Crock Pot BBQ Chicken

Crock Pot BBQ Chicken is an easy pulled chicken recipe made right in your slow cooker. There are only six ingredients in this quick and flavorful recipe which makes it perfect for a simple dinner or your next potluck.

Some people like pulled pork, but I’m all about this pulled chicken made in the slow cooker. I make it whenever we have get-togethers because it takes 5 minutes to prep, then it cooks itself in the slow cooker. No work at all.

Piled on a bun and topped with homemade coleslaw or pickles, it makes the perfect meal!

There is something so mouth-watering about BBQ chicken no matter what kind of BBQ sauce you are using, though I like to make my own spicy BBQ sauce.

The smell of the tartness from the vinegar and sweetness from the brown sugar lets you know good things are brewing!

This recipe is so easy it’s just a matter of waiting. Pouring all the ingredients over the chicken breasts means you can serve it as a whole piece of chicken but if you are looking for a pulled BBQ chicken crockpot recipe this works too!

Whether you are serving it as a piece of chicken with a side of rice and salad for dinner or as a pulled chicken sandwich for lunch, this will be your new go-to BBQ chicken slow cooker recipe. It’s fast, easy and so good.

Ingredients you’ll need:

• Chicken – boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
• BBQ Sauce – use your favorite jarred or try one of my homemade like spicy BBQ sauce or KFC Honey BBQ Sauce
• Vinegar – I use apple cider vinegar.
• Red Pepper Flakes – for a little kick, can be omitted.
• Brown Sugar – to balance the heat.
• Garlic – Either minced garlic or garlic powder.

Equipment you’ll need:

• Slow Cooker – You don’t need the Crock Pot brand. I’ve had this Set It & Forget It model for years and it’s great because after the designated time, it switches itself over to WARM by itself.
• Mixing Bowls – You just need a small bowl to mix the BBQ sauce mixture, but I like these with grippy bottoms.
• Meat Claws – To shred the chicken.

How to make BBQ Chicken in the Crockpot

STEP ONE: Place chicken breasts in crockpot and arrange them so they are not overlapping.

STEP TWO: Mix BBQ sauce with all other ingredients and pour over chicken in the crockpot and cook on low until done.

That’s it!

If you want pulled chicken, take your chicken pieces out of the crockpot and put in a bowl. Using two forks or meat claws, gently pull chicken apart until it is all shredded. Place shredded chicken back into crockpot with the sauce, stir together and enjoy.

Can I put frozen chicken in the crockpot?

No, you shouldn’t put frozen chicken in the slow cooker. Due to the “slow to warm” aspect of the crockpot, the concern is that the chicken doesn’t reach its peak temperature fast enough to kill bacteria.

HOWEVER, with that being said, there are plenty of people that don’t agree and have lived to tell about it (like every time I mention this on Facebook and it starts a fight). The key is that your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees for it to be safe to eat. So, as long as you’re not undercooking the chicken and are remembering to cook a little longer if you’re cooking from frozen, you will probably be fine, but I don’t do it. Know better, do better!

How long should you cook a chicken in the crockpot?

You generally slow cook boneless chicken from 3-6 hours. Low for 4-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours. If you decide to use another cut of chicken, perhaps something with a bone on it, you’re going to want to compensate for that as chicken with bones takes longer to cook.

What do you eat with BBQ pulled chicken?

Even just thinking about the possibilities makes my mouth water! If you’re serving pulled chicken in a sandwich, the key is to use a nice hearty bun to be able to stand up to all the sauce!

Serve it with potato salad, a baked potato, macaroni and cheese, or even loaded zucchini skins! And then brownies for dessert, of course.

Can you overcook chicken in a crockpot?

Yes! You can definitely overcook chicken in a crockpot to a point where it is dry and not juicy which in turn makes it very difficult to eat or to pull apart. It’s best to follow the recipe’s instructions and if you decide to use fewer pieces of chicken than the recipe calls for you will want to check on your chicken sooner rather than later.

Originally published October 27, 2011