Posted Jan 30, 2021, Updated Mar 12, 2024 Slow cooker BBQ chicken is one of my all-time favorite recipes. I love that it’s easy to make and can be used in so many ways – from BBQ chicken sandwiches, to barbecue chicken salad, to BBQ chicken pizza (with this homemade pizza dough of course). This slow cooker barbecue chicken is made with only 6 ingredients and takes 5 minutes to prepare. It’s the perfect meal for busy weeknights, or to easily feed a crowd. Also try this grilled BBQ chicken!
Crockpot BBQ Chicken: Ingredients & Substitutions
Let’s discuss the ingredients in this slow cooker BBQ chicken recipe, as well as possible substitutions.
Chicken breasts. I recommend boneless skinless chicken breasts for the best result. To shorten cook time, slice each breast in half lengthwise so it’s thinner. Water. You can use chicken broth, beer, apple juice, or just about any other liquid you think may taste delicious in this crockpot barbecue chicken recipe. I use water because it’s easy! BBQ Sauce. Choose your favorite BBQ sauce – the sky’s the limit. Sea salt. If you use regular table salt, decrease the amount by half. Minced garlic. fresh garlic or roasted garlic also works well in this pulled bbq chicken recipe. Additionally 1 tsp garlic powder can be used in place of 1 TBS minced garlic. Red Onion. any onion variety works well – especially sweet onions.
How to Make Crockpot BBQ Chicken
This crockpot bbq chicken recipe is so, so easy to make, but as always we’ll walk through the process step-by-step and don’t forget to watch the video! One of my favorite things about this slow cooker barbecue chicken is that everything is mixed in the crockpot, which means you use less dishes! Begin by adding water, 1 cup BBQ sauce, sea salt minced garlic and onion to the container of a slow cooker. Then whisk to combine. Next, add the chicken breasts and turn them to coat with the BBQ sauce mixture. Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours, or until the chicken is fork-tender and easily shredded, rotating the chicken breasts once halfway through cook time. Once the chicken has finished cooking, shred it with two forks, either in the crockpot or on a cutting board. You can also transfer the chicken breasts to a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and shred by beating on medium speed for 30-60 seconds. Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot and cook for 1 hour on low, or 30 minutes on high.
Bake
This is the step that takes this pulled bbq chicken from good to great (in my opinion). Transfer the chicken and juices to a loaf pan and stir in the additional BBQ sauce. Place the bbq chicken in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the top of the chicken is crispy and slightly charred (the top is my favorite part). Note: You don’t have to put the BBQ chicken in the oven to crisp it, I just love the final texture and taste when that step is part of the cooking and never skip it!
Serve
Remove from oven and serve warm! Here are some serving suggestions:
Make BBQ Chicken sandwiches – use homemade burger buns, homemade dinner rolls or pretzel rolls to take them to the next level. Use the best homemade pizza dough or whole wheat pizza dough to make a BBQ chicken pizza. Serve on this barbecue chicken salad – it’s my favorite. Choose your favorite sides like this homemade mac and cheese, the best coleslaw, roasted broccoli, sweet potato fries, or a loaf of no-knead bread!
Store
Store any leftover pulled bbq chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Freeze
Make the slow cooker bbq chicken as written, then let it cool to room temperature after baking. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. I recommend storing in individual portions – or in the amount you would want to reheat and use in one sitting. If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
