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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 2 to 3 hours or on low for 6 to 7 hours. Check on it early since timing can depend on the thickness of your chicken and the size of your slow cooker. It will also cook faster if making a smaller batch. Chicken is done when cooked through to an internal temperature of 167˚F 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)
- 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
- Stir together all sauce ingredients in a 5-6 qt slow cooker.
- Add chicken and turn to coat. Cover and cook on high for 2 to 3 hours or for 6 to 7 hours on low. Check on the chicken earlier if using smaller chicken pieces, if making a smaller batch, or if you know your slow cooker runs hot. Chicken is done when cooked through to an internal temperature of 165˚F and is easy to shred.
- 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.
Nutrition Per Serving
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!!
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.