Crock Pot BBQ Chicken

Crock Pot BBQ chicken is one of the best crock pot recipes for summer picnics, potlucks, and cook-outs. Use your slow cooker to make tender pulled chicken, then sauce it up and use for sandwiches, salads, and so much more!

Pull out the bibs, keep your napkin at the ready, and grab the jar of homemade barbecue sauce we made yesterday, because today we are making Crock Pot BBQ Chicken!

Moist, juicy, and brimming with that sweet ’n smoky BBQ flair, this slow cooker BBQ chicken is one of those prized and precious dinners in which a ridiculously simple recipe produces an extremely satisfying meal.

This easy pulled chicken recipe is freezer friendly and actually healthy, and, as I discovered the week that I made it, its versatile uses are limited only by your imagination (or how hungry you are).

10 Tasty Ways to Use Crock Pot BBQ Chicken:

1. Pile it on a bun to make BBQ chicken sandwiches.
2. Toss it over a salad (it’s perfect for this BBQ Chicken Salad).
3. Stuff it inside a tortilla to make BBQ-style slow cooker pulled chicken tacos.
4. Same but different: Stuff between TWO tortillas, fill with cheese, and make BBQ chicken quesadillas.
5. Take note from these Healthy Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potatoes and try it over a baked sweet potato or regular baked potato. Bonus flavor points for adding avocado and green onion. To really slow cooker it up: You could make the Crock Pot BBQ Chicken early in the day or even the day before, use the slow cooker a second time to make these Crock Pot Baked Potatoes, and then reheat the chicken on the stove just before serving.
6. Layer it on chips for slow cooker BBQ chicken nachos (or how about BBQ Chicken PINEAPPLE Nachos?)
7. Following the thinking above: BBQ chicken oven fries. YAS.
8. Three words: BBQ. Chicken. Flatbread.
9. These BBQ Chicken Rollups sound mighty fine.
10. Eat it directly out of the crock pot. Just do it.

I realize that this recipe is quite basic (I think crockpot bbq chicken Sweet Baby Rays’ style was one of the first slow cooker meals I ever made) BUT sometimes basic can be delicious. And easy. And speak to the part of you that just loves messy food that’s so yummy, you lick your fingers.

Embrace the basic. Let’s make some Crock Pot BBQ Chicken!

HOW TO MAKE PULLED CHICKEN IN A CROCK POT:

• You need chicken. You need BBQ sauce. I highly recommend this easy, 15-minute Homemade BBQ Sauce, but if you are in a hurry, store bought will work too.
• Place the chicken in the crock pot. Pour the sauce on top.

• Remove the chicken to a plate, stir in a little cornstarch, re-cover, and continue cooking to thicken the sauce. This isn’t 100% necessary, but I think it’s totally worth it, as I love my sauce thick and rich.

• While the sauce thickens, shred the chicken with two forks.
• Return to the crock pot and stir. If desired, add some green onion to make it pretty.

DEVOUR!

HOW LONG TO LET CHICKEN COOK IN A CROCK POT:

• How long the chicken takes to cook will really depend upon your slow cooker, as well as whether you use high or low heat. My slow cooker (I have this programmable one) tends to run pretty hot and cook things more quickly.
• On high heat, 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts (each weighing about 10 ounces) will cook in 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• On low heat, this same amount of chicken will cook in 4 to 5 hours.

CAN I MAKE SLOW COOKER BBQ CHICKEN THIGHS INSTEAD?

• Absolutely! Follow the recipe just as written but adjust the slow cooking times.
• Two pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs should cook in 3 to 4 hours on high or 5 to 6 hours on low.
• Thicken the sauce, shred, and serve the chicken as directed in the recipe.
• To the fans of slow cooker chicken thighs: Try this Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken or this Crock Pot Bourbon Chicken recipe next.

HOW ABOUT CROCKPOT BBQ CHICKEN LEGS?

• Absolutely! I suggest removing the skin first. Since this recipe is made in slow cooker, the skin won’t have the nice, crisp texture that you’d get from making them in the oven.
• Slow cook the chicken legs on high for 3 to 4 hours or on low for 5 to 6 hours.
• Thicken the sauce as directed, but leave the chicken legs whole. Return to the sauce to rewarm when ready to serve.

WHAT OTHER SLOW COOKER RECIPES WILL I LIKE?

• This Crock Pot Mexican Casserole is one of the top-rated recipes on my site.
• In a sammie mood? These Maple Bourbon BBQ Chicken Sandwiches are a fun flavor twist. I especially love the apple slaw on top!
• This Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup is a new fave.
• You can also make any of these healthy crock pot recipes.

HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT BBQ CHICKEN:

• I haven’t tried this recipe in an Instant Pot yet but think it would work nicely. Here are my best directions: Cook the chicken in the sauce under 8 minutes of high pressure and vent immediately. (This cooking time is based off of my Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Tacos.)
• Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate. Turn the Instant Pot to SAUTE mode and stir in the cornstarch slurry.
• Cook the sauce, stirring often, until thickened. Shred the chicken and return it to the Instant Pot. Toss to coat and serve.

TOOLS TO MAKE CROCK POT BBQ CHICKEN:

• Slow cooker
• Small whisk (perfect for stirring the sauce without making a mess)

ENJOY! Don’t forget to lick your fingers.

This post contains some affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.