Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken

No matter the time of year BBQ Pulled Chicken is the way to go for any gathering. So, take out that crock pot and let’s make the easiest Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken recipe of all time.

If you love slow cooker pulled chicken, then you’ll love these shredded chicken recipes too: Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken, Instant Pot Moroccan Chicken, and Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad.

Pulled Chicken is the Best Chicken

Shredded chicken is one of my favorite ways to eat chicken! I especially love it if it’s slow cooker pulled chicken because it’s super easy to make and the clean up is a cinch.

This BBQ pulled chicken recipe can be used in so many ways beyond a sandwich. You can eat it in a meal prep bowl, in a burrito, by itself, as tacos, in a lettuce wrap, on toast, the list goes on!

How to Make BBQ Pulled Chicken (in the Crock Pot)

In this post, we’re going to teach you how to make bbq pulled chicken in the crock pot. We’re also sharing some serving suggestions including side pairings and ways to eat it!

Rub it

It all starts with a rub. If you’re looking to get the most flavor out of your pulled chicken, we highly recommend NOT skipping this step. Giving your chicken breasts a nice spicy rub down before slow cooking will give it so much flavor later on.

For this rub, we used some basic spices. Here’s what you need:

• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon ground paprika
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Slow Cook It

Next up, it’s time to add some BBQ sauce to the top of your chicken breast and slow cook! We have a delicious homemade BBQ sauce on FFF, but you can use whatever kind you like.

When cooking chicken in the slow cooker it’s all about low and slow. We have two cooking options for you. Slow cook your pulled chicken on…

• high for 2 hours
• low for around 4-6 

Do I need to add any liquid to my slow cooker with the chicken?

You do not need to add any other liquid to your slow cooker because the chicken will give off a lot of moisture. However, if you’re paranoid, feel free to add 2 or 3 tablespoons of water.

Shred It

Once fully cooked, shred your chicken breast right in the slow cooker with 2 forks and keep that liquid in there! This will keep things moist and delicious.

We like using 2 forks to shred our chicken, but many people like to place their cooked chicken breast into a hand mixer and shred that way!

Sauce it

Once your chicken has been pulled, it’s time to add more bbq sauce. No one likes dry bbq pulled chicken. Add about 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup more of bbq sauce and mix everything together!

We also added a touch of vinegar because it really brings out the delicious flavor of the bbq sauce. Option to add a vinegar-based hot sauce OR pickle juice instead!

Eat it

Our favorite way to eat slow cooker pulled chicken is as a sandwich with all the fixings. Here’s what you need for what’s photographed:

• Homemade slaw: buy your favorite premade slaw mix and add onion, pickle juice, lime, and salt.
• Pickles: Pickles make the world go round. A few rounds will really make this sammie!
• Chips: Because everyone loves a crunch, serve your pulled chicken sandwich next to a handful of your favorite chips.

Healthy Side Pairings

Whether you’re making bbq pulled chicken sandwiches or using this chicken in a bowl, you’re going to want to serve it with some delicious healthy sides! Here are some suggestions:

Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Q’s

Can you put raw chicken in a slow cooker? Yes! And, in fact, we recommend only putting raw, thawed chicken in your slow cooker.

Can you overcook chicken in a slow cooker? You can absolutely overcook chicken in the slow cooker. Typically (depending on how thick your chicken breast is), chicken will be fully cooked in the slow cooker on…

• high for 2 hours
• low for 4-6 hours

Can you put frozen chicken in a slow cooker? We do NOT recommend putting frozen chicken in a slow cooker. This is due to food safety. No one wants to get foodborne illness from uncooked chicken!

Can you freeze pulled bbq chicken? Yes, you can freeze pulled chicken once it’s cooked. Place it in a large gallon-sized bag and remove as much air as possible. Then, seal and place in the freezer for up to 3 months.

What does pulled chicken mean? Pulled chicken is the same thing as shredded chicken. You can find some recipe examples of pulled chicken here: crock pot honey garlic chicken, healthy buffalo chicken, and Thai peanut chicken salad.

What goes with pulled chicken? We love eating BBQ pulled chicken as a sandwich with a homemade slaw and pickles! You can also eat pulled chicken in a meal prep bowl, in a wrap, or as a taco.

How Can I Make This Recipe Healthier?

Good news! For the most part, this BBQ pulled chicken is healthy. It is…

• low fat (just 4g per serving)
• high protein (22g per serving)
• can be lower sugar depending on what BBQ sauce you use.

So? What can make this even healthier? Use a bbq sauce that is lower in sugar or consider making your own bbq sauce (such as this one that uses maple syrup) at home so you can monitor exactly what’s in it!

Remember, “healthy” is all about balance!