Why Make This Recipe
Crockpot BBQ Chicken is a fantastic choice for busy days when you want a delicious meal without spending a lot of time in the kitchen. This easy pulled chicken recipe creates tender, flavorful chicken that can be enjoyed in many ways. Whether you’re serving it on buns, over rice, or in tacos, it’s satisfying and versatile. Plus, the slow cooking process allows the flavors to meld beautifully, making every bite irresistible.
How to Make The Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, with fat trimmed off
- 1 1/4 cup barbecue sauce (We love sweet Baby Ray’s Honey BBQ)
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing (I use this fat-free one)
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar (can reduce to 1/8 cup or omit if you prefer it less sweet)
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Directions:
- First, liberally spray the inside of a large crockpot or slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. For less mess, you can use a disposable liner.
- Next, season your trimmed boneless, skinless chicken breasts with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Place them at the bottom of your crockpot.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, Italian dressing, light brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Whisk until everything is blended.
- Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken breasts. Cover the crockpot with a lid.
- Cook on high for 2.5-3 hours or low for 5-6 hours. A meat thermometer can help ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Once cooked, shred the chicken with two forks right in the crockpot, allowing it to soak up the extra marinade and BBQ sauce.
- Serve the pulled chicken on buns for delicious BBQ sandwiches or enjoy it on pizza, salad, tacos, nachos, over rice, or by itself. Enjoy!
How to Serve The Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken
The pulled BBQ chicken is perfect for making sandwiches. Simply pile the shredded chicken onto buns and add extra barbecue sauce if desired. You can also serve it on a platter with sides like coleslaw, corn, or baked beans for a complete meal. If you’re feeling creative, use the chicken as a topping for nachos, mix it into a salad, or wrap it in tortillas for tacos.
How to Store The Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken
After making this delicious BBQ chicken, you might have leftovers. Store the shredded chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. You can also freeze it for longer storage; just make sure it’s in a freezer-safe container and consumed within three months for the best flavor.
Tips to Make The Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken
- For extra flavor, try adding some chopped onions or bell peppers to the crockpot.
- If you like a spicier barbecue chicken, add a dash of hot sauce to the sauce mixture before cooking.
- Make sure to avoid overcooking the chicken; check it a little earlier if you’re unsure, as different crockpots can vary in cooking time.
Variation
You can customize the flavor of this recipe by changing the barbecue sauce or using different dressings. For a tangy twist, try using honey mustard dressing instead of Italian dressing. You can also experiment with sweeteners by swapping light brown sugar for maple syrup or honey.
FAQs
Can I use frozen chicken in the crockpot?
Yes, you can use frozen chicken breasts, but make sure they are placed in the crockpot first and do not cook them on high for too long as it may affect the texture.
How do I know when the chicken is done?
Make sure to use a meat thermometer to check that the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
What can I serve this BBQ chicken with?
This pulled BBQ chicken goes great with coleslaw, baked beans, corn, or even a simple green salad. You can also serve it on rice or nachos for a hearty meal.
Crockpot BBQ Chicken
A flavorful and tender pulled chicken recipe that is perfect for busy days and can be served in various ways.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 180 minutes
- Total Time: 195 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten-Free
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
- 1 1/4 cups barbecue sauce (e.g., sweet Baby Ray’s Honey BBQ)
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar (can reduce to 1/8 cup or omit)
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Spray the inside of a large crockpot with non-stick cooking spray.
- Season the trimmed chicken breasts with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
- Place them at the bottom of the crockpot.
- Combine the barbecue sauce, Italian dressing, light brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce in a medium bowl.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken breasts.
- Cover the crockpot with a lid.
- Cook on high for 150-180 minutes or low for 300-360 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Shred the chicken with two forks directly in the crockpot.
- Serve the pulled chicken on buns, rice, or in tacos.
Notes
Add chopped onions or bell peppers for extra flavor. For spiciness, include hot sauce in the sauce mixture. Avoid overcooking by checking earlier.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: Crockpot, BBQ Chicken, Pulled Chicken, Slow Cooker, Easy Dinner
