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๐Ÿ Home ยป Recipes ยป Chicken Recipes

Easiest Crock Pot BBQ Chicken

Updated: Feb 20, 2023 ยท Published: May 14, 2021 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan ยท 7 Comments

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Total Time: 3 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

One of the easiest recipes everโ€”tasty BBQ chicken in under 4 hours. Great for family gatherings and parties or just when you want to be lazy for an easy family dinner.

close up picture of a bbq chicken sandwich on a bun on a white plate

Jump To (scroll for more)
  • ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to make this recipe
  • Ingredients
  • โ“FAQs
  • ๐Ÿ“–Crock Pot BBQ Recipes
  • Step-by-Step Photo Instructions
  • ๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card

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Introduction

Some people might call this pulled chicken or shredded chicken. Most will use this for sandwiches, but it works well in a wrap, on nachos, and so much more.

I have done this in the past and never thought much of it. Usually, it was with some salsa and chicken for Mexican, but BBQ more in the summer. Both recipes have grown into full recipes. But with the BBQ, I just never formalized it.

I have seen a number of these recipes popping up around the net. Most are identical, and there are some issues with the suggested cooking time. Most had the Worcestershire sauce and some added sugar which I felt was a good idea. Of course, they were too big for my purpose and needed to be cut down the size.

See other crock pot sandwich recipes, like our Crock Pot Shredded Pork Tenderloin, Crock Pot French Dip Sandwiches, Crock Pot Pulled Pork Loin, and Crock Pot Pulled Boston Butt.

๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸณHow to make this recipe

  1. Trim skinless boneless chicken breasts of visible fat and cut them into 2-3 chunks each.
  2. Mix the BBQ sauce of your choice in a 2 quart or larger crock pot with Worcestershire sauce (optional but suggested). Add brown sugar to taste, depending on the sweetness of the BBQ sauce.
  3. Add chicken and mix well to cover the chicken with sauce.
  4. Cover and cook on low at 2 ยฝ hours, then check the internal temperature of the chicken. If 165ยฐ or above, remove, shred and return to pot. If not 165ยฐ yet, extend the cooking time by checking the internal temperature every 15-20 minutes. Once you reach 165ยฐ, remove, shred and return to the crock pot for 15 to 20 minutes.

Ingredients

๐Ÿ“The Chicken

I suggest using skinless boneless chicken breast for this. Chicken with skin can be used, but you will discard the skin.

It will work if you want to use skinless thighs, but you need to get to the 185ยฐ internal temperature range to shred well. It is probably about 3 to 3 ยฝ hours before shredding.

๐ŸฅฃThe Sauce

I use Original Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce but use the sauce of your choice. I recommend the Worcestershire sauce, which will make the taste pop, but it is optional.

The sugar is more to taste and if you're using a honey-based sauce, proceed with care.

The amount of sauce is important since the chicken will release some fluid, and you don't want it soupy.

โ“FAQs

Can I cook this recipe on high?

I suggest cooking on low. The final results are more controllable. High may zoom right through your endpoint since some crock pots run too hot on high, and the sauce has sugar that can burn.

If you must cook on high, please watch the internal temperature of the chicken and remove it to shred at 165ยฐ and watch the edges of the sauce for burning.

How to store leftover shredded BBQ chicken.

Store airtight in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Good frozen for 3-4 months if sealed airtight.

๐Ÿ“–Crock Pot BBQ Recipes

Crock Pot Shredded Pork Tenderloin

Crock Pot Pulled Pork from Butt the Right Way

Crock Pot Pulled Pork Loin

Crock Pot Baby Back Ribs

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โ†‘Jump to Table of Contents

This recipe is listed in these categories. See them for more similar recipes.

BBQ Recipes, Chicken Breast Recipes, Chicken Recipes, Crock Pot Recipes, Mini Crock Pot Recipes, Small Crock Pots Recipes

Have you tried this recipe, or have a question? Join the community discussion in the comments.

Step-by-Step Photo Instructions

raw chicken with crock pot and seasoning

Only four ingredients

trimmed chicken breasts on a red board

Trim two skinless boneless chicken breasts of visible fat and cut them into 2-3 chunks each

adding brown sugar to sauce in the crock pot

In a 2 quart or larger crock pot, mix ยพ cup BBQ sauce of your choice with 1 ยฝ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (optional but suggested). Add up to 1 tablespoon of brown sugar to taste, depending on the sweetness of the BBQ sauce.

mixing chicken into the sauce in the crock pot

Add chicken and mix well to cover the chicken with sauce.

shredding cooked chicken with forks on a white board

Cover and cook on low for 3 hours total, but at 2 ยฝ hours, check the internal temperature of the chicken. If 165ยฐ or above, remove, shred and return to pot. If not 165ยฐ yet, extend the cooking time by checking the internal temperature every 15-20 minutes. Once you reach 165ยฐ, then remove, shred and return.

shredded BBQ chicken in a spoon over the crock pot

Cook 15-20 minutes more after the chicken is returned from shredding.

making a shredded BBQ chicken sandwich
โ†‘Jump to Table of Contents

๐Ÿ“–The Recipe Card

a shredded BBQ chicken sandwich on a white plate

Easiest Crock Pot BBQ Chicken

4.67 from 3 votes
From Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan
This is one of the easiest recipes everโ€”tasty BBQ chicken in under 4 hours. Great for family gatherings and parties or just when you want to be lazy for an easy family dinner.
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours hours 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 3 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
Servings #/Adjust if desired 6

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Ingredients

US Customary - Convert to Metric
  • 1 ยฝ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts - plus or minus a little
  • ยพ cup BBQ sauce of choice
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar - vary by the sweetness of the sauce
  • 1 ยฝ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce - optional but suggested

Instructions
 

  • trimmed chicken breasts on a red board
    Trim two skinless boneless chicken breast of visible fat and cut into 2-3 chunks each.
  • adding brown sugar to sauce in the crock pot
    In a 2 quart or larger crock pot, mix ยพ cup BBQ sauce of your choice with 1 ยฝ teaspoonย Worcestershire sauce (optional but suggested). Add up to 1 tablespoon brown sugar to taste depending on the sweetness of the BBQ sauce.
  • mixing chicken into the sauce in the crock pot
    Add chicken and mix well to cover the chicken with sauce.
  • shredding cooked chicken with forks on a white board
    Cover and cook on low for 3 hours total, but at 2 ยฝ hours check the internal temperature of the chicken. If 165ยฐ or above, remove, shred and return to pot. If not 165ยฐ yet, extend the cooking time by checking the internal temperature every 15-20 minutes. Once you reach 165ยฐ, then remove, shred and return.
  • shredded BBQ chicken in a spoon over the crock pot
    Cook 15-20 minutes more after the chicken is returned from shredding.

Recipe Notes

Pro Tips

  1. Scale to the size you need. Consider about ยผ pound of meat per sandwich.
  2. You may use boneless skinless chicken thighs but take them to about 180ยฐ-185ยฐ internal temperature which should take an extra 30 or so minutes. They will be more tender and shred easier if cooked to a higher temperature.
  3. The chicken releases fluid so be careful not to add too much sauce or it will be soupy.
  4. If you overcook chicken breast, it will be dry.
  5. The suggested amounts of ย Worcestershire sauce and brown sugar will be just right for most BBQ sauce.
  6. Good refrigerated for 3-4 days and will freeze well for 3-4 months.

Your Own Private Notes

Click here to save your own private notes only you will see. These will print and be saved for your next visit.
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To adjust the recipe size:

You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.

Nutrition Estimate

Calories : 171 kcal (9%)Carbohydrates : 15 g (5%)Protein : 23 g (46%)Fat : 3 g (5%)Saturated Fat : 1 g (5%)Monounsaturated Fat : 1 gCholesterol : 66 mg (22%)Sodium : 475 mg (20%)Potassium : 9 mgSugar : 14 g (16%)Calcium : 2 mgIron : 0.9 mg (5%)
Serving size is my estimate of a normal size. All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.

ยฉ 101 Cooking for Two, LLC. All content and photographs are copyright protected by us or our vendors.

Originally Published: May 5, 2018. Updated with expanded options, refreshed photos, and a table of contents to help navigation.

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  1. Roslyn j Vaughan says

    May 20, 2021 at 11:56 am

    5 stars
    The easiest and best BBQ chicken sandwich my grandson could not stop eating it Itold him the ingredients He was shocked. He said he could make this himself and little clean up more stars if you had them

    Reply
  2. Leslie Koury says

    May 14, 2021 at 9:32 am

    4 stars
    I, too, use Baby Ray's BBQ sauce...with a yummy modification. Add a really good Balsamic Vinegar (or reduce watery balsamic to syrupy consistency) for a sweet acid taste and a splash of Siracha or Sambal Oelek for zip. Just a guess because I don't measure, maybe 1-2 T. of balsamic or more to 1/2 cup BBQ sauce and chili sauce to taste (or skip if you don't want the heat).

    Reply
  3. Mat N says

    November 02, 2019 at 7:58 am

    5 stars
    I like that you have a metric option. Plenty of us out there outside the US!

    Reply
    • Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan says

      November 02, 2019 at 8:17 am

      Hi Mat,

      Welcome to the blog.

      I really should not respond to comments until I have had coffee. You did find it. My bad.... I fixed my reply for others that don't see it.

      Glad you find it. It is not very obvious.

      Recipe Adjustments

      You will find it on almost all recipes.

      Dan

  4. Virusmater says

    May 11, 2018 at 4:28 pm

    ___123___Crock Pot BBQ Chicken | 101 Cooking For Two___123___

    Reply
  5. Curt p gosnell says

    May 08, 2018 at 7:14 pm

    Doing chicken quarter & brisket dinner / bbq for eat in or take out. Turned out allrite but would like to change leg quarters to boneless skinless breasts for the ladyโ€™s, there fussy, read your recipes &they look good . My concern is holding the breasts while waiting for them to be sold . Our quarters are kept in foil lined cooler and they stay warm & moist for hours. Do you think I could expect the same results with boneless skinless or do you have another recomandation? Thanks CURT

    Reply
    • DrDan says

      May 08, 2018 at 8:26 pm

      Hi Curt,
      I will give a few generalities. I cook thighs to a final internal temperature of 185-190 while I try to stop chicken breast right at 165. So the lower final temp combined with the lower fat (fat stays hot longer) will allow the chicken breast to cool faster but I don't see you getting a couple of hours anyway. What recipe are you talking about?
      Dan

DrDan imageHi, I'm DrDan.
Welcome to 101 Cooking for Two, the home of great everyday recipes with easy step-by-step photo instructions.
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