Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken (Easy Pulled Chicken)
An easy and flavorful recipe for pulled chicken made in a crockpot, perfect for dinner or gatherings.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, with fat trimmed off
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
For the Sauce
- 1.25 cups barbecue sauce (e.g., Sweet Baby Ray's Honey BBQ)
- 0.5 cups Italian dressing (fat-free version suggested)
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 0.25 cups light brown sugar can reduce to 1/8 cup or omit for less sweetness
Instructions
Preparation
- Liberally spray the inside of a large crockpot or slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
- Season the trimmed boneless, skinless chicken breasts with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder, and place them in the bottom of the crockpot.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine barbecue sauce, Italian dressing, light brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Whisk until well combined.
- Pour the mixture evenly over the chicken breasts.
Cooking
- Place the lid on the crockpot and cook on high for 2.5-3 hours or low for 5-6 hours.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Serving
- Once fully cooked, you can serve the chicken whole or use two forks to shred the chicken.
- Serve the shredded chicken on buns for sandwiches or enjoy it in various dishes like pizza, salad, or tacos.
Notes
For best results, marinate the chicken in the sauces overnight before cooking. For added heat, consider adding cayenne pepper or sliced jalapeños.