If you want an easy, tasty meal with little effort, try this slow cooker shredded barbecue chicken! The tender, juicy chicken cooked in a sweet homemade barbecue sauce is perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or a baked potato.
Whether serving a large crowd for game day, entertaining during the summer months, or preparing meals for the week, this slow cooker barbecue chicken is a great choice and an easy meal for a busy day.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy Cooking - This is an incredibly easy slow cooker recipe for pulled chicken. Just put everything in the slow cooker and let it work.
- Juicy & Flavorful - The chicken stays moist and absorbs all the delicious barbecue flavors.
- Great for Entertaining - Serve it on a soft brioche bun, in fresh wraps, or with rice bowls for an easy weeknight dinner. It's also great for a crowd, whether as hamburgers or sliders.
- Perfect for Meal Prep - Enjoy a big batch throughout the week.
Ingredients in Shredded Barbecue Chicken
It's easy to make your own homemade bbq sauce with simple ingredients.
- boneless skinless chicken breasts
- nonstick cooking spray
- ketchup
- molasses
- brown sugar
- apple cider vinegar
- ground mustard
- onion powder
- black pepper
- salt
- dried thyme
- cayenne pepper
- Worcestershire Sauce
- cornstarch
How to Make Slow Cooker Shredded Barbecue Chicken
- Lightly coat the bottom of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a bowl, make the homemade sauce by whisking together the ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, ground mustard, onion powder, pepper, salt, thyme, cayenne pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker and pour the barbecue sauce over them, ensuring they are well coated.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours until the chicken is tender and shreds quickly.
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to create a slurry.
- Remove the cooked chicken, shred it using two forks, and set aside.
- Stir the cornstarch slurry into the sauce in the slow cooker and cook.
- Add the shredded chicken, stir to coat the chicken well, and slow cook for an additional 10-15 minutes on high until the sauce thickens.
Quick Tips for the Best Slow Cooked Pulled Barbecue Chicken
- Use Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts or Thighs - Both work great. Chicken breasts are lean, but thighs stay extra juicy.
- Low and Slow for the Best Texture - Cook on low for 6-8 hours for the most tender slow cooker chicken.
- Shred with Ease - Use two forks or a hand mixer on low speed for quick shredding.
- Add Flavor - Stir in extra barbecue sauce after shredding for a richer flavor.
How to Store Slow Cooker Pulled Barbecue Chicken
- Refrigerate - Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freeze - Let the chicken cool completely, then freeze in portioned bags for up to 3 months. Make sure to label and date your bags!
- Reheat - To reheat leftover Crockpot bbq chicken, Warm in a pan over low heat or microwave with a splash of broth or barbecue sauce to keep it moist.
More Game Day Recipes You'll Love
This slow cooker barbecue chicken is perfect for game day, but if you're looking for more crowd-pleasers, try these delicious recipes made in the Instant Pot:
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork - A simple recipe that is a fast and flavorful alternative to traditional slow-cooked pork.
- Pressure Cooker Jerk Chicken Sandwiches - Spicy, smoky, and full of Caribbean flavor, this chicken sandwich recipe packs a kick and great for a crowd.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Chili has tender chicken and is big on salsa verde flavor.
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Shredded Barbecue Chicken
If you want an easy, tasty meal with little effort, try this slow cooker shredded barbecue chicken! The tender, juicy chicken cooked in sweet barbecue sauce is perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or a baked potato.
Equipment
- Crock-Pot 6 Quart Cook & Carry Programmable Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- nonstick cooking spray
- 1 cup ketchup
- ¼ cup molasses
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons ground mustard
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Lightly coat the bottom of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a bowl, make the homemade sauce by whisking together the ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, ground mustard, onion powder, pepper, salt, thyme, cayenne pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker and pour the barbecue sauce over them, ensuring they are well coated.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours until the chicken is tender and shreds quickly.
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to create a slurry.
- Remove the cooked chicken, shred it using two forks, and set aside.
- Stir the cornstarch slurry into the sauce in the slow cooker and cook.
- Add the shredded chicken, stir to coat the chicken well, and slow cook for an additional 10-15 minutes on high until the sauce thickens.
Notes
- Use Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts or Thighs - Both work great. Chicken breasts are lean, but thighs stay extra juicy.
- Low and Slow for the Best Texture - Cook on low for 6-8 hours for the most tender slow cooker chicken.
- Shred with Ease - Use two forks or a hand mixer on low speed for quick shredding.
- Add Flavor - Stir in extra barbecue sauce after shredding for a richer flavor.
- Easy Cleanup - Use crockpot liners to make cleanup easier.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 303kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 97mg | Sodium: 767mg | Potassium: 928mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 290IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
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