An easy recipe for shredded BBQ chicken made in the crock-pot. This pulled chicken recipe made with chicken breast is flavorful, simple and makes delicious, shredded BBQ chicken sandwiches or sliders.
I love a good dump-and-go slow cooker recipe for those busy seasons of life. Sometimes all you have is the bandwidth to pour a few things in the crock-pot and come back later to a hot meal.
For years, I have been asked for a crock-pot Bar-B-Q chicken recipe (thanks to the popularity of my pulled pork recipe). I have tried so many different combinations, the ones that just use BBQ sauce were way too sweet for my taste. I also wanted the chicken to have plenty of flavor and to be made with easily accessible ingredients, this recipe was the clear winner.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Flavorful, dump-and-go slow cooker pulled chicken recipe.
- Easily available ingredients.
- Family and kid approved!
- Not too sweet for a shredded BBQ chicken recipe.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Chicken Breast: I used boneless skinless chicken breasts. Chicken thighs would also work, but I recommend trimming as much visible fat from them as possible. Cooking time will be a little bit shorter if you use chicken thighs.
- Onion: A diced yellow onion adds flavor to the pulled chicken.
- Ketchup: Just regular ketchup. I looked for one with simple ingredients.
- Brown Sugar: For adding sweetness to the sauce. This dish isn't too sweet.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: I like the mild tang it provides; you can also substitute white vinegar.
- Yellow Mustard: Plain yellow mustard.
- Bourbon: This provided the most complementary flavors to the BBQ. You can substitute a whiskey - like Jack Daniel's for the bourbon. If you want to omit, I recommend replacing with Worcestershire sauce.
- Spices: The spices are kept simple - salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and chili powder.
- BBQ Sauce: I recommend having some extra BBQ sauce on hand for tossing with the chicken if you would like more sauce. I tested with Sweet Baby Ray's Original.
How to make BBQ chicken in slow cooker
Add ingredients to slow cooker.
Combine chicken, onion and barbecue sauce ingredients in crock-pot.
Slow cook chicken.
Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or until chicken easily shreds. Shred chicken and add additional BBQ sauce, if desired.
Serve pulled BBQ chicken.
Serve shredded chicken on a bun for a delicious chicken sandwich or slider.
Recipe Tips
When the chicken is ready to be shredded, remove from the crock-pot and shred it. Then add chicken back to the slow cooker with juices and let heat on WARM for around 15-30 minutes with the lid off. This allows the chicken to absorb some of the juices.
Serve with extra barbecue sauce if you would like a richer and saucier pulled chicken.
Serving and Storage
Serving: Serve BBQ pulled chicken with extra barbecue sauce on a bun, slider bun, in a tortilla, or on top of a baked sweet potato. Side dish pairings include coleslaw, pickle spear, potato chips, potato salad, and beans.
Storage: Store leftover pulled chicken in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I like to store with any juices that may be left over. Leftovers may also be frozen for up to three months.
Reheat: I like to reheat in the microwave in 30 second intervals on high. Add some extra BBQ sauce to add back in some moisture.
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker BBQ Shredded Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
- 2 Tablespoons bourbon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- For serving: Extra BBQ sauce and buns
Instructions
- Place diced onion and chicken breast in slow cooker.
- In a small bowl whisk together sauce ingredients and spices. Pour sauce over chicken. Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours until chicken easily shreds.
- Shred chicken and place back in crock-pot, turn heat to warm, remove lid and allow chicken to absorb juices for ~ 15-30 minutes.
- To serve: Add additional BBQ sauce as desired, place on toasted bun.
Notes
Nutrition
This summer has taught me to appreciate the normal days of life - the crock-pot meals after a busy weekday, the one too many socks left beside the laundry basket, the kids watching too much TV, and simply talking to a neighbor in your front yard because you have no place else to be.
I hope y'all enjoy my favorite recipe for BBQ shredded chicken.
Best,
Alaine
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Alaine says
I came up with this version because I found that most other recipes were too sweet for our liking. Now this is a go-to, especially for busy sports nights!