Description
This Crock Pot BBQ Chicken recipe is a simple and flavorful slow-cooked dish perfect for busy days or meal prepping. Tender boneless skinless chicken breasts are cooked low and slow in a rich blend of BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and spices, resulting in juicy, delicious chicken that can be served on its own, in sandwiches, or as a topping.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 3.5 lbs (1.5 kg) boneless skinless chicken breast
Sauce & Seasoning
- 2 cups BBQ sauce (Sweet Baby Ray’s recommended)
- ¼ cup (60 g) light or dark brown sugar, packed
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼–½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Rinse and pat dry the boneless skinless chicken breasts. You can leave them whole or cut into large chunks for faster cooking.
- Mix the sauce: In a bowl, combine the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and crushed red pepper. Whisk until well blended.
- Add to the crock pot: Place the chicken breasts in the crock pot. Pour the BBQ sauce mixture evenly over the chicken, ensuring they are well coated.
- Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on low heat for 6 to 7 hours, or until the chicken is tender and easily shredded with a fork. Alternatively, cook on high for 3 to 4 hours if short on time.
- Shred the chicken: Using two forks, shred the chicken directly in the crock pot, mixing it thoroughly with the BBQ sauce to evenly coat all the meat.
- Serve: Serve hot as a main dish, on buns for BBQ chicken sandwiches, or use as a filling for tacos and wraps. Enjoy!
Notes
- For extra smoky flavor, consider adding a teaspoon of liquid smoke to the sauce.
- If you prefer less heat, reduce or omit the crushed red pepper.
- Leftovers refrigerate well and can be reheated easily for meal prep.
- Canned or homemade BBQ sauce can be used depending on your flavor preference.
- Chicken thighs can be substituted for breasts for slightly juicier results.
Keywords: Crock Pot BBQ Chicken, slow cooker chicken, BBQ chicken recipe, easy crock pot recipes, shredded chicken, low and slow chicken