One of my favorite crock pot barbecue chicken recipes is this easy crock pot pulled chicken recipe. 5 simple ingredients is all you need to make a delicious pulled chicken sandwich or sliders.
Crock Pot Pulled Chicken is one very easy crock pot chicken recipe that is perfect during the hot summer months and is perfect for the 4th of July.
Pulled chicken is a great weekend recipe. Just toss the 5 ingredients in the crock pot and spend some time hanging out with the family.
As much as I love my Crock Pot Pulled Pork recipe I love this pulled chicken recipe also. It depends on what I'm in the mood for. Sometimes it will be pulled pork and sometimes it will be pulled chicken.
Ingredients to make the recipe
This easy pulled chicken recipe uses only 5 ingredients. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredient amounts.
- chicken: boneless skinless chicken breast or chicken thighs
- sauce: bottled BBQ Sauce
- seasonings: mustard powder and garlic powder
- brown sugar
- rolls or buns
Step by step directions
Step 1: Place the boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs in a large crock pot.
Step 2: Pour the bottle of BBQ sauce over the chicken in the crock pot.
Step 3: Add seasonings and brown sugar to the crock pot.
Step 4: Mix the ingredients to cover the chicken with the barbecue sauce ingredients.
Step 5: Cook on high for 3 hours or low for about 5 hours. Check the internal temperature of the chicken with a thermometer.
Do not over cook the chicken or it will be dry.
Step 6: Use two forks to pull the chicken apart, shredding the chicken meat into bite size pieces.
Step 7: Dump the shredded chicken back into the crock pot and stir the pulled chicken and bbq sauce together.
Step 8: Serve on hamburger buns or slider buns with a side of homemade coleslaw and a pasta salad or potato salad.
Recipe FAQS
It is easier to shred cooked chicken after the chicken is cooked and has rested for about 5 minutes. It is impossible to shred uncooked chicken meat.
Yes, you can over cook chicken when cooking it in a slow cooker. Chicken is done when it has reached an internal temperature of 165 F. degrees. Use an instant read thermometer to check the chicken after 2 or 3 hours of cooking.
Pulled chicken can be used to make bbq pulled chicken sandwiches, tacos, chicken sliders, and Quesadillas.
Recipe Expert Tips
- chicken: I used chicken breasts but you can also use chicken thighs.
- barbecue sauce: I like sweet baby rays barbecue sauce but you can use your favorite bbq sauce brand.
- mustard: I like to use ground mustard powder but in a pinch you can use a squirt of yellow mustard instead.
- garlic powder: I've used dried garlic powder but you could also use a tablespoon of finely minced garlic.
- brown sugar: dark brown sugar is made with more molasses than light brown sugar. The deep rich flavor of dark brown sugar gives pulled chicken a richer flavor.
- cook time: how long to cook the pulled chicken will depend on a few things. if using similar sized pieces of chicken as I have used it will take 3 hours to cook on high and about 5 hours to cook on low. smaller pieces of chicken will cook faster.
- when is the chicken done?: the barbecued chicken is done when the thickest piece has reach 165 F. degrees on an instant read thermometer.
- rolls or buns: you will need hamburger bun or slider rolls to make pulled chicken sandwiches.
What to make with pulled chicken?
You can use this pulled chicken recipe to make many different meals that are perfect for lunch or dinner.
- Pulled chicken sandwiches
- Pulled chicken sliders
- Pulled chicken tacos
- Pulled chicken quesadillas
- Pulled chicken nachos
Barbecue side dish recipes you'll love
Here are four perfect side dish recipes for your barbecued chicken meal.
Summer barbecue drinks you'll love
Sip on one of these perfect summer drinks at your next barbecue.
Print the Easy Crock Pot Pulled Chicken Recipe below
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Easy Crock Pot Pulled Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (3 large boneless breasts)
- 16 oz. bottle sweet BBQ Sauce (or favorite bbq sauce)
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon ground garlic powder
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 8 medium Bolillo rolls or hamburger buns
Instructions
- Place the chicken into a large crock pot. Combine the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, dry mustard and garlic powder in a crock pot.
- Add the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, dry mustard and garlic powder.
- Mix to cover the chicken with the barbecue sauce, brown sugar and spices.
- Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5 hours or until the center of the thickest piece is 165 F. degrees.
- When the chicken is done cooking transfer the pieces to a bowl and let rest about 5 minutes. Leave the sauce in the crock pot.
- Use two forks to shred the chicken meat apart.
- Return the shredded chicken to the crock pot and toss to cover with BBQ sauce.
- Serve on buns with a your favorite bbq side dish.
Video
Recipe Expert Tips
- BBQ Side dishes: Serve with my homemade coleslaw, garlic potatoes, or potato salad.
- chicken: I used chicken breasts but you can also use chicken thighs.
- barbecue sauce: I like sweet baby rays barbecue sauce but you can use your favorite bbq sauce brand.
- mustard: I like to use ground mustard powder but in a pinch you can use a squirt of yellow mustard instead.
- garlic powder: I've used dried garlic powder but you could also use a tablespoon of finely minced garlic.
- brown sugar: dark brown sugar is made with more molasses than light brown sugar. The deep rich flavor of dark brown sugar gives pulled chicken a richer flavor.
- cook time: how long to cook the pulled chicken will depend on a few things. if using similar sized pieces of chicken as I have used it will take 3 hours to cook on high and about 5 hours to cook on low. smaller pieces of chicken will cook faster.
- when is the chicken done?: the barbecued chicken is done when the thickest piece has reach 165 F. degrees on an instant read thermometer.
- rolls or buns: you will need hamburger bun or slider rolls to make pulled chicken sandwiches.
Nutrition
Did you try my easy Crock Pot Pulled Chicken recipe? Need a few more crock pot recipes up your sleeve? Check out the Crock Pot recipes over on my crock pot recipe page.
Brooke
Made this tonight for the first time and it was delicious! My husband said this is a must-add to the meal rotation. Thank you for sharing!
Lauren
If i wanted to 1/2 the recipe, how would that effect the cooking time. I have 1.5 lbs of chicken .
Arlene Mobley
Lauren
It depends on how large the pieces of chicken are. If they are whole or halve boneless breast they would cook in about 3-4 hours on low. 2-3 hours on high. If you have a meat thermometer chicken is safe to eat once it reaches an internal temp of 165 F.
bristol plasterers
This sounds really delicious and something new to try. Thank you for sharing this.
Simon
Arlene Mobley
Simon
You're welcome!
Claire L. B.
So I made this recipe last night for dinner and it came out SO GOOD!!!!! I'm a terrible cook, like so bad that when I sometimes cook, people think I'm trying to kill them. This was so easy to make and I followed the recipe to a T except that I used a 28 oz. bottle of Sweet Baby Ray BBQ sauce. My husband and my Mom loved it and my Mom asked me for the recipe.
Claire L. B.
Ugh, I forgot to rate this recipe. It's totally a five star rating!!! Highly recommend.
Arlene Mobley
Claire
I am so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe. Thank you for the 5 star rating!
Arlene Mobley
Claire
I am so happy to hear the recipe turned out great for you and your family loved it!
Lisa
I really need to get my slow cooker out more. This chicken looks delicious and I know my family would LOVE it!
Arlene Mobley
Lisa
Thanks. It is so good we eat it all the time.