The Easiest Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Breast Recipe! Use this shredded chicken on sliders, nachos or in quesadillas for a delicious dinner!
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On busy weeknights, this slow cooker BBQ chicken is my go to recipe. It’s done in less than 10 minutes of prep time, it’s soooo flavorful – and there are tons of ways you can use it.
This crockpot shredded chicken is great for tacos, nachos, wraps, quesadillas, or just eaten on top of some rice with some roasted veggies. The options are endless!
If you love crockpot recipes, check out our Crockpot Whole Chicken, BBQ Pulled Pork, or these 50+ Healthy Crockpot Recipes!
reasons to make slow cooker BBQ chicken thighs
There is a lot to love about this recipe. It’s one of our favorite proteins for a healthy dinner because it’s:
- Easy to make – I loooove an easy dinner, and this is one of the simplest! Just put your chicken in the crockpot with some spices and sauce and let it cook on low!
- Simple Ingredients – You probably have everything you need to make this recipe right in your pantry/fridge.
- Protein Packed – One serving of this chicken has over 25g of protein making it great for dinner or meal prep!
ingredients you’ll need for this recipe:
Here’s what we use to make bbq shredded chicken:
You can find substitutions for all of these ingredients below in the green shaded box.
For this recipe, you will need a crockpot!
How to Make
- Place chicken breasts, diced onions, seasonings, and ¼ cup BBQ sauce in a crockpot. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
- Once cooked, remove the chicken and shred it in your stand mixer.
- Return the chicken and the remaining ¼ cup BBQ sauce to the crockpot and toss until evenly coated.
ingredient substitutions and recipe variations
Chicken Breasts: You can substitute with boneless chicken thighs. You can use bone in chicken thighs, but it’s a little more difficult to shred them. Bone in split chicken breasts will also work, but it’s not as easy to shred!
Spices: Feel free to use more or less spice. You can use a BBQ rub you have on hand, but watch the salt in it- premade mixes are way saltier.
BBQ Sauce – Use whatever BBQ sauce you like. We like one that is lower in sugar. A lot of BBQ sauces have high fructose corn syrup added to them – so just check the ingredients!
Onion: An onion is optional but we highly recommend it!
serving suggestions
Crock pot BBQ chicken is such a versatile protein and will go well with pretty much any side. We love serving it on a bun as a sandwich or on its own topped with extra BBQ sauce.
Here are some of our favorite sides to pair with this BBQ chicken:
slow cooker bbq chicken FAQ
Yes. Raw chicken will fully cook in the slow cooker. If you are nervous about the chicken being fully cooked, use an internal thermometer and cook until the chicken is 165°.
We do not recommend cooking frozen chicken in a crockpot because it can take a while to thaw and could result in foodborne illness. Fully thaw frozen chicken before adding to the crockpot.
Liz’s Tips for the Best BBQ Shredded Chicken
Try to evenly space the chicken breasts along the bottom of the crockpot– You want to avoid stacking them on top of one another so they cook evenly
Don’t add extra water! The chicken breasts and onions release water as they cook so you don’t need any additional liquid in this recipe.
storing leftover shredded chicken breasts
Storing: This will last in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container
Freezing: You can freeze this recipe for up to 3 months. We like these containers for freezing!
If you need more freezer friendly recipes check out our Fill Your Freezer Ebook with 22 easy freezer meals!
Reheating: You can reheat this recipe in the microwave or on the stove top in an oiled pan. If you reheat in the toaster oven or oven they will be a little bit drier/crispier – but still delicious.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Breast
The Easiest Slow Cooker BBQ chicken Breast Recipe! Use this shredded chicken on sliders, nachos or in quesadillas for a delicious dinner!
Instructions
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Layer chicken breasts in the base of the crockpot.
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Top with seasoning and diced onions. Drizzle with ¼ cup BBQ sauce (save the rest of it for later!)
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Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or high for 4 hours (low is recommended!)
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When chicken is cooked, remove from the pot and shred with two forks. (Pro Tip: Shred the chicken breasts in your stand mixer! It’s way quicker.)
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Return the chicken to the pot to soak up the juices from cooking. Add remaining ¼ cup BBQ sauce to the chicken and toss until evenly coated.
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Serve on a sandwich, salad, or in bowls!
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Breast
Amount Per Serving (4.5 oz cooked chicken)
Calories 275
Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Trans Fat 0.02g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 109mg36%
Sodium 576mg25%
Potassium 789mg23%
Carbohydrates 19g6%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 14g16%
Protein 37g74%
Vitamin A 287IU6%
Vitamin C 5mg6%
Calcium 36mg4%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. This is an estimate and can vary pending your ingredients
