Slow Cooker Shredded BBQ Chicken
Shredded BBQ chicken is a great way to feed a crowd or make a batch to use for easy dinners during the week. It’s made with boneless, skinless chicken breasts and thighs so it’s juicy and full of flavor. Plus, there’s no pre-cooking – just drop it all in the slow cooker and let it do it’s thing.
It might not be glamorous, but a slow cooker filled with tender shredded chicken coated in a simple homemade BBQ sauce goes a long way to solve dinnertime challenges.
Hosting a group? Make shredded BBQ chicken. Busy week ahead? Make a batch on the weekend for dinners all week. Hit with a comfort food craving? BBQ chicken sandwiches can help. It’s delicious and this recipe is so, so easy.
Ingredients
- Chicken: I like a mix of light and dark meat, so I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts and chicken thighs. The thighs have more fat and flavor, so you get pulled chicken that is juicy and delicious.
- Ketchup
- Apple cider vinegar
- Worcestershire sauce
- Brown sugar
- Chili powder
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika
How to Make Shredded BBQ Chicken in a Slow Cooker
☑️ Make the Sauce
Mix the BBQ sauce ingredients in a bowl (or right in the slow cooker to save a dish).
☑️ Prepare the Chicken
Place the chicken in the slow cooker. You don’t need to brown it first! Pour the sauce over the top and then turn the chicken to coat it evenly.
☑️ Cook
Cook the chicken and sauce on high for two to three hours or until the chicken shreds easily. Shred it, stir it into the sauce and that’s it!
This recipe makes a big batch – about 10 servings – and it will keep well for three to four days in the refrigerator.
Different Ways to Serve BBQ Pulled Chicken
- Make some BBQ chicken sandwiches and pile the shredded chicken on hamburger buns with some coleslaw or sliced pickles.
- Use it to make pineapple BBQ chicken wraps.
- Chill it and then use it to make a BBQ chicken salad with lettuce, black beans, corn, cheese, and other veggies you like.
- Make a BBQ bowl with the shredded chicken, rice, veggies, and cheddar cheese.
- Make chicken tacos with crunchy shells or soft ones – add your favorite toppings like guacamole, sour cream, salsa, and cheese.
More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
Shredded BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 cups ketchup
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Instructions
- Combine the ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, and seasonings in the slow cooker. Place the chicken in the sauce and spoon some of the sauce over the top of each piece so it’s covered.
- Cook the chicken on high for two to three hours (or on low for four to six hours) or until the chicken is cooked through and shreds easily with a fork. Once cooked, shred all of the chicken (I do this right in the slow cooker) and then stir well to combine with the sauce.
- The chicken can be cooked ahead and will keep well in the refrigerator for three to four days.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
More Easy Recipes
Happy cooking,
The post, photos, and recipe were updated from the archives. The post was first posted June 2016.
Pulled CHICKEN sandwiches sound interesting. I may be biased though because my favorite sandwich is pulled pork, but I’ll need to try this.
I hope you enjoy it!
Is the sauce supposed to be tangy?
It is a little tangy from the apple cider vinegar.