe, but this is versatile; you can use brioche buns, and some of our readers also use the little Hawaiian buns for those who wanted a slider.
This was delicious!!
Our family is headed to the northshore of Minnesota to gorgeous resort this summer. I will be making this for our first family vacation since the pandemic. And yes, I will pack my slow cooker. Thank you for your awesome recipes! Everyone LOVES this BBQ chicken!
You’re welcome, Jane! This will be perfect during the summer!
My chicken is rubbery and is not shredding easily. It appears fully cooked and has been cooking for the prescribed about of time on high heat. Would more vinegar break it down? What did I do wrong? They are large thick chicken breasts.
Hi Pat, if they are very large chicken breasts, they may need a little more time, or especially if you started with frozen chicken they would need a little longer.
Hi, firstly just want to say I love all of your recipes I have tried so far. We just made chicken pot pie and I want to use the remaining chi Ken. Can I use cooked rotisserie chicken for this? If so, how do I adjust cooking time?
Hi Priya, I haven’t tested this with rotisserie to advise. We also took a look at our reader comments and haven’t found anyone trying it to advise on a time or process. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Hi Natasha! My husband LOVES this meal. Silly question – do you use any buns? Do you toast them? And do you put any condiments on the bun?
Hi Jessica, yes, as we mentioned in the recipe, we “Serve as is or in buns with the best coconut coleslaw (find the recipe on natashaskitchen.com) and dill pickle chips.” You can definitely toast the buns; it’s such a treat! I hope you love it!
Can I use frozen chicken?
Hi Tiff, I have not tested that, but I recently read that adding frozen meats to a slow cooker can be unsafe, so it’s best to do a quick-thaw in cold, cold water at least before adding them.
Hi Natasha! I used bone-in chicken thighs and it was fabulous! I added cayenne because we like spicy and a little apple cider vinegar for tartness. Even my husband who only eats white meat chicken loved it and asked me to make it again. Also, your coconut cole slaw was delicious. That’s how I’ll be making cole slaw from now on. I have a question, though, my sister wants to make this, but she doesn’t have a slow cooker. If she makes it in the oven using chicken thighs, how long and what temp should she do? Thanks for your recipes. So far, all the ones I’ve tried are winners!!
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Susan! I’m so glad you’re all enjoying our recipes! You can actually do it on the stovetop or in the oven. I think it’s a little easier (hands-off) and less time-consuming in the oven. You can follow the baking instructions outlined in my sweet and spicy baked chicken.
Can this recipe be made with chicken thighs? I have a bunch! Looks delicious.
Hi Caitie, I suggest boneless skinless thighs, and they should work.
Made this for my mom’s birthday and she loved it!! (she’s very picky, and at restaurants normally describes her meal as “ok”). She even put some of it in a container for leftovers the next day. Recipe was very simple too, which I appreciated. Would definitely recommend to someone who wants an easy meal that will please a crowd.
Hi Sarah, thank you so much for your recommendation and awesome review. I appreciate it!
Juicy and delicious!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Natasha, I think I am hooked on your recipes! I’m anxious to try this one but my kids are picky eaters. Can I sub the onions for lemon juice instead? If so how much would I use? Thank-you looking forward to your reply.
Hi Marisa, I honestly haven’t tried that yet to advise. I saw someone else commented that they added a little bit of lemon and liked it!
Has anyone tried freezing this? How did it go?
Hi Julia, I haven’t tried freezing it, but I do think it would work well. The ingredients are freezer friendly.
I routinely freeze half of it for an easy meal later. No complaints from my picky family. Great recipe!
Thank you for sharing that with us, Alli!
Thank you for recipe! It came out delicious!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent recipe – quick easy, and delicious! I made a couple of changes- I added a little lemon juice to the recipe and used less brown sugar because my BBQ sauce is very sweet. I don’t own a crockpot so I baked in the oven. I cooked 40-45 minutes, covered, at 400F, then I reduced the temperature to 350 F and cooked another 10-15 minutes. Served it on a bun with fried onions and creamy coleslaw.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Marni! I’m happy you enjoyed this recipe!
Can I make with frozen chicken breasts ?
Hi Kathleen, I have not tested that, but I recently read that adding frozen meats to a slow cooker can be unsafe so it’s best to do a quick-thaw in cold cold water at least before adding them.
I just found this recipe this week (November 2020), and it was perfect! I used Stubb’s original BBQ sauce and let it go on high for 3.5 hours or so and another 20 minutes on low. So much easier than other recipes that have you sear the chicken first. This took no time and we have lots of leftovers to look forward to!
That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review!
I made this today in my Instant Pot (as a slow cooker). Cooked for 6 hours on low then 40 min on high with a new batch of sauce once shredded. Turned out amazing and will now be my #1 go to pulled chicken recipe.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
I added some honey mustard 1/2 cup to the mix and adobo seasoning 1/4 tsp. It smells amazing!
Can I use chopped onion instead of grated?
That will work too, Adrienne!
Hi Natasha, I really want to try this recipe but I don’t have a slow cooker and was wondering if it would work if I used an instapot?
Hello Inna. I think that would be a great experiment but without testing it, I really can’t provide specific instructions. I love my instant pot, but things don’t always translate the way I hope they would to the instant pot. I will add it to my list, but if you experiment before I do, let me know how it goes.
Hi, could someone please enlighten me how many oz or ml would be in 1.5 cups of BBQ sauce, looking forward to trying this!! Thank you
Hello Tara, you may use our Ingredient Weight Chart for some guidance.
8 oz is 1 cup
1 cup is 8 liquid ounces
or 250 mls.
Therefore 1.5 cups would be
12 liquid ounces or 375 mls.
Hi Natasha! Any idea if I use sugar free BBQ sauce an diabetic brown sugar, what the total carbs would be for this?
Hi Cheryl, I don’t have a recipe for that but I bet your local grocery store may have a BBQ sauce that is sugar free.
Hi, can you tell me roughly how many this recipe could feed? I’m making pulled chicken sandwiches for about 12.
Hi Amy, I would scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post and check the serving size there. We do have a recipe slider allowing you to adjust how many recipes you would like to make.
Absolutely love this recipe, made it for the first time last night and we had with with Nachos (guacamole/sour cream and lots of red onion/corn and red capsicum. Absolutely delicious and will be adding it to our meal rotations
I’m so glad! Thank you for sharing this great review!
Was looking for a good, simple slow-cooker recipe and came across this one. AWESOME! Easy prep. Hands down probably the most satisfying pulled “anything” I’ve ever had … or Made! Thanks!
We love this recipe! So so good & so easy! Thank you for sharing this wonderful review!
Made this tonight. It was delicious! I was wondering what the olive oil is used for? And if I could leave it out next time. What do you think?
Hi Bridget, it adds a little more moisture and juiciness to the meat when it’s shredded. The recipe should still work without it if you are looking to cut the calories.
Just made this last night so we had something easy to make/eat during The Stanley Cup game last night ( Go TBLighting lol).
It was beyond a hit. So simple to make and hands down one of the best BBQ Chicken sandwiches anyone has ever had. So much so, that they all came back over today to watch Sunday football and asked there were leftovers. lol
This is 100% a recipe I’ll be saving and I’m pretty sure they’ll be asking for it every Sunday for football season. lol Thank you so much!!!
That is awesome to know, Lisa. I am so glad that everyone enjoyed this recipe! Thank you for sharing that with us and for your great feedback.
How long should this cook when making with rotisserie chicken?
Hi Andrea, I haven’t tested this with rotisserie to advise. We also took a look at our reader comments and haven’t found anyone trying it to advise on a time or process. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
I have made this recipe for a while..its easy and tastes just fine for a quick prep recipe but I can not imagine adding brown sugar, its too sweet as it is with just the BBQ sauce, in fact I cut the BBQ sauce with hot sauce to lower the sweet in it.
Hi Patty, you definitely could use less sugar if using a very sweet bbq sauce.
Made Pulled Pork yesterday from a recipe on another site. It was good.
Made this Pulled Chicken recipe today. It’s 10 times better than the pork. Healthier & easier to prepare. Great flavor. This is better than you can get at any restaurant.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
I should point out, I used DINOSAUR BBQ SAUCE and a little FRANKS REDHOT ORIGINAL SAUCE
Thank you so much for sharing that William!
My 17 year old made this tonight … with the coconut coleslaw and homemade buns. What a delicious meal! Thanks for sharing. We will make this again.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the wonderful review!
Excellent. Added more barbecue sauce because and I 4 lbs of chicken. Simple easy and all ingredients on hand. I did season my chicken before putting it in the crockpot with just salt pepper and garlic. Delicious!!
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing that with us, Tiffany.
I never comment on recipes but this BBQ chicken was so good and so simple that I couldn’t resist. I followed your recipe and used a combination of chicken breasts and thighs. I made your coconut slaw too – delicious! Thanks for sharing!
You are most welcome, Heather. Reading your comments and feedback makes me feel happy, thank you!
Are you able to make this in an instant pot? If so do you know how long it would take?
Hi Kirstyn, I think that would be a great experiment but without testing it, I really can’t provide specific instructions. I love my instant pot, but things don’t always translate the way I hope they would to the instant pot. I will add it to my list, but if you experiment before I do, let me know how it goes.
I just made this tonight and it was absolutely delicious! I did sub chicken thighs for breasts because thats all i had… and I also subed sweet baby rays sugar free barbecue and swerve brown sugar because I’m on a low carb diet…..it turned out amazing! Thank you for your fabulous recipes! They never disappoint!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Satina!
Made the slow cooker bq chicken recipe for a neighborhood get together. Everyone loved it and many have asked for the recipe. I used brioche buns, and also the little Hawaiian buns for those who wanted a slider.
So wonderful to hear that everyone loved it, Denise! Thank you so much for sharing that with us.
VERY delicious! Easy and super flavorful!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that Bethany!
You’re an extremely practical site; couldn’t make it without ya!|
I’m so glad you’re enjoying our site!
(Sort of) made this for dinner, didn’t have any of the ingredients except the bbq sauce and the chicken. (Weber’s sauce and three large breasts) Dumped the lot into the crock pot and four hours late we had amazing pulled chicken. The easiest and tastiest thing I’ve made recently! So excited to try again with other sauces. (Thinking about a green chile pulled chicken next…!)
I love it! Thanks for sharing your experience with us, I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
Hi Natasha, love your videos I wonder what the prep dish with what appears to be herbs is. I am making this today for the first time.
Hi Nancy, I’m not sure what you referring to. Can you clarify?
Brown Sugar.
I thought it was herbs too but it’s olive oil. The table makes it look like there’s herbs in there since the olive oil is translucent.
This lacked flavour, added some salt afterwards and tasted 10x better. Definitely recommend usinga flavourful bbq sauce you know you enjoy, and if not add some salt and some hot sauce if that’s what you’re into.
Hi Isabella, the type of bbq sauce used can definitely play a role and it’s smart to add salt to taste.
Just made this recipe, it’s very good. I would tell folks that like thing a little spicy get a spicy BBQ sauce or add hot sauce to the sandwich when finished. The finished product is a little on the sweet side.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
Natasha, You get five stars because I used the recipe! Thank you. I did have to add more seasoning (Johnnys), Tabasco sauce, pepper, and an extra half bottle of Kraft BBQ sauce (it was my mom’s favorite). I made it for Memorial Day and served it with cilantro lime cole slaw, corn on the cob and a fresh fruit salad. Great recipe for families.
That is awesome! I’m so glad you chose this recipe and thanks for your great feedback.
Really good and easy to make!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
I only have chicken thighs on the bone. Can I use it?
I imagine that should work too. Please let us know it goes.
Can you freeze this’s after cooking it? I added honey and it tasted great!
Hi Bill, I haven’t tried freezing it but I do think it would work well. The ingredients are freezer friendly.
ps it possible to make it without the bbq sauce which i hate sounds great for my husband who eat bbq sauce on everything thought i would make it with chicken however
Hi there, you can try and see how it goes but it might just be drier than the usual recipe, just add more seasoning like salt and pepper to taste. Please share with us how it goes if you give that a try.
Tasteless. Recommend you season the chicken before adding to the pot. Not sure what I did wrong but it lacked flavor.
Hi Natalie, that could be due to using less bbq sauce. Most bbq sauces have plenty of flavors where added salt is not needed.
I didn’t thaw my chicken, is it okay if I put it in the slow cooker frozen?
Hi Angela, I have not tested that, but I recently read that adding frozen meats to a slow cooker can be unsafe so it’s best to do a quick-thaw in cold cold water at least before adding them.
I made this today together with homemade potato skins. Went down really well with the family and we all loved it! 👌 I also feel that brown sugar was not needed so will try it without next time. We have some leftover s having it tomorrow with qninoa rice 😋
Sounds good! Thank you for sharing that with us.
Can you give me the instructions for this recipe to be made in a dutch oven?
Hi Claudine, You can actually do it on the stovetop or in the oven. I think it’s a little easier (hands-off) and less time-consuming in the oven. You can follow the baking instructions outlined in my sweet and spicy baked chicken.
Thank’s for your’s recipe i love so much
You’re welcome! I’m so glad you enjoyed that!
I totally botched this recipe! I used some frozen chicken and not frozen chicken. The sauce ended up being a watery soup (I’m guessing due to using frozen chicken.) I’m so disappointed. But, I will def. make again just not using frozen chicken. So, I highly recommend not using frozen chicken.
That is more than likely that culprit Sherry! Thank you fro sharing that feedback with me!
We are making this recipe for the second time! First time, we had it on tacos with slaw and then with mac&cheese. This time, we’re going to spread it on a homemade pizza and see how it goes! Thank you, Natasha, for brightening up our time with this recipe.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
Well, I really like most of the recipes of Natasha’s that I’ve tried but I this crock pot chicken Barbecue was not what I thought it would be. It just wasn’t for us. Will be trying more recipes from Natasha for sure!
Sorry hear that, Darlene. Could you be more specific as to what it is that you didn’t like about the recipe? Curious to know.
Absolutely amazing flavour and so simple to make.
We ended up serving it over rice with a side of green beans instead of in a burger bun. It absolutely works like that too!
That’s nice! I’m so glad that your version was yummy too. Thank you for the great review!
Would the recipe change at all if I use bonelsss skinless thighs instead of breasts?
Hi MaryBeth, I haven’t tested that but I imagine that should be alright if that’s what you have available. Please update us and let us know how it goes!
I have bone in chicken breast. Do you think that would work? #shelterinplacecookwhatugot
Hi, I haven’t tried this with bone-in chicken breast but that should work fine.
My family Loves when I make this recipe! They only way we make crock pot chicken anymore! And my daughter has started making it for her family as well!
Super Easy and super delicious!
So great to hear that this recipe has become a favorite! Thank you for sharing that with us and I hope you love every recipe that you try.
The BBQ pulled chicken is awesome! I have tried different recipes but my sons said this was the best! Thank you Natasha!
Yay your good feedback really makes me happy! Thanks for sharing that with us.
Made this recipe. Was delicious! Looking forward to making it again
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Larissa!
I dont have the brown sugar, do you think it will make a difference if I make this recipe without it?
Hi Larissa, several of our readers have reported enjoying this recipe without brown sugar. Here is what one of our readers wrote “Super easy and delicious! We leave the brown sugar out because we don’t like things too sweet”
Hi Natasha, can we put frozen chicken or does it have to be defrosted? Thanks!
Hi Dominique, I haven’t tried this particular recipe with frozen chicken but have experimented with other recipes. You should be able to keep to the same timings – probably on the higher side of the timings (i.e. 7 hours on low). Once the chicken pulls apart easily with forks, it’s ready. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Natsha, what kind of Instant Pot did you use to make the Ribs? I want to make sure to buy the right one
Hi Barbara, we used this Instant Pot here for our Instant Pot Ribs recipe.
Just made this recipe in my slow cooker and my whole family enjoyed it for several days . Love this so much and will always make this. ThankYou so much for all your recipes. I enjoy them.
That’s so great Carla! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I LOVE this recipe! I don’t eat pork but my boyfriend loves pulled pork, and this was a fantastic compromise. We both love it! We’ve had it 3 times and it never gets old. I was wondering if you knew the nutrition info? I cannot find it on this site.
Hi Krustelle, I’m glad you enjoy the recipe! Due to time constraints, I don’t typically include nutritional info but we are working on adding it to all of our recipes, but check out this nutrition analyzer – you can plug in the ingredients from any recipe, select the serving size and it will give you nutritional info, calories, etc. I hope that is helpful to you
Hi! Soooo yummy I have made this several times. It’s a really good cheap recipe. I like to pour this all over a plate of mashed potatoes. Sooooo good.
Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it Anita!
By far the easiest and most delicious slow cooker bbq chicken I have come across! This is a great recipe and I have made it several times, it is in our monthly rotation now. This and some homemade coleslaw and veggie side dish are absolute heaven. Thank you!
You are very welcome Sonya. I’m happy to know that this is a monthly favorite now. Thank you for sharing your experience regarding this recipe!
Hi! I have made this several times. It’s a really good cheap recipe. I like to pour this all over a plate of mashed potatoes. Sooooo good.
Thanks for sharing.
Yum! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Hi, Natasha, can I make this in my Instant pot using the Slow cook (No-pressure cooking) program? Would I have to adjust the time?
Thank you, I am so looking forward to preparing this!!
Hi Ginka, I have not tested that on that setting to advise. If you experiment, please let me know how you like the recipe.
This was so easy. The Chicken BBQ recipe made a lot for just one, but I was able to share it with two friends and still have enough for several meals for me. I will definitely do this again.
That’s just awesome, Susan! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe.
I’ve had this recipe in the slow cooker and it’s been a favorite of ours! Was wondering if you can adjust it to instant pot?
Hello Julia, I think that would be a great experiment but without testing it, I really can’t provide specific instructions. I love my instant pot, but things don’t always translate the way I hope they would to the instant pot. I will add it to my list, but if you experiment before I do, let me know how it goes.
I made this recipe today. It’s insanely good!! Not extra liquid at all!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Ruth! Thank you for that wonderful review.
what would the cooking time be on high if i double this?
Hi Tara, that should work fine to double it as long as your slow cooker is large enough to fit everything. It will probably require a longer cook time though – I would aim for the higher end of the cook times (i.e. 4 hours on high or 7 hours on low) to check for doneness.
Tasted great just using Sweet Baby Rays Hickory and brown sugar sauce. The cooking times listed seem to be way off, I cooked 3 boneless chicken breasts on low in the crockpot and they were perfect 3 hours later
Thank you so much for sharing that with us, John! It may take less or more time depending on your crockpot. I’m glad to hear it went quicker for you, that’s so great!
My friend served this at a party and sent me here when I asked for the recipe. I didn’t see any reviews of people cooking it in an electric pressure cooker but I was short on time to make dinner so I went ahead and tried it anyway and it worked great!! I was low on ingredients (I made about 2/3 the recipe) and my chicken breasts were frozen so I cooked it 12 minutes and that worked for me but you may need to adjust if you make a full recipe and/or have defrosted chicken.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Brady!
I do not own a crock pot, can I make this in the oven?
I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe
Can this be made ahead and frozen?
Hi Denise, I haven’t tried freezing it but I do think it would work well. The ingredients are freezer friendly.
Should I follow the same directions for boneless skinless chicken thighs?
Hi Kathy, I would suggest boneless skinless thighs.
Hi! I’d like to try this in an instant pot, any idea about the cooking time? Thank you!
Hi Robby, I think that would be a great experiment but without testing it, I really can’t provide specific instructions. I love my instant pot, but things don’t always translate the way I hope they would to the instant pot. I will add it to my list, but if you experiment before I do, let me know how it goes.
Can the chicken breasts layer on top of each other or do they have to be one layer and not overlap?
Thankyou
Hi Kylie, They are fine in more than one layer.
I made this last night, and it was delicious. The only small change I made was dicing up the onion very small instead of grating. For those that got watery/soupy results, blame the chicken, not the recipe. Chicken breasts can be injected with up to 20%+ of a salt water solution. So, not only is that solution being released into the sauce as it cooks, the actual chicken breasts shrink because of it, as well. I’ve learned to pay attention to how much of a solution is added to the chicken I buy, and purchase accordingly to what I plan on using it for. It really does affect recipe outcomes. Ever wonder why your breading or batter comes off during frying? It’s because of a high solution content.
Thank you so much for sharing that with us, Chris! How interesting!
How would you do it with leftover, cold rotisserie chicken?
Hi Christy, we took a look at the recipe comments and haven’t found that. We haven’t tried that with cooked chicken either. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe
Wonderful recipe! Tasted even better the next day. Already making it again to freeze for an easy meal. My family gave this a big thumbs up.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Beth!
Making this again today. Freezing portions for future quick meals.
That’s so great!
Made this for my family this evening, and we loved it so much that I want to make it for our little one’s upcoming birthday party. Problem is I’ve only got one crock pot and it has been requisitioned for another dish. Suggestions as to how to prepare this using the oven or stovetop?
Hi Anna, You can bake or cook it on the stovetop. I think it’s a little easier (hands off) and less time consuming in the oven.
This is such an easy recipe and it was great! Everyone loved it.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
How does the cooking time change if using frozen chicken breasts?
Hi Paige, haven’t tried this particular recipe with frozen chicken but have experimented with other recipes. You should be able to keep to the same timings – probably on the higher side of the timings (i.e. 7 hours on low). Once the chicken pulls apart easily with forks, it’s ready
Can you double this recipe in the crockpot? Planning on making this weekend! Thanks!
Hi Haylie, that should work fine to double it as long as your slow cooker is large enough to fit everything. It will probably require a longer cook time though – I would aim for the higher end of the cook times (i.e. 4 hours on high or 7 hours on low) to check for doneness.
Delicious. I made this for myself and my husband. He is super picky and he really enjoyed it and went for seconds (so did I). I use 2 large chicken breast and half of a normal size chicken breast (all we had left or I would’ve done more). My husband does not like super sweet so I did 1 cup of Bbq sauce and 1 Tbs of brown sugar. Turned out great!! My only question-what can I do to help eliminate or limit the liquid in the crockpot. I believe it’s just all the broth from the chicken breasts. Oh also my husband is taking left overs to work tomorrow (again big deal as he doesn’t like to eat the same thing two days in a row typically).
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review, Jami! If you shred the chicken, it soaks up most of the juice and makes the chicken really moist. It might be a good idea to remove some of the liquid if using less chicken and you can always add it back to taste and preference
Hi folks, I need to bring this recipe to a party on sat. Can I cook this on Friday and then back in crock pot and leave on warm for Sat?
Any suggestions are welcome. Can’t wait to try this
Hi Margaret, I wouldn’t suggest leaving it on warm overnight or it will over cook and dry out. It’s best made the morning of but you can make it a day ahead and refrigerate then reheat the next day adding a splash of water if needed. It will reheat well since it’s a moist chicken.
Thank you so much for the recipe. My company does crock pot Wednesdays. It was a surprise for my turn this week. We feed about 25-30 people each week. Hope this comes out awesome. Additions coleslaw, potato salad, rolls, and cookies. Thanks again!
That’s amazing Eileen! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Very good! We had this for traditional ferragosto (Italian commemoration on August 15) it gas been a pleasure!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Delicious ,we put ours on toasted Brioche buns topped with homemade Cole slaw.
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Margie!
I have a bunch of chicken breasts that need to be cooked up so I found this recipe and decided to make it tonight for me and my 3 year old son. We are using Guy Feiri’s sweet mesquite BBQ sauce (double pack found at costco). We’re putting it on leftover hot dog buns with leftover coleslaw to use up what’s in the fridge and making a peach, feta mixed green salad with it! It’s so helpful to have the rough cost of the dish included for meal planning however I would recommend to add if that’s in US or Canadian $ as 6 breasts of chicken where I live costs $26 so the cost to make this dish is double of what the recipe states. Just a thought. 🙂 Thanks for this, we look forward to trying it soon!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Tara!
Delicious! I made this yesterday when the temp was 95 outside. I had 4 large chicken breasts I cut in half. I set it on high for 3 hours, shredded the chicken, and turned it to low for 1 hour. I used a whole bottle of sugar free BBQ. Served with coleslaw and watermelon! Great for a hot summer day!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
If I wanted to add liquid smoke, how much would I add and how would I go about doing that?
Hi Courtney, I haven’t experimented with that so I can’t advise but here is what one of our readers wrote “Made a batch for a pot luck, everyone loved it. I did add a tiny bit of liquid smoke to the cooking liquid to start, otherwise followed recipe exactly. I also blended the onion with the oil, worst. sauce, and a little bbq sauce because I don’t have a grater, and it worked great!” If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.