This easy Crockpot BBQ Chicken recipe is made with 6 ingredients and only takes a few minutes to prepare. This slow cooker bbq chicken makes a delicious bbq chicken sandwich, salad or pizza!
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 salads to 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.
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!
Add ingredients to the crockpot
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.
Add chicken & cook
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.
Shred the crockpot bbq chicken
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 the slow cooker BBQ chicken
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!
How to Store Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Store any leftover pulled bbq chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
To 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.
FAQs about Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Can you put BBQ sauce on raw chicken?
Yes. In this recipe all the ingredients are combined. The heat from cooking in the slow cooker makes it safe to eat.
Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in crockpot?
I recommend cooking chicken breasts on low for the most tender texture, but in a pinch I have cooked them on high and they still taste great.
Can you put frozen chicken in the crockpot?
It’s safe to do but I don’t recommend it. When chicken undergoes drastic temperature changes too quickly it becomes rubbery. I recommend thawing frozen chicken breasts slowly in the refrigerator or at room temperature before cooking them in the crockpot.
