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 Cooked BBQ Chicken
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.
Notes
- 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.
Leslie
I doubt I would have any left to freeze. This is a recipe my family would quickly devour!
Katherine Hackworthy
Such an easy and tasty meal to make. The barbecue sauce sounds delicious, and so versatile. Always full of flavour and great to add to so many meals.
Vicky
Wow, could this be any easier. I am so busy and I love crock pot meals because they require very little prep. This would also be great in a sandwich.
Cindy @ The Sweet Nerd
I love that this is only 2 ingredients. And it's healthy! Why do most slow cooker cookbooks have a ton of unhealthy recipes? Going to check out your book now...
Stephanie
This does sound super easy to make and I love that you used homemade BBQ sauce. Will check out the recipe since I don't like the overly sweet store bought brands either.
Jenni LeBaron
I love shredded bbq chicken! Slow cookers make life so easy because you can throw it all in and have an easy and delicious dinner with so little effort!
kim
What a fabulous meal idea! I'm always looking for a healthier bbq sauce and I can't wait to try your version!
Jacqueline Debono
This bbq chicken looks and sounds great. I love the idea of using homemade sauce and shredding the chicken to use in tacos or in a bun with slaw!
Claudia Lamascolo
this is a recipe everyone here would love to have on game day we all love barbecue in Florida its a big big part of the menu!
Danielle Wolter
This is such a great idea! It would be perfect for weekday lunches - love this!
Mary Bostow
Oh God, what a tasty looking this Slow Cooked BBQ Chicken! I am in love with the colors and how simple and short the ingredient list is.Yum!
Shaun - trying out healthy eating!
Honestly, this REALLY appeals to me. I'm so much a simple recipe person. Can't be doing with "must ensure a hundred different colours" and recipes with a million different ingredients. I'm trying to keep it super healthy, and trying to expand my recipe repertoire, but simple always works for me.. I love this recipe, and yes it is just so simple isnt it.
Thanks
Shaun
Sonia
I love making sauces at home and your sounds simply delicious!! Can't wait to give it a try!!