Just 2 ingredients go in to making this Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken. It is simply made from chicken breasts and an easy homemade BBQ sauce and then slow cooked until the chicken falls apart. Pulled BBQ Chicken is so simple to make and well worth the wait for the slow cooker. Serve in tacos, in a bun with slaw or on rice.
There is no prep involved with this BBQ Chicken – everything just goes in to the slow cooker, is stirred and then you just have to patiently wait until it is ready. That’s the hard part.
You could make this even easier and make it with store bought BBQ sauce, but the homemade sauce is really worth the effort and gives this slow cooker shredded chicken extra flavour.
It’s a little bit sweet, but super juicy and tender. This chicken practically BBQ chicken melts in your mouth. It might just be the easiest slow cooker chicken you will ever make and perfect all year round.
If you're looking for more easy slow cooker recipes, why not try our Slow Cooker Beef Brisket, Slow Cooker Pulled Beef or Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese?
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Why you will love it
- Just 2 ingredients - No fancy ingredients for BBQ chicken in slow cooker. Just chicken and BBQ sauce.
- A super easy chicken recipe - This slow cooker pulled chicken is really low effort. No browning the chicken, just put it in the slow cooker and leave.
- The whole family will love it - This is suitable for the whole family.
- It freezes well - Make a big batch of this slow cooker BBQ chicken and then freeze it in portions for easy meals.
- Lots of ways to use leftovers - This is so versatile and we have shared our favourite ways to us it.
Ingredients needed
- 4 medium chicken breasts - About 150g/5.25oz each
- 300ml homemade healthy bbq sauce - Or your favourite store bought one for convenience.
A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
How to make BBQ shredded chicken - Step by step
One: Put the chicken breasts in the slow cooker dish.
Two: Pour the BBQ sauce on top of the chicken breasts and mix. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 7-8 hours.
Three: Using two forks, shred the chicken and mix it all together.
Is this healthy?
This is a pretty healthy and balanced meal. It is low in fat and high in protein and making your own BBQ sauce means it is lower in sugar and salt too. This is also protein packed too.
We haven’t used any salt in our healthy BBQ sauce recipe, so it’s a good sauce alternative to give kids. We went through a stage with our toddler when she wanted sauce on all her meals and this made me feel much less guilty about it.
What makes this recipe so special is the homemade BBQ sauce, which is a little bit healthy than the kind you can buy. If you want to make this a really easy meal, then feel free to use store bought BBQ sauce, but you can really taste the difference in a homemade batch.
It’s actually far easier than you probably think to make your own BBQ sauce. You just mix together passata, paprika, garlic, maple syrup and vinegar and season and then let it bubble away in the slow cooker.
What to serve with slow cooker BBQ chicken
This is perfect served in tacos with all the usual fixings. Some crispy shredded lettuce and cheese is a must and then we like to add some Guacamole and Mexican Coleslaw on the side too. What some homemade salsa and tortilla chips on the side? Why not try our Restaurant Style Salsa.
You can also serve it on rice or a baked potato, or in a bun with slaw for a BBQ chicken sandwich.
FAQs
This recipe makes four portions - which is about 150-200g (5-7oz) per person.
This is a great batch cook meal and it freezes really well too. It will keep in the fridge for 3 days and then you can add it to salads and wraps throughout the week, or you can portion it out and freeze leftovers and they will keep for up to 2 months. Make sure it is thoroughly defrosted and then heat in a pan with a little oil until hot.
There are lots of leftovers when we make this slow cooker pulled chicken, as there are so many ways to use it. We like to put some in a big soft roll with some coleslaw, put it on a salad, use it as a nacho topping, put it on a pizza or baked potato or turn it in to quesadillas. We also like it cold with a potato salad for an easy lunch. Leftovers go well on a BBQ Chicken Pizza or BBQ Chicken Salad too.
More slow cooker chicken recipes
If you’ve tried this easy pulled chicken recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
- 600 g (1.33 lb) Chicken breast
- 300 ml (1.25 cups) Homemade BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- Put the chicken breasts in the slow cooker dish.
- Pour the BBQ sauce on top of the chicken breasts and mix.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 7-8 hours.
- Using two forks, shred the chicken and mix it all together.
Recipe tips
- Add some extra flavour and texture to the slow cooker pulled chicken by putting some diced onion at the bottom of the slow cooker before you put the chicken breasts in.
- We have shredded the chicken, but you could always take the chicken breasts out and chop them and then add them back in to the bowl with the BBQ sauce.
- Serve the shredded chicken on rice, or use it as the filling for burritos and tacos. You could even put it on a pizza or salad.
- This BBQ chicken freezes well if you have some leftovers. Just pop it in a container and it will keep in the freezer for up to a month.
- You can save yourself time by using store bought BBQ sauce. If you use ready made sauce a little paprika, garlic and onion powder to it to jazz it up a little.
- You don’t have to shred the chicken, you could chop it in to chunks or serve the breasts whole if not using in tacos. But being cooked on high for 4 hours will mean that the chicken starts to fall apart.
- We like to make this a little bit spicy and add some chipotle paste to the BBQ sauce.
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
marcie
It doesn't get any easier or better than this -- this meal is a sure fire hit!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
LOVE quick and simple recipes. . those are the ones that most people like on my blog as well!!! and love my slow cooker .. is recipe is winning!!! love it! and looks delicious!
Ashley
I love using my slow cooker! I need to try your homemade BBQ sauce - it sounds delicious!
[email protected]
I love slow cooker meals. Even now that it is spring it makes for an easy supper.
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl
Holy heck, this slow cooked chicken looks amazing! Wish it was warming up in my kitchen right now!
Pam
We made this tonight and everyone loved it. My son has the leftovers in a sandwich tomorrow. Great recipe Dannii.
Gingi
Okay, now THIS is mouth watering!!!
Savita @ ChefDeHome
Love slow cooked meals! make life so easy on busy weekdays! bbq chicken sounds delicious, Dannii! thanks for sharing!
Stephanie Wilner
How long will the leftovers keep for? Thanks.
Debbie
Why have I never thought to make my own bbq sauce? Do you have any other sauce recipes? Mayo would be great xx
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter
Slow cooker meals are my favorite! Love this bbq chicken, it looks so flavorful especially with the homemade bbq sauce! I can't wait to try this!
Mayuri Patel
Dannii, I am a vegetarian so it wouldn't be fair to comment on the chicken preparation. However, your home made bbq sauce sounds really good. Going to try the recipe and will pass it on to my son too as he bbqs a lot in summer.
Dash | Mode Lily
oh, that looks eally yummy! Me and my man really love bbq auces, I'm going to save it for later. Now I'm going to check out your quick recipes, they must be very hand during a week!
Dash xx
shobha
I have never tried my hand at slow cooking (using the slow cooker)
The chicken served on the rice bed looks so inviting :)
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
Ooh your healthy BBQ sauce sounds lovely, will have to try it on a veggie dish!
Emily
I wish this was my dinner tonight. I love bbq sauce, I am going to try making my own as it looks simple enough. I hope it tastes the same.
mummy m's memories
We love slow cooked pulled pork in this house. Never thought of trying it with chicken. Sounds delicious, and just as easy.
Beckie
That looks so nice, and with it being so healthy as well that's great! x
lisa prince
oh yes this sounds just like something im enjoying at the moment, as in the sense of food types, x
Caroline Web
I don't eat meat, but I am going to make the BBQ sauce to go on some veggie burgers this weekend. Call us crazy, but we are having a BBQ. We have a big cover to go over us all, so rain, wind or shine, we will be out there.