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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), 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
- 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!!
Natasha Kravchuk
Hi! I'm Natasha Kravchuk. Here you'll find delicious, trusted recipes with easy step-by-step photos and videos. 
Hi there! I am using your bbq recipe to make this. Should I still add the Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar?
Hi Anna! Yes, I would still add it for the right balance.
Made this yesterday for a family dinner. I increased the servings to 11 and it was perfect. I did add a couple extra squirts of BBQ sauce at the end just because the sauce in the slow cooker seemed watery. I don’t think this was necessary because once I shredded the chicken and put it back in, everything soaked in wonderfully. Even with the lil extra BBQ sauce, this recipe was a huge hit! Did sliders with a little coleslaw and I will definitely be making it again! Leftovers for dinner tonight!
I’m so happy to hear that this was a huge hit! Thanks so much for sharing that with us, Tracy!
Was very good !found a BBQ sauce with less sugar so I swapped it out and put a tablespoon of my own honey in it and 4 garlic cloves and some red pepper flakes amazing !!! Kids even enjoyed it and asked for seconds !
Do you think I could use chicken tenders for this? If so, would I adjust the cooking time?
Hi Patti! I haven’t tried it with tenders yet. We’ve had people try this recipe with thighs, pork etc. and loved the results. You may have to adjust the cooking time a bit but it should be pretty close. Let us know if you experiment.
Do you think it would make a big difference in flavor if I used the Ray’s Hawaiian flavored BBQ sauce instead of Honey??
Hi Sharon, I bet that could work, it may adjust it a but, If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
This recipe looks delicious! I’ve been looking for some different kinds of recipes to add to my list and to my recipe book. I cannot wait to try this out tomorrow and I will come back with my results.
Sounds good! I hope it becomes your new favorite!
Which onion did you use? Yellow, Sweet, Red? I can’t wait to make this! Thanks!
A sweet or yellow onion works great. I hope you love the recipe!
This looks fabulous. Can’t wait to make this. Can I use frozen chicken breast?
Hi Judy! You’d have to experiment with it. I worry that frozen chicken would water it down.
Hi Judy- did you try the recipe with frozen chicken? Do you have suggestions on how to modify the recipe for frozen? Thanks for your ideas and thanks to Natasha for the recipe!
I’m making this recipe for 18 people. Should I cut the chicken? Any suggestions?
Hi Denise! It will not serve 18. This recipe serves 8 people if used in sandwiches. You can increase the servings in the recipe card and it will convert the list for you.
I increased the serving in the recipe card. It says use 7lbs of chicken. So is the cooking time the same and should I cut the chicken?
I don’t cut the chicken. I shred it afterwards. As long as your slow cooker is large enough to fit everything it should be about the same
cooking time, maybe a bit longer. But I would aim for the higher end of the cook times (i.e., 4 hours on high or 7 hours on low) and then check for doneness.
I love this recipe, something different to have for dinner. It was delicious!! My family loved it ; served with French fries. Thank you.
That’s great, Carolyn. Thank you for sharing.
Absolutely fabulous. So easy to make. We served with pickled red onions, pickles. Brioche mini buns. Have made several times.
Yum! So glad you love the recipe.
Can you use chicken thighs for this recipe instead of the chicken breasts?
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 (Amazon affiliate link) to check, the internal temperature of the chicken should be 165℉ for safe consumption.
This was excellent! Had dinner for 2 nights from this. Will make again!
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us, Liz!
This looks so delicious! I am planning to make this recipe tomorrow. I am out of olive oil. Is that critical? What would make a good substitute?
Hi Candice, we prefer olive oil, but canola oil, vegetable oil or sunflower oil may also work.
I’ve made this once already, absolutely delicious! I didn’t use the oil or the Worcestershire sauce, and I used date syrup instead of brown sugar, and my kids ate it up. Oil isn’t needed for much recipes tbh.
Love this recipe! The BBQ chicken as a sandwich with the slaw is soooo good! I’ve made it a lot and for a crowd. I make extra forever leftovers. This one is a keeper! Thanks!
Glad that you loved our recipe, Christine!
I made this recipe and doubled every ingredient including chicken and it came out way too sweet for my liking. Is there anything I can do to tone down the sweetness or make it less sweet so I don’t have to give it away or throw it away? Thank you so much!!
You may try to reduce the sugar next time if you double it next time. Test it out first before adding more. For now, maybe try adding a liltle more broth?
Use a different bbq sauce. Check the sugar content of. The sauce you re using. Stubbs bbq sauce is low in sugar.
Worcestershire sauce gives my husband heartburn so what can I use in place of i
Hi Terri! You can just leave it out or check out this list for Best Worcestershire sauce substitutes.
I made this and it was really delicious. I only had a red onion so used that and didn’t even bother to grate it…just sliced it and threw it in. Hubby ate most of it just standing over the bowl with a fork, he loved it so much!
Sounds great! I’m so happy to hear that you both enjoyed it!
Can this be made in a instapot? And what cooking instructions would you recommend?
Hi Katie! I’m sure it can be but I haven’t tested it to provide instructions. Let us know if you experiment with it.
I’ve made bbq chicken in a crockpot many times but listen to me when I say THIS is THE one to make. It’s insanity. Lunacy! Just SO tender and bursting with flavor.
Thank you for the wonderful feedback, Betsy! I’m so glad you loved it.
I made this. Oh my goodness y’all. This is so delicious. I’ve been looking for a good slow cooker bbq chicken recipe and this is it. Finally. Natasha’s recipes have never let me down. Everything I have tried making has been so amazingly delicious. Thank you so much Natasha for sharing all of your wonderful recipe’s.
You’re welcome! I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Sharon!