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    Home » Main Dish » Chicken

    Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

    By Jill Baird · Published February 6, 2023 · Updated March 14, 2023 · Leave a Comment

    slow cooker bbq chicken breast, pulled chicken slow cooker.

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    Jump to Recipe
    pulled bbq chicken sandwich
    bbq pulled chicken slow cooker
    slow cooker bbq chicken
    slow cooker bbq chicken

    This simple Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken is tender, juicy, and perfect for busy weeknights all year long. Serve on slider rolls with our spicy ranch slaw, or use this BBQ chicken recipe to make tacos, pizzas, quesadillas, and more.

    Jump to:
    • Easy BBQ Pulled Chicken (Slow Cooker Recipe)
    • Ingredients in Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
    • How to Make a Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Storing and Reheating
    • Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich Recipe
    • More Crockpot Recipes To Try

    Easy BBQ Pulled Chicken (Slow Cooker Recipe)

    This Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe uses just three ingredients to make delicious pulled chicken that is perfect for parties, game day, potlucks, and busy weeknight dinners. Most often, I serve this BBQ pulled chicken on slider rolls so I’ve also included my favorite spicy ranch slaw in this recipe. The combination of tender sweet and savory chicken with the crunchy spicy slaw is out-of-this-world delicious.

    Sliders aren’t the only option, however. You can serve this Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken in burritos, tacos, over rice, on pizza, and so much more. It also freezes well, so plan on making plenty. If you are looking for more crockpot recipes, this Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy is another family favorite.

    A crockpot full of Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken. slow cooker shredded bbq chicken, bbq chicken sliders slow cooker.

    Ingredients in Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

    • Chicken Breasts - I like to use boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe, although it would also taste amazing with chicken thighs.
    • BBQ Sauce - you can use your favorite type of BBQ sauce or even homemade BBQ sauce for this recipe. 
    • Chicken Broth - you can use store bought or homemade chicken broth or chicken stock for this recipe. It helps to cook the chicken and keep it super juicy and flavorful.
    • Buns - you can either use small slider buns from the grocery store or make your own. I highly recommend either these Potato Rolls or our Quick Dinner Rolls if you decide to go the homemade route.

    For the Spicy Slaw

    • Red Onion - you’ll want to dice this into small pieces. White or yellow onion would also work, but if possible use red onion because it is slightly more firm and adds a nice color.
    • Carrots - these should be washed, peeled, and shredded on a cheese grater.
    • Cabbage - I like red cabbage, but Napa cabbage would also work. You’ll want to shred this using a sharp knife.
    • Ranch Dressing - you’ll just need a couple tablespoons of Ranch dressing to add a ton of flavor and creaminess to this slaw.
    • Jalapenos - I like to use either jarred or canned jalapenos for this slaw because it has a milder spicy flavor. This is completely optional so feel free to omit if you don’t want your slaw to be spicy.
    A crockpot with raw chicken breast covered in BBQ sauce. slow cooker bbq chicken sandwiches.

    How to Make a Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich

    1. Add ingredients to the slow cooker. Place chicken breasts in the bottom of a slow cooker, then pour the chicken broth and BBQ sauce on top.
    2. Cook the chicken. Cover and cook chicken on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours. The cooking time may vary depending on how much chicken you cook at once, so make sure that the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees F.
    3. Shred the chicken. Once the chicken is easily shreddable, remove from the slow cooker and shred using two forks.  Place back into the slow cooker and let the shredded chicken absorb the BBQ juices. 
    4. Make the spicy ranch slaw. In a large bowl, combine the red onion, carrots, shredded cabbage, ranch dressing, and minced jalapenos if using. Mix well, then use immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
    5. Build the sandwiches. Place about ¼ cup of shredded crockpot BBQ chicken on a slider bun.  Add the spicy ranch slaw and extra BBQ sauce if desired. Enjoy!
    A plate with a pull chicken sandwich, chips, and pickles. how to make slow cooker bbq chicken sandwiches.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is it ok to put raw chicken in a slow cooker?

    You sure can! While I don’t recommend putting frozen chicken directly into the slow cooker, you can absolutely put any type of raw meat into your crockpot and let it cook. Some recipes direct you to sear your meat first, but for this particular recipe that is not necessary.

    Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in a slow cooker?

    For this Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe, cooking on either high or low heat will work perfectly fine. Either way, your chicken will turn out super juicy, so it mostly depends on your schedule. If it’s already early afternoon, go ahead and cook on high. If it’s morning and you’ve got the time, you can cook it on low.

    Can you freeze Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken?

    Yes! Just make sure the chicken has cooled completely before transferring into freezer bags or another airtight container. You can store frozen for up to 2 months before thawing and reheating. You can not, however, freeze the spicy slaw as the freezing and thawing process will cause the cabbage to break down and turn mushy. 

    Storing and Reheating

    • Refrigerator: cool completely then transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Spicy slaw can also be stored for up to 5 days in the fridge.
    • Freezer: cool chicken completely then transfer to freezer bags and store frozen for up to 2 months. To thaw, transfer to the fridge overnight.
    • To reheat: you can reheat your BBQ chicken in the microwave, or add to a saucepan with a splash of water, chicken stock, or BBQ sauce and reheat over medium low until warmed through.
    slow cooker bbq chicken breast, pulled chicken slow cooker.
    Print

    Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich Recipe

    This simple Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken is tender, juicy, and perfect for busy weeknights all year long. Serve on slider rolls with our spicy ranch slaw, or use this BBQ chicken recipe to make tacos, pizzas, quesadillas, and more.
    Course lunch, Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 6 hours
    Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 409kcal
    Author The Carefree Kitchen

    Ingredients

    Shredded BBQ Chicken

    • 2 pounds Chicken Breast
    • 1 cup BBQ Sauce
    • ¼ cup Chicken Broth
    • 8-12 small Slider Buns

    Spicy Ranch Slaw

    • ¼ cup Chopped Red Onion
    • 2-3 large Carrots shredded
    • ½ head Cabbage shredded
    • 2-3 Tablespoons Ranch Dressing
    • 1 Tablespoon Jalapenos (jarred or canned) minced

    Instructions

    Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

    • Place chicken breasts in the bottom of a slow cooker, then pour the chicken broth and BBQ sauce on top.
    • Cover and cook chicken on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours.
    • Once the chicken is easily shreddable, remove from the slow cooker and shred using two forks. Place back into the slow cooker and let the shredded chicken absorb the BBQ juices.

    Spicy Ranch Slaw

    • In a large bowl, combine the red onion, carrots, shredded cabbage, ranch dressing, and minced jalapenos if using. Mix well, then use immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich

    • Place about ¼ cup of shredded BBQ chicken on a slider bun. Add the spicy ranch slaw and extra BBQ sauce if desired. Enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 409kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 98mg | Sodium: 1060mg | Potassium: 805mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 4160IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 2mg

    More Crockpot Recipes To Try

    • Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy
    • Crock Pot Salsa Chicken
    • Crock Pot Scalloped Potatoes
    • Slow Cooker Spare Ribs
    • Mississippi Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
    • Crock Pot Rump Roast
    • Tuscan Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Kalua Pork
    • Pork Carnitas
    • Pulled Pork
    • Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs
    • Chicken Fajitas
    • Crockpot Chicken Pot Pie
    • More Slow Cooker Recipes
    • More Chicken Recipes

    If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate it and leave a comment on this post. I love hearing feedback from you. It helps me and other readers too! If you love Pinterest,  feel free to leave a comment and photo there too.  Also, if you like to share, use the hashtag #thecarefreekitchen on Instagram and tag me @thecarefreekitchen so I can find you and give your post some love. You can also find me on Facebook at The Carefree Kitchen. Thank you!!

    This Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken uses just 3 ingredients to make tender, juicy, pull chicken. It's perfect for serving on slider buns with spicy slaw, or on tacos, pizza, quesadillas, burritos, and more.

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