This easy crockpot-pulled chicken is shredded chicken with bbq sauce cooked up tender and juicy in the crockpot. Use this crockpot bbq chicken in tacos, salads, burrito bowls, chicken enchiladas, and lettuce wraps.
I love to serve it with broccoli coleslaw and homemade mac and cheese. We love it piled high soft brioche buns, but if you are watching your carbs, simply spoon some of the broccoli slaw on top of your pulled chicken and get at it.
How to make crock pot pulled chicken
Simply add barbecue sauce, onion, tomato paste, Worcestershire Sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika to a small crock pot and stir to combine. Then cook on low for 2-3 hours or until it shreds easily with two forks.
Recipe notes and helpful tips
- The recipe calls for Kansas City-style barbecue sauce, but you can use a sweet barbecue sauce like Sweet Baby Rays. I love less sweet semi-spicy barbecue sauce with tons of flavor but use what makes you happy.
- If your barbecue sauce is really sweet, skip the brown sugar and add a little lemon juice or lime juice.
- Kick up the heat with a little cumin, cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or minced jalapeno.
- Making coleslaw with this is a must. I find that the crunchy broccoli slaw holds up better to the warmth and hardiness of this chicken. For extra flavor, toss in a few red onions.
- I like to toast the buns right before I serve. Once I layer the chicken and the slaw on the buns, I serve immediately, as no one likes a soggy bun.
- Chicken puts off moisture when it is slow-cooked, so use tongs to pull the chicken out of the slow cooker, or carefully drain a little of the moisture out and add another quarter cup of barbecue sauce or so!
- Use the pulled chicken for nachos, quesadillas, soups, and casseroles.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave at reduced power.
- Double the recipe and freeze half of it for up to 2 months. Completely cool the dish and spoon it into a zipper freezer bag removing as much of the air as possible. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
How to make this pulled chicken in the instant pot
Place all the ingredients in the instant pot. Seal and pressure cook on high for 10 minutes. Then turn the instant pot off and let it naturally release for 10 minutes. Use the quick release and open the instant pot. Shred the chicken using 2 forks.
Other chicken recipes you will love!
Crock Pot Pulled Chicken
Mouthwatering, good pulled chicken made easy with six simple ingredients in the crock pot. Serve on toasted buns with coleslaw, or for a lower-carb version simply add the slaw to a layer of pulled chicken.
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Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 270kcal
Ingredients
- 4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs
- 2 cups Kansas City style barbecue sauce
- 1 medium onion minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add barbecue sauce, onion, tomato paste, Worcestershire Sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika to a small crock pot and stir to combine. I use a 3-quart crock pot.
- Add chicken and spoon a little of the sauce over the top.
- Cook on low for 2-2 1/2 hours or until it shreds easily with a couple of forks.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste
Notes
- The recipe calls for Kansas City-style barbecue sauce, but you can use a sweet barbecue sauce like Sweet Baby Rays. I love less sweet semi-spicy barbecue sauce with tons of flavor but use what makes you happy.
- If your barbecue sauce is really sweet, skip the brown sugar and add a little lemon juice or lime juice.
- Kick up the heat with a little cumin, cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or minced jalapeno.
- Making coleslaw with this is a must. I find that the crunchy broccoli slaw holds up better to the warmth and hardiness of this chicken. For extra flavor, toss in a few red onions.
- I like to toast the buns right before I serve. Once I layer the chicken and the slaw on the buns, I serve immediately, as no one likes a soggy bun.
- Chicken puts off moisture when it is slow-cooked, so use tongs to pull the chicken out of the slow cooker, or carefully drain a little of the moisture out and add another quarter cup of barbecue sauce or so!
- Use the pulled chicken for nachos, quesadillas, soups, and casseroles.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave at reduced power.
- Double the recipe and freeze half of it for up to 2 months. Completely cool the dish and spoon it into a zipper freezer bag removing as much of the air as possible. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Nutrition
Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 928mg | Potassium: 670mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 288IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg
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Kamil
This recipe looks so yummy. Can I sub the sugar with honey??
Thanks in advance ☺️
Beth Pierce
Yes but I would cut it back to 2 teaspoons as honey is sweeter than sugar.
JoAnn
I made this and loved it, I cheated because used a pan in oven for about 2 hours/ My crock pot is way to big. But it is one of my all time favorite bbq chicken recipes. I used a mix of Stubbs bbq sauce half spicy and half sweet heat. Wow.
Beth Pierce
Thanks JoAnn! So glad that you like it.
Bernadette
I’m looking for the recipe for the broccoli coleslaw. Normally on some of your recipe posts you have a link of what pairs well with it. I have made well over a dozen of your recipes and every single one of them is phenomenal
Beth Pierce
Sorry Bernadette. I have yet to put up a broccoli coleslaw that would be perfect with that because I simply wing it. Here is a good recipe however I would leave out the apple, cranberries, and sunflower seeds if you are going to top the pulled chicken with it. Thanks so much for your support and sorry about the delay in answering. If only I could clone myself.
Anne Jones
I halfed the recipe and used onion powder instead of fresh onion. It was delicious! I served it on slider buns which were a hit with my 21 month old!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Anne! So glad that you and your toddler liked it!
Jamie
This recipe was delicious!!! Used the leftover chicken to make bbq chicken pizza for lunch today and it was just as good. Don’t skip the coleslaw, it makes this recipe even better. Even put the slaw on my bbq pizza right before serving… amazing!
Beth Pierce
Now that sounds delicious! Great idea! So glad that you liked it!
Michelle
Mine came out salty, did I maybe not use enough chicken? Or was it just the BBQ sauce I chose? I’m a rookie cooker and I want to know what I did wrong lol TIA
Beth Pierce
Probably was the sauce. Watch your sodium count on the label.
Heather
Hi, what kind of onion do you use for this recipe?
Beth Pierce
Any kind of onion will work but sweet onion would be best.
Heather
Thanks! I made this for an engagement party and everyone LOVED it! I’m making it again today 🙂
Denay DeGuzman
Needed to come back to let you know how much our family loves this recipe! It’s easy to make during the busy work week.
Neha
Such an easy and amazing pulled chicken recipe! I can’t believe it’s made with just 6 ingredients. Totally trying it out.
Anjali
I love how easy this recipe was to make!! The perfect weeknight dinner!
Sandhya Ramakrishnan
This is just what we need for weeknight dinner. With kids at home, this makes for a perfect lunch for them as well.
Rachna
Pulled chicken is just so perfect to have at hand. I love your recipe and I can’t wait to make some for my weekend burgers and wraps.
Julia
This is so flavorful pulled chicken. We devoured the whole portion in no time. I must redo the recipe, because my kids are begging me to have some more 🙂 Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe!
Katie
Looks so delicious! Can’t wait to try it.
Alexandra
Absolutely delicious! This chicken was superb – we served with some slaw and it was such a tasty meal!
Anita
I usually make pulled pork, but using chicken breast is just as great, and usually turns out to be a cheaper meal too. 🙂