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Tender crockpot bbq chicken shredded and glazed with a glossy reverse sauce finishing glaze in a dark bowl.

Easy Crockpot Bbq Chicken

Linda Ekin
This Easy Crockpot BBQ Chicken delivers sweet, smoky, and tender pulled chicken with minimal hands-on effort. Perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or meal prep, it is a foolproof weeknight savior.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Resting Time 15 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 385 kcal

Equipment

  • Slow cooker (5 to 6 qt)
  • Meat thermometer
  • Two forks
  • Cutting board

Ingredients
  

  • 3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat (about 5-6 count)
  • 1 1/2 cups BBQ Sauce (Try Homemade BBQ Sauce or Sweet Baby Rays Honey BBQ)
  • 1/2 medium onion, grated (with juice)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp worchestershire sauce
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar

Instructions
 

Build the sauce base

  • In a 5 to 6 qt slow cooker, stir the BBQ sauce, grated onion, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar until the sauce looks smooth and unified, with no streaks hiding at the bottom.

Slow cook until perfectly tender

  • Nestle the chicken breasts into the sauce and turn each piece so it is fully coated and slick to protect the meat while it cooks.
  • Cover and cook on high for 2 to 3 hours or on low for 6 to 7 hours. The chicken is done when it reaches 165.F internally and pulls apart easily with a fork.

Shred and sauce it right

  • Move the chicken to a cutting board and shred each breast with two forks while still warm into soft, distinct strands.
  • Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot and stir until every strand is coated. Let it sit for 15 to 30 minutes on the Warm setting so the meat drinks in the barbecue flavor.

Notes

Safety Tip: Never place frozen chicken directly into the slow cooker, as it can sit too long in an unsafe temperature range and water down your sauce.
Juicy Chicken Secret: Use a meat thermometer to pull the chicken at exactly 165.F to prevent it from becoming dry or stringy.
Storage Tip: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge or freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating Tip: Warm the chicken in a skillet with a splash of broth or water to keep the sauce shiny and moist.
Nutrition information is estimated based on common ingredients and serving sizes and may vary.

Nutrition

Calories: 385kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 54gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1.8gCholesterol: 148mgSodium: 890mgPotassium: 630mgFiber: 1gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 6mg
Keyword bbq chicken, crockpot, pulled chicken, slow cooker
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