Description
This slow cooker BBQ pulled chicken is juicy, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make with just a few pantry ingredients. Perfect for sandwiches, salads, or tacos, it’s a versatile meal prep favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2–3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1½ cups BBQ sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional:
- 1 small diced onion
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp brown sugar (for added sweetness)
💡 Quick 3-ingredient version: Chicken + BBQ sauce + ranch seasoning.
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker: Spray the inside with non-stick spray or use a liner for easy cleanup.
- Add ingredients: Place the chicken in the slow cooker. Pour BBQ sauce over it and sprinkle with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add optional diced onion, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar if desired.
- Cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Shred: Using two forks, shred the chicken directly in the cooker. Stir to fully coat with the sauce.
- Warm before serving: Let the shredded chicken rest on warm for 10–15 minutes before serving.
- Optional Finishing Touch: Spread shredded chicken on a baking sheet and broil for 5 minutes to get crispy edges.
Notes
Serve on sandwich buns, baked potatoes, or over rice. Great for meal prep. Use store-bought or homemade BBQ sauce (recipe below).
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American / BBQ
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: bbq pulled chicken, slow cooker chicken, crockpot recipe, shredded chicken, meal prep, barbecue chicken, easy dinner