Easy Crock Pot BBQ Chicken needs just four ingredients and is super easy! Let the slow cooker do all the work to turn ordinary chicken into flavorful, tender meat that can be used in so many dishes.
My Crock Pot BBQ Chicken is the recipe you didn’t know you were missing! It takes all the beloved flavors of barbecue sauce and infuses them into juicy chicken cooked long and slow in the crock pot. Then you shred it up and use it to make sandwiches, sliders, tacos, nachos, and pretty much anything else you can think of!
Crock Pot BBQ Chicken Recipe
Crock Pot BBQ Chicken is the easiest 4-ingredient slow cooker chicken meal you can make!
(I’ve even added it to this menu plan with a full week of 5-ingredient or less dinners!)
All you need for this easy crockpot chicken recipe is chicken breasts, diced onions, chicken broth, and a bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce. It’s really as easy as adding all the ingredients to the crockpot and turning it on! Barbecue chicken couldn’t be any easier!
Over the years, I’ve shared some of my favorite crockpot meals and they never disappoint! Taco Soup, Crock Pot Pulled Pork, and Slow Cooker Mississippi Roast are at the top my list of must-makes – and I’ve now added this amazing crock pot BBQ chicken recipe!
I love having a slow cooker recipe during the week because it allows me to make the perfect meal and cut down on my actual cooking time, too. It really is a delicious meal with minimal prep required.
If you’re like me, you need a few recipes in your back pocket that are
- Quick
- Affordable
- Never fail
This easy chicken recipe is just what you need! Whip this baby out when you need a weeknight meal on a busy day of school, work, and activities, on the weekends when you’re just not in the mood to wash another dish, and for an easy picnic food idea for a crowd (tip: it travels well!).
Add this BBQ Pulled Chicken to a bun, on tacos or nachos, on a salad or a wrap – it pretty much works wherever you need it to! It’s one of my favorite recipes for a reason!
This is my favorite way to cook up boneless skinless chicken breasts and literally makes the best recipe, ever! Pair this with a baked potato, or mix in some red pepper flakes for some added spice and heat.
For more great chicken recipes try my Grilled BBQ Chicken, Baked Chicken Parmesan, Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs , or Air Fryer Chicken Breasts!
Grab My Favorite Tools
Click on the products below to see my favorite tools for making this recipe!
Ingredients for Crock Pot BBQ Chicken
See recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Chicken – Boneless chicken breasts are a favorite in this recipe but chicken thighs work too. I love a mixture of both!
- Onion – Dice up one onion for extra flavor.
- Chicken Broth – Helps to moisten the meat and add flavor. If you’re a little adventurous, use beer in place of the chicken broth!
- Barbecue Sauce – Use your favorite brand of barbecue sauce. I like Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce, but you can use whatever you like best!
Variations
- I like to add in a teaspoon of garlic powder, salt, and pepper for a little extra flavor – though not necessary!
- Be sure to use a barbeque sauce that you really like since you’ll be able to taste it so well in this recipe. The same goes for beer – if you add it, use your favorite beer flavor.
- If you want a true southern BBQ sandwich, top this with coleslaw. You can buy premade at the store OR grab a bag of slaw mix in the salad section and top with Marzetti’s Cole Slaw Dressing. It’s THE BEST!
- You can always add in your own homemade BBQ sauce, some cayenne pepper, or even some chipotle chili powder for a smokey flavor and taste. It really is the perfect dish to treat your taste buds.
How to Make Crock Pot BBQ Chicken
- Combine the sauce ingredients: Add diced onions, barbeque sauce, and chicken broth to a bowl and mix well.
- Place the chicken in the slow cooker: Add the chicken breasts to a slow cooker and top with the bbq sauce mixture.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Shred the chicken: When ready to eat, shred the chicken using two forks.
- Add more sauce if you wish: Add more barbeque sauce as needed.
- Serve: Serve the chicken on hamburger buns with top with coleslaw.
Quick Tip
Once your chicken is cooked and shredded, the chicken will soak up a lot of the juices. Add more BBQ sauce and/or chicken broth to moisten it before serving.
How to Store
Crockpot BBQ is wonderful leftover the next day to eat on a hamburger bun, over mashed potatoes, or by itself! Here’s how to store leftovers:
- Fridge – Place leftover, cooled chicken in an airtight container or sealable bag in the fridge. You can keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer – Place cooled chicken in a Ziploc bag and remove the air. Lay flat in the freezer to freeze. Place in the freezer and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight.
- To Reheat – Place chicken in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave until hot. You may need to add some more barbeque sauce or chicken broth to moisten it as you heat it up.
What Can I Do with Leftover BBQ Chicken?
There are so many ways that you can use this tender chicken to make new recipes. Grab some dinner rolls or hamburger buns and make up some chicken sandwiches for the next day’s meals! You can make BBQ chicken nachos or add the chicken to the top of sweet potatoes for a tasty dish. You’ll be making this recipe for a long time and loving it!
Quick Tip
Cook your chicken on low and slow for the moistest chicken. If you’re in a crunch for time, high heat works just fine, too!
Serving Suggestions
Here are some of the best side dishes to serve with Crock Pot Chicken:
FAQs
According to the USDA it is perfetly safe to put raw chicken in a crock pot to cook.
The best way to keep BBQ sauce from burning is to mix it with another liquid like broth or water (in this recipe, chicken broth!).
Cook chicken in a slow cooker until it is cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh (not touching bone) reads 160°F, around 2 1/2 to 3 hours.
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Crock Pot BBQ Chicken
Equipment
- slow cooker
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cups barbecue sauce, divided
- ½ cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Add diced onions, 1 cup barbeque sauce and chicken broth to a bowl and mix well (you can add garlic powder, salt and pepper if desired).
- Add chicken breasts to a slow cooker and top with the bbq sauce mixture.
- Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- When ready to eat, shred the chicken using two forks.
- Add more barbeque sauce as needed.
- Serve on hamburger buns and top with coleslaw.
Notes
- I like to add in a teaspoon of garlic powder, salt, and pepper for a little extra flavor – though not necessary!
- Once your chicken is cooked and shredded, the chicken will soak up a lot of the juices. Add more BBQ sauce and/or chicken broth to moisten it before serving.
- Cook your chicken on low and slow for the moistest chicken. BUT if you’re in a crunch for time, high works just fine, too!
- Be sure to use a barbeque sauce that you really like since you’ll be able to taste it so well in this recipe. The same goes for beer – if you add it, use your favorite beer flavor.
- If you want a true southern BBQ sandwich, top this with coleslaw. You can buy premade at the store OR grab a bag of slaw mix in the salad section and top with Marzetti’s Cole Slaw Dressing. It’s THE BEST!
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To Freeze: Add to a Ziploc bag and remove the air. Lay flat in the freezer to freeze.
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To Serve: When ready to serve, remove the Ziploc bag from the freezer and allow to thaw on the counter. Just heat in the microwave or on the stove when ready to eat.
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Leftovers: Cover any leftovers tightly and return promptly to the fridge.
Pin this recipe for later!
So so good!! I’m making it again for the second time cause it’s that good!