This Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken recipe makes for an easy, delicious meal that’s great for get-togethers or a laid-back dinner at home. The chicken cooks slowly until it’s fall-apart tender, soaking up all that sweet and tangy barbecue sauce. You can enjoy it in sandwiches, tacos, or even as a tasty topping for salads or baked potatoes!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Easy and quick prep: This recipe is super easy to throw together—just toss everything in the crock and let it cook while you go about your day.
- Batch cooking: Pulled chicken in the slow cooker can be a real time-saver, as you can make a big batch and use the leftovers for lunches or dinners throughout the week (or even freeze them for later!)
- Kid friendly: Choose a BBQ sauce your kids enjoy to turn this into a super easy, family-friendly meal nobody will complain about. You can serve it in different ways like sandwiches, wraps, or even with rice or baked potatoes for some variety!
Ingredients you’ll need
Ingredient notes
- Chicken: You can use all thighs for extra juiciness, or all breasts for a leaner option. Bone-in works too, but remove the bones after cooking.
- BBQ sauce: Swap with your favorite flavor—smoky, spicy, or mustard-based for different twists. Homemade BBQ sauce works great too!
- Worcestershire sauce: Substitute with soy sauce or liquid smoke for a deeper flavor or a smoky edge.
- Brown sugar: Use honey, maple syrup, or molasses for a different sweet note, or omit it if you want less sweetness.
- Seasoning: Add ground paprika, smoked paprika, garlic powder, minced onions, or even sautéed onions for more texture… You can really make this your own!
How to make BBQ pulled chicken in the slow cooker
Making BBQ pulled chicken in the slow cooker is super easy! Here’s how to do it, step by step:
Start by prepping your chicken – grab about 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts and 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (you can do just one, but my favorite is to combine both lean and dark meat), and season them with salt and pepper.
Add your BBQ sauce – Pour about 1 ½ cups of your favorite BBQ sauce into your slow cooker. Some people like to thin it out with broth, but I never feel the need to do this, as things stay super juicy in the crockpot anyway.
Sprinkle in your seasonings – I do brown sugar and onion powder, but you can really make it your own and tweak it depending on the exact type of barbecue sauce you’re using. If you like a bit of heat, throw in a dash of cayenne or chili powder!
Add the chicken – Add the seasoned chicken pieces to the sauce in the crock pot. Toss to coat the chicken evenly.
Cook it low and slow – Close the lid. Set your slow cooker to low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. The chicken will become super tender, making it easy to shred!
Shred the chicken – Once it’s cooked, grab two forks and shred the chicken right in the slow cooker. Let it sit for a few minutes to soak up all that delicious sauce.
Serve and enjoy – Pile it onto buns, serve it over rice, or however you like!
That’s it—easy, flavorful, and perfect for a busy day!
Top tips
- Use a good BBQ sauce: Go for a sauce you really love since it’s the main flavor. Homemade or store-bought, just make sure it’s packed with flavor!
- Don’t skip the seasonings : Adding garlic, onion powder, paprika, or even a bit of smoked paprika really amps up the flavor beyond just the BBQ sauce.
- Cook it low and slow: Cooking on low for 6-8 hours gives the chicken that perfect, fall-apart tenderness. High heat works in a pinch, but low heat is where the magic happens.
- Shred the chicken right in the sauce: Shredding the chicken in the slow cooker allows it to soak up even more of the BBQ sauce, making it extra juicy and flavorful.
- Let it rest for a bit before serving: Once shredded, let the chicken sit for a few minutes to absorb all the flavors. It makes a big difference!
Helpful recipe hints
Recipe variations
- Add pineapple: Mix in some crushed or chunk pineapple for a sweet and tangy twist. It pairs surprisingly well with BBQ sauce and is a favorite in our house!
- Spice it up: Stir in some hot sauce, chipotle peppers, or a sprinkle of cayenne for an extra kick of heat.
- Try different BBQ sauces: Switch up the flavor by using a smoky, honey, or mustard-based BBQ sauce. You can even go for a spicy or bourbon-infused version if you like it!
- Throw in some veggies: Add sliced onions, bell peppers, or even corn to the slow cooker for extra texture and flavor.
Storage tips
Leftovers: To store leftover pulled BBQ chicken, place it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat, warm it on the stovetop or in the microwave until steaming hot all the way through, adding a little extra BBQ sauce if it seems dry.
Freezer: For freezing, place the chicken in a freezer-safe bag or container. Label with the name and use-by date and freeze for up to 3 months.
To defrost, leave it in the fridge overnight or use the defrost setting on your microwave. Once thawed, reheat it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a bit of water or sauce to keep it moist, until the chicken is steaming hot all the way through.
Serving ideas
Here are some of our favorite sides to pair with bbq chicken:
Starchy sides
- Buns or slider rolls – Perfect for making pulled chicken sandwiches.
- Mac and cheese – Creamy, cheesy mac pairs so well with the tangy BBQ flavor.
- Cornbread – A little sweet, a little savory, and totally comforting.
- Rice or quinoa – Great for a lighter option to soak up all that sauce.
- Mashed potatoes – Super comforting and easy to pair with the saucy chicken.
Vegetable sides
- Coleslaw – Such a classic! The crunchy, tangy slaw cuts through the richness of the BBQ chicken.
- Grilled or roasted veggies – Zucchini, bell peppers, or corn on the cob make a great veggie side.
- Green beans – Try sautéed, steamed or air fried with a little garlic and butter.
- Roasted sweet potatoes – Their natural sweetness complements the BBQ sauce nicely. Mashed sweet potatoes are nice, too!
- Cucumber salad – Crisp and refreshing, it balances out the rich flavors of the chicken perfectly.
Some ideas to pull together a full meal
- Pulled BBQ chicken sliders with coleslaw and baked beans; or with mac and cheese and steamed green beans for a cozy comfort meal
- Over rice with a side of roasted sweet potatoes and a simple salad
- As chicken tacos with avocado salsa, and a side of black beans – or with “cowboy caviar“!
More easy slow cooker recipes to try
PS If you try this recipe, please leave a review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram.
Printable recipe
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken
Recipe details
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds chicken thighs
- 1.5 pounds chicken breast
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1.5 cups BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1.5 teaspoons onion powder
Instructions
- Prep chicken: Season chicken with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Make sauce: In the crock of a 4-5 quart slow cooker, combine 1.5 cups BBQ sauce, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, and 1.5 teaspoons onion powder.
- Add chicken: Add chicken (1.5 lbs each of thighs and breasts) to the slow cooker and toss to coat evenly with the sauce.
- Cook: Slow cook on low for 6-8 hours (or on high for 3-4 hours) until the chicken is tender.
- Finish and rest: Shred the chicken using two forks right in the sauce. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes to absorb more flavor and to soak up the sauce. Serve on buns, in tacos, or over rice!
Notes
Ingredient notes
- Chicken: Use all thighs for juiciness or all breasts for a leaner option. Bone-in works; remove bones after cooking.
- BBQ sauce: Try smoky, spicy, mustard-based, or homemade sauces for variety.
- Worcestershire sauce: Swap with soy sauce or liquid smoke for deeper or smokier flavor.
- Brown sugar: Use honey, maple syrup, molasses, or omit for less sweetness.
- Seasoning: Add paprika, garlic powder, minced, or sautéed onions for extra flavor and texture.
Recipe tips
- Use a flavorful BBQ sauce: Pick a sauce you love—homemade or store-bought.
- Season well: Add garlic, onion powder, and paprika for extra depth.
- Cook low and slow: Low heat (6-8 hours) gives perfect tenderness.
- Shred in the sauce: Shred chicken in the slow cooker to soak up more flavor.
- Rest before serving: Let the shredded chicken sit to absorb flavors.
Storage
- Leftovers: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat: Warm on the stovetop or microwave, adding BBQ sauce if dry.
- Freezer: Freeze in a labeled, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- Defrost: Thaw in the fridge overnight or use the microwave. Reheat gently, adding water or sauce to keep moist.
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