This slow cooker BBQ pulled chicken couldn’t be easier to pull off and features fall-apart tender chicken in a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce.
BBQ pulled chicken is a cornerstone dish to any gathering! Especially if it’s piled between a soft bun with piles of creamy slaw on top and maybe served with some crispy potato chips on the side.
^ perfect summer meal right there. Takes me straight back to my childhood when my mom would be serving a crowd and need something easy and delicious that could be stuck in the slow cooker and left to do its thing.
This version today is just about as simple as it gets starting with a base of barbecue sauce and spicing things up with some sweet pineapple juice, lots of spices, and that signature fall-apart tender pulled chicken you know and love.
Preparation for this chicken couldn’t be simpler as we’re just piling everything in the slow cooker and letting it pretty much cook itself!
Don’t worry, you won’t forget about it. The smells that are going to fill your house will be a constant reminder you’ve got a date with chicken later.
This BBQ Chicken features…
- Fall-apart tender chicken
- A sweet and smoky barbecue sauce
- Minutes to prep and made entirely in the slow cooker
- Incredible in a warm bun with lots of creamy slaw
Making the BBQ Chicken
(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)
Ingredients You Will Need
- Barbecue sauce
- Pineapple juice
- Brown sugar
- Worcestershire sauce
- Apple cider vinegar
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Chili powder
- Paprika
- Chicken breasts
Choosing Your Chicken
We recommend using boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. It’s a very affordable and lean cut of meat and slow cooking it will cook it down perfectly juicy and tender.
If you don’t have breasts on hand, boneless skinless chicken thighs will also work great in this recipe.
Tips for Perfect BBQ Chicken
- Start with 1 cup barbecue sauce – we use this as a benchmark amount and then like to add more sauce later as needed to make the chicken saucy.
- Cook chicken on low or high – if cooking on high, the chicken will take 2-3 hours to become tender, whereas on low it will take 4-5 hours. Your chicken is ready when it pulls apart easily with a fork.
- Shred chicken and cook an additional 45 minutes – once you’ve shredded your chicken, add back to sauce and cook an additional 45 minutes to let all that sauce soak into the chicken shreds.
Recipe Variations
Try these ideas for a different twist on this chicken.
- Make it spicy – this recipe as is does not have very much heat to it, but you can make it spicy by adding cayenne pepper or your favorite hot sauce to taste.
- Use beef instead of chicken – cut 2 lbs beef chuck roast into 1-inch cubes and cook until the meat pulls apart easily with a fork.
- Change sweeteners – try honey or maple syrup in place of the brown sugar.
Ways to Use BBQ Chicken
Pulled chicken is a blank canvas for many food creations! Check out our favorites below.
- Piled on top of nachos
- In a warm bun with slaw
- Stuffed in a wrap or burrito
- In a quesadilla
- On a salad
It’s truly a thing of slow cooker magic how much flavor this chicken builds up throughout cooking! It’s so tender and soaks up all that incredible sweet and tangy sauce goodness.
Trust me, you’re gonna want to pile this goodness TALL in a sandwich!
Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram with #wholeandheavenlyoven.
More slow cooker favorites to try next!
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken
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Ingredients
- 1 to 1-1/2 cups barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup pineapple juice
- 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika (regular or smoked)
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 3 medium breasts)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Buns and slaw for serving
Instructions
- In a 4-qt slow cooker, combine 1 cup barbecue sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, Worcestershire, vinegar, and spices. Add chicken to slow cooker and coat in sauce. Cover slow cooker and cook chicken on low 4-5 hours or on high 2-3 hours until chicken pulls apart easily with a fork.
- Remove chicken from slow cooker and transfer to a cutting board. Use two forks to pull chicken apart into shreds. Add chicken back to slow cooker, cover, and cook on high an additional 45 minutes.
- Toss additional barbecue sauce to taste into chicken if you want it more saucy and season with salt and pepper to taste if needed. Serve chicken warm in buns with slaw. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
This post was updated with new recipe tips and photos on 3/7/24.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Call me a crock pot addict, too! I use mine all the time, especially in the winter! This bbq chicken looks delicious, Sarah! I make a similar kind, but always add in rootbeer, so I will have to try your version out! Sounds like a perfect weeknight meal!
Sarah says
Oh, gosh. I absolutely love the idea of rootbeer in pulled chicken! Must try that next time. 🙂 Thanks Gayle!
Jen @ Baked by an Introvert says
I cannot get enough of my crock pot! I have a soup in it as we speak. This bbq chicken may have to be next on the menu, it sounds delicious! I love that it’s only 2 ingredients! Pinning!
Sarah says
Yay for crockpots! They’re really a lifesaver in my mind. 🙂 Thanks for pinning, Jen!
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen says
That chicken looks amazing and how awesome that only 2 ingredients are needed. I’m really trying to simplify my life this year so this is perfect!
Sarah says
It doesn’t get much simpler than this chicken! Totally stress-free. 😉 Thanks Christin!
Melanie @ Carmel Moments says
I’m always in the mood for pulled bbq. Looks delicious!
Sarah says
Thanks Melanie! xoxo
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
I just got a crockpot so now I can make recipes like this!!!! I love bbq anything, and this chicken would be no exception. It looks delicious!!
Sarah says
Yayyy!! Congrats on the new crockpot, Liz! I’m thinking you should break it in with this chicken. 😀
Kristine @ Kristine's Kitchen says
I have been using my crock pot at least a couple of times a week lately and loving it! It doesn’t get much better than 2-ingredient pulled chicken! I totally agree – when it comes to bbq sauce homemade is the way to go!
Sarah says
Haha! Sounds like we’ve both got the same “crockpot-fever” thing going on. 😉 Thanks Kristine!!
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Cooking & Creating says
Mmm, I love BBQ chicken sandwiches! Even better if they are easy to make!
Sarah says
My favorite too! 😉 Thanks Kelly!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Yay for crockpot meals! This bbq pulled chicken looks absolutely incredible, Sarah! Love that it only has 2 ingredients too – it sounds perfect!
Sarah says
Thanks Kelly! All hail crockpot meals! 🙂
Margaret Anne @ Natural Chow says
Me and my slow cooker have been inseparable this winter. Can I just say—OMG this pulled chicken looks ah-mazing! At first I was like “There’s no way there’s only 2 ingredients.” But as I kept scrolling and my stomach was literally begging for a bite, I vowed to make this sometime this week. Because, um, yes.
Sarah says
Margaret, you are totally the sweetest! YES to being inseparable with the crockpot—I don’t think I could live without mine. 😉 You totally need to give this pulled chicken a try, girlie! You’ll love it.
marcie says
2 ingredients away from awesomeness is the best! And that’s what this pulled chicken is! I love my freaking crock pot, too, and a pulled chicken sandwich on Game Day could not make me happier. Pinned!
Sarah says
Thanks Marcie! Nothing beats 2-ingredient meals on game-day that’s for sure. Thanks for pinning as well! 🙂
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
Sarah, 2-ingredient-slow-cooker-bbq-pulled-chicken is brilliant!!!! and so easy!!! totally going to try this!
Sarah says
Thanks Alice!! Definitely let me know if you try this chicken!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
Can’t believe this is two ingredients AND made in a slow cooker! Seriously, Superbowl party prep never was easier 🙂
Sarah says
Thanks Medha!! Game-day is fixin’ to be pretty stress-free with this chicken around. 😀
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
I love my crockpot too, Sarah! In fact, I’ve been thinking of getting a 2nd one so that I can do two things on the weekend at the same time. Is that crazy? BTW, thanks so much for participating in the giveaway!
Sarah says
Haha! Believe it or not, I have THREE crockpots. Two of them are quite a bit smaller, so I don’t use them that often but still, it’s nice to have the option! 🙂
Sarah @ The Gold Lining Girl says
Fellow slow cooker lover here! Can never have enough slow cooker recipes! This is like the easiest thing ever and looks absolutely fabulous, so how on earth have I never thought to simply put chicken and BBQ sauce in my slow cooker? (bangs head!) Thanks, girl!
Sarah says
It’s seriously SO easy, yet it makes the best-ever pulled chicken. I was seriously like, this is it? This is all I have to do? LOL. Thanks Sarah!!
Isadora says
Don’t hate me, but I still don’t own a crockpot! Ooops! There is something that kinda freaks me out about leaving it on all day while Cheeto is at home! I might be a little crazy! I do however, love this pulled pork! I haven’t had it in forever, but it is always one of my favorites!
Sarah says
You totally need a crockpot, Izzy! It will change your life. Promise. 🙂
Cheryl says
Hi, my name is Cheryl, and I freaking love your Crockpot too! I really don’t use mine as much as I should, but this is a perfect dinner for O.. he would love it! Oh.. or BBQ nachos…. yes, that’s a thing down here!
Sarah says
Haha! Get your crockpot on, girl! Totally start with this chicken—I absolutely LURVE the idea of BBQ chicken nachos! Oh, gosh…