Amazing Crockpot BBQ Chicken: 4 Servings

Okay, let’s talk about the magic of slow cooker meals! There’s just something so satisfying about tossing a few ingredients into your crockpot and coming back hours later to a perfectly cooked, delicious dinner. Seriously, it’s a lifesaver on those crazy busy weeknights, right? This crockpot BBQ chicken recipe is my go-to for exactly that reason – it’s totally “set-and-forget” and turns out so tender and flavorful. It reminds me of my own journey, moving from a stressful corporate burnout to finding pure joy in simple cooking. If you want to hear more about that, you can totally read all about it here. For now, let’s get to this amazing chicken!

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Why You’ll Love This Crockpot BBQ Chicken

This isn’t just any BBQ chicken, folks. It’s the kind of recipe that makes you feel like a kitchen superhero, even on your busiest days. Here’s why it’s become a total staple for me:

• So Incredibly Easy: Seriously, it’s almost embarrassing how simple this is. We’re talking minimal prep – just a few minutes to whisk and pour. Perfect for a truly easy slow cooker win on a hectic weeknight dinner.
• Flavor Explosion: That blend of brown sugar, Worcestershire, and your favorite BBQ sauce creates this amazing sweet and savory sticky sauce that coats every single shred of chicken. Wow!
• Totally Versatile: Whether you want to pile it on buns for killer sandwiches, serve it over rice for a hearty bowl, or tuck it into tacos, this shredded BBQ chicken is your new best friend.
• Tender & Shredded Perfection: The slow cooking process breaks down the chicken beautifully, making it incredibly tender and easy to shred. It practically falls apart!
• Stress-Free Gatherings: Got people coming over? Make a batch of this crockpot BBQ chicken and let your slow cooker do all the work. It’s a total crowd-pleaser for Game Days or potlucks.
• Amazing for Meal Prep: Whip up a batch on Sunday, and you’ve got delicious protein ready for lunches all week. Think easy meal prep sandwiches or quick add-ins for salads!

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Ingredients for Your Perfect Crockpot BBQ Chicken

Alright, let’s talk about what you’ll need for this super simple, ridiculously tasty crockpot BBQ chicken. It’s really just a handful of things that work magic together. Trust me, you probably have most of this in your pantry right now!

• Chicken: About 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Thighs are a bit more forgiving and stay super moist, but breasts work great too!
• BBQ Sauce: 1 cup. Grab your absolute favorite. Whether it’s smoky, sweet, or spicy, it’ll work beautifully here.
• Brown Sugar: 1/4 cup, packed. Dark brown sugar gives a lovely molasses depth, but light brown sugar is fine too.
• Worcestershire Sauce: 1 tablespoon. This little bit adds a secret punch of umami that really rounds everything out.
• Seasonings: 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Simple, but they make a big difference!

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How to Make Delicious Crockpot BBQ Chicken

Okay, so making this crockpot BBQ chicken is where the real “pure cooking joy” happens! It’s so straightforward, you’ll wonder why you ever bought pre-made pulled chicken. Plus, getting that perfect tender texture for shredding is easier than you think. If you want to level up your sauce game even more, try my easy homemade honey BBQ sauce – it’s amazing with this chicken!

Step 1: Prepare Your Slow Cooker

First things first, grab your slow cooker. Just place those boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs right into the bottom. No need to chop or prep them any further – they’ll cook down beautifully.

Step 2: Mix the Flavorful BBQ Sauce

In a separate little bowl, whisk together your BBQ sauce, packed brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Give it a really good whisk until it’s all combined and smooth. It smells amazing already, right?

Step 3: Combine and Cook

Now, pour that glorious sauce mixture all over the chicken in the slow cooker. Make sure everything is coated! Pop the lid on, and let it cook. You can go low and slow for about 4-6 hours, or if you’re in a pinch, high for 2-3 hours works too. Just cook it until the chicken is cooked through and super tender – so tender it practically begs to be shredded.

Step 4: Shred and Sauce

Once it’s done, carefully take the chicken out and put it on a cutting board or in a shallow bowl. Use two forks to shred it all apart. Then, return that gorgeous, shredded bbq chicken back into the slow cooker with all that sticky, amazing sauce. Give it a good stir to make sure every bit is coated. This is how you get that perfect pull-apart chicken consistency!

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Tips for the Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken

Want your crockpot BBQ chicken to be absolutely perfect every single time? It’s all about a few little tricks! Think of me as your kitchen sidekick here. First off, the chicken cut really does matter. While chicken breasts are lean and work great, chicken thighs are a little more forgiving and tend to stay incredibly moist and tender, which is perfect for shredding. If you’re in a super rush or want to try a variation that’s even simpler, you can sometimes even get away with a sort of 3 ingredient bbq chicken situation if you use a really flavorful sauce!

For that perfect sticky sauce, and this is my favorite hack, if it seems a little thin when the chicken is done, just remove the lid for the last 30 minutes or so of cooking on high. It lets some of the liquid evaporate and concentrates all that yummy flavor. You can also always whisk in a little more brown sugar or a dash more Worcestershire if you’re feeling adventurous. These little touches really elevate a simple weeknight dinner from good to *amazing*.

Serving Suggestions for Your Shredded BBQ Chicken

Honestly, the best part about this crockpot BBQ chicken is how versatile it is! It’s seriously the star of any meal. My absolute favorite way to serve it is piled high on soft, toasted buns with some crunchy coleslaw for killer BBQ chicken sandwiches – just perfect for easy meal prep sandwiches for lunch! But don’t stop there! This shreddable chicken also shines served over fluffy rice or quinoa for a hearty bowl, or tucked into warm tortillas for amazing tacos. We even used it in some mini chicken tacos once, and they were a huge hit! You can totally check out my recipe for mini chicken tacos if you want another fun way to use it. It’s also a fantastic addition to any potluck recipes spread!

Make-Ahead and Storage for Crockpot BBQ Chicken

This crockpot BBQ chicken is a meal prep dream! Once it’s shredded and mixed with the sauce, just let it cool down completely. Then, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheating is super simple – just pop it in the microwave for a minute or two until warmed through, or give it a quick warm-up on the stovetop. It also freezes beautifully, so you can make a big batch and have delicious shredded chicken ready whenever a craving strikes!

Frequently Asked Questions about Crockpot BBQ Chicken

Got questions about making this amazing crockpot BBQ chicken? I’ve totally got you covered! It’s one of those recipes I get asked about a lot because it’s just so darn easy to make. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or just starting out, these little answers should help! If you’re also a fan of easy chicken meals, you might want to check out my chicken spaghetti casserole or my super fast chicken Florentine skillet!

Can I use Chicken Thighs Instead of Breasts?

Absolutely! Chicken thighs are actually my secret weapon for this recipe because they are way more forgiving and stay incredibly moist and tender. They shred like a dream and add so much flavor. You’ll still cook them the same way, maybe just a little longer if they’re extra thick.

How to Make the BBQ Sauce Thicker?

If your sauce seems a bit thinner than you’d like after cooking, don’t sweat it! The easiest trick is to just remove the lid from your slow cooker for the last 30 minutes or so on high. This lets some of the extra liquid evaporate, concentrating all that yummy BBQ goodness and making it nice and sticky. It’s a total game-changer!

Is This Recipe Good for Meal Prep?

Oh my goodness, YES! This crockpot BBQ chicken is *perfect* for meal prep. Once it’s shredded and cooled, just portion it out into airtight containers. It’ll stay good in the fridge for about 4 days, making lunches or quick dinners all week a total breeze. You can even freeze it for later!

Estimated Nutritional Information

Just a heads-up, these numbers are estimates and can totally vary depending on the specific BBQ sauce and chicken cut you use. Based on a 4 oz serving, you’re looking at about 350 calories, 12g fat, 35g protein, and 25g carbs. It’s a pretty balanced way to get your delicious BBQ fix!

Share Your Crockpot BBQ Chicken Creations!

Have you made this amazing crockpot BBQ chicken yet? I’d absolutely love to hear all about it! Did you serve it on buns, in tacos, or maybe in a bowl? Drop a comment below and let me know how it turned out, or share your own favorite tips. You can even share your photos over on Facebook! For anything else, feel free to reach out via my contact page. Happy cooking!

Crockpot BBQ Chicken

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Make tender, shreddable BBQ chicken in your slow cooker with minimal effort. This easy recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or Game Day.

• Author: purejoyalex
• Prep Time: 10 min
• Cook Time: 4 hours
• Total Time: 4 hours 10 min
• Yield: 6 servings 1x
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Slow Cooker
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

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• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
• 1 cup your favorite BBQ sauce
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

1. Place chicken in the slow cooker.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together BBQ sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
3. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken.
4. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until chicken is cooked through and tender.
5. Remove chicken from the slow cooker and shred with two forks.
6. Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir to coat with the sauce.
7. Serve hot.

Notes

• Serve on buns for sandwiches, over rice for bowls, or in tacos.
• This recipe is great for meal prep. Store shredded chicken in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• For a thicker sauce, remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4 oz
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 20g
• Sodium: 600mg
• Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 3g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 25g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 35g
• Cholesterol: 120mg