Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken
The easiest and most delicious Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken that makes a great foundation for lots of different meals. Just a few seasonings and your favorite BBQ sauce and you have a simple dinner the whole family will love.
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What You’ll Love About Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken:
- It’s a simple dump and cook recipe that takes minutes to prepare.
- Saucy BBQ chicken that can be used for lots of different meals.
- Freezer friendly so nothing gets wasted.
- BBQ pulled chicken is always a crowd pleaser.
When you want an easy throw-together crockpot meal that everyone will enjoy and love, Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken is a FOR SURE winner dinner. We all know how convenient crockpot recipes are but when you can literally dump the ingredients in, and pop the lid on, it’s the absolute best!
If I had one word to describe this BBQ pulled chicken it would simply be, YUM! What makes this pulled chicken so fantastic starts with flavorful chicken and spices. I use boneless skinless chicken thighs for super juicy, and tender chicken. A simple dry rub seasoning of chili powder, smoked paprika, and garlic powder, add bold flavor before dressing the chicken with my favorite BBQ sauce.
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken Is Versatile:
There are so many ways to use BBQ pulled chicken. The classic bun and slaw combo is always a hit. Serve over your favorite rice or baked or sweet potatoes. We love to make BBQ chicken pizza using this slow cooker recipe, and this chicken is great in hard shelled tacos with slaw and fresh cilantro. Make lunch wraps, add the chicken to a big green salad, or just simply eat it on it’s own for a quick snack. The possibilities are endless!
Ingredients:
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs– or use chicken breast meat
- Chili powder
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
- Yellow onions
- Favorite BBQ sauce– we love Sweet Baby Rays, no sugar added
- A1 steak sauce– optional but really intensifies the flavor
How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken:
Step 1. Add chicken, seasonings, onions, and BBQ sauce to a slow cooker. Toss the chicken with the seasonings and the sauce. Place the lid on and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until meat shreds easily with a fork.
Step 2. Once chicken is tender transfer to a large plate and shred with two forks. Remove all but 1/2 cup liquid from the slow cooker. Add chicken back. Combine more BBQ sauce with A1 steak sauce. Microwave for 1 minute then pour over chicken. Stir to combine and it’s ready to serve.
Storing Leftover BBQ Pulled Chicken:
Store leftover pulled chicken in the refrigerator up to 5 days in a sealed container, or freeze up to 3 months. Thaw and use in your favorite recipes.
Recipe Tips:
- Trim fat– If using chicken thighs trim off the excess fat from each thigh to ensure the sauce isn’t too fatty.
- Sear chicken– For even more flavor (but certainly not necessary) season chicken with spices and sear on both sides until deep golden brown before adding to the slow cooker.
Awesome BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches:
For this post I made pulled chicken sandwiches. A super fast dinner that my family always enjoys. We like to toast our buns and I make a quick and easy slaw. You can find the slaw recipe here.
Other Slow Cooker recipes you might enjoy:
- Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowls
- Slow Cooker Pork Verde
- Island Slow Cooker Chicken
- Slow Cooker Spaghetti Casserole
Let’s eat!
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, fat trimmed or use chicken breast
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked or regular paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce, divided
- 1 tbsp A1 sauce
Instructions
- Add chicken, seasonings, and onions to a slow cooker. Toss chicken to coat well. Pour 3/4 cup BBQ sauce over the chicken and toss again. Place the lid on and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4. The chicken should easily shred with a fork.
- Once chicken is tender transfer to a large plate and shred with two forks. Remove all but 1/2 cup liquid from the slow cooker. Add chicken back. In a small bowl combine remaining 3/4 cup BBQ sauce with A1 steak sauce. Microwave for 1-minute then pour over chicken. Stir to combine and it’s ready to use in your favorite recipes.
Notes
- Trim fat– If using chicken thighs trim off the excess fat from each thigh to ensure the sauce isn’t too fatty.
- Sear chicken– For even more flavor (but certainly not necessary) season chicken with spices and sear on both sides until deep golden brown.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 4 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 161 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 1.8g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat 0.3g | 2% |
| Cholesterol 36mg | 12% |
| Sodium 5188mg | 226% |
| Total Carbohydrate 20.2g | 7% |
| Dietary Fiber 0.7g | 2% |
| Total Sugars 14.9g | |
| Protein 14.9g | |
| Vitamin D 0mcg | 0% |
| Calcium 21mg | 2% |
| Iron 1mg | 6% |
| Potassium 45mg | 1% |
Nutrition
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