Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken Recipe
This Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken recipe delivers tender, flavorful shredded chicken cooked low and slow in a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce. Perfect for an easy weeknight meal or a crowd-pleasing dish, this recipe uses minimal ingredients and the convenience of a slow cooker to bring out hearty, smoky flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-5 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes to 5 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1.5–2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional, for extra sweetness)
- Pinch cayenne pepper (optional, for a touch of heat)
Liquids & Sauce
- 1 bottle your favorite barbecue sauce (18–24 ounces, preferably a sweet and tangy Kansas City style)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (or water if unavailable)
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker: Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray or a little oil to prevent sticking.
- Arrange the chicken: Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs in the bottom of the slow cooker. Leave chicken breasts whole; thighs may be left whole or trimmed of excess fat.
- Season the chicken: Evenly sprinkle smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper over the chicken. If using, add brown sugar and a pinch of cayenne pepper for extra sweetness and heat.
- Add sauce and broth: Pour the barbecue sauce and chicken broth (or water) over the seasoned chicken, ensuring the chicken is partially submerged in the liquid.
- Cook low and slow: Cover and cook on the LOW setting for 3-4 hours for chicken breasts or 4-5 hours for chicken thighs, until the chicken is tender and easily shreds with a fork. Cooking time depends on your slow cooker and chicken thickness.
- Shred the chicken: Remove the chicken using two forks, leaving the liquid in the pot. Place the chicken on a cutting board or in a bowl and shred it into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine shredded chicken and sauce: Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker with the remaining liquid. Stir well to coat the chicken thoroughly. For thicker sauce, remove some liquid before stirring.
- Final warmth and flavor absorption: Cover and cook for another 15-30 minutes on the WARM or LOW setting to allow the chicken to absorb the sauce flavors and heat through.
- Serve: Your Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken is now ready to enjoy! Serve on buns, alongside sides, or in salads.
Notes
- You can use either chicken breasts or thighs depending on your preference; thighs tend to be more flavorful and moist.
- Adjust the optional brown sugar and cayenne for sweeter or spicier bbq chicken.
- For a thicker sauce, remove some liquid before mixing the shredded chicken back in.
- Leftover chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3-4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Use a sweet and tangy Kansas City style BBQ sauce for the classic flavor profile.
Keywords: BBQ chicken, slow cooker chicken, crockpot BBQ, shredded chicken, easy dinner, barbecue sauce
Find it online: https://lucabites.com/best-crockpot-bbq-chicken-recipe/
