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    Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Chicken

    Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

    Published: Oct 19, 2018 · Modified: Sep 27, 2022 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links · 74 Comments

    695 shares
    • 148
    • 18
    Diet: Gluten Free / Low Fat
    Jump to Recipe
    A plate of slow cooked BBQ chicken and rice with a text title overlay.

    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.

    A plate of shredded BBQ Chicken and rice next to a striped towel.

    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?

    Jump to:
    • Why you will love it
    • Ingredients needed
    • How to make BBQ shredded chicken - Step by step
    • Is this healthy?
    • What to serve with slow cooker BBQ chicken
    • FAQs
    • Extra tips
    • More slow cooker chicken recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    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.

    Four raw chicken breasts in a slow cooker pot.

    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.

    BBQ sauce added to the slow cooker pot.

    Three: Using two forks, shred the chicken and mix it all together.

    Shredded BBQ chicken in a slow cooker pot.

    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.

    A jar of bbq sauce in front of a plate of chicken wings.

    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.

    Shredded barbecue chicken with herb rice.

    FAQs

    How much pulled chicken per person?

    This recipe makes four portions - which is about 150-200g (5-7oz) per person.

    How to store slow cooker BBQ chicken

    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.

    How to use leftovers

    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.

    heart icon

    Extra 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.

    More slow cooker chicken recipes

    • Slow cooker teriyaki chicken on a bed of rice topped with chopped spring onions.
      Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
    • Slow cooker salsa chicken in a round bowl.
      Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole in a round blue bowl
      Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole
    • Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken on a bed of spaghetti next to some salad leaves.
      Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken

    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 and rice on a blue plate.

    Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

    By: Dannii Martin
    Just 2 ingredients go in to making this Slow Cooked BBQ Chicken. It really is that simple, but it is too good not to share.
    A circular logo saying GF.
    Gluten Free
    the words low fat in a white circle.
    Low Fat
    4.84 from 30 votes
    Pin Print Save recipe Recipe saved!
    Course: Lunch, Main Course
    Cuisine: American, British
    Prep: 5 minutes mins
    Cook: 4 hours hrs
    Total: 4 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 281kcal
    Allergens:
    An illustration of a cow's head.
    Meat
    An illustration of a wine glass.
    Sulphites
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 318mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 250IU | Vitamin C: 5.8mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.4mg

    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.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Natalie

      October 19, 2018 at 5:11 pm

      5 stars
      That sauce looks absolutely delicious. I love that is healthier than store-bought. This is definitely dinner for me and my family. I love everything easy lately.

      Reply
    2. Shivani Raja

      October 19, 2018 at 5:03 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! Your blue plate is absolutely gorgeous - wherever did you find such a beautiful plate?

      Reply
    3. Caroline

      October 19, 2018 at 3:29 pm

      5 stars
      Looks so comforting, and love how easy it is. I agree I find store bought sauce too sweet so a healthier homamade version is always my preference.

      Reply
    4. Lisa | Garlic & Zest

      October 19, 2018 at 2:21 pm

      5 stars
      This is the time of year when I love to break out the crockpot and this barbecued chicken sounds like a great meal for our game day spread on Sunday. The family will love this!

      Reply
    5. Jen

      October 19, 2018 at 2:07 pm

      5 stars
      Super easy recipe- I can handle this. Perfect for a busy week.

      Reply
    6. Lauren Vavala @ DeliciousLittleBites

      October 19, 2018 at 1:41 pm

      5 stars
      I love the idea of using this slow cooked bbq chicken in tacos and burritos! I haven't broken out my slow cooker yet, but it's definitely time!

      Reply
    7. Kelly Anthony

      October 19, 2018 at 1:38 pm

      5 stars
      I also agree that store bought BBQ sauce is too sweet and not spicy enough. This is the perfect weeknight meal for a family!

      Reply
    8. kim

      October 19, 2018 at 1:05 pm

      5 stars
      What a wonderful dinner idea! Love that this is made so easily in the slow cooker! Can't wait to give it a try!

      Reply
    9. Claudia Lamascolo

      October 19, 2018 at 12:38 pm

      5 stars
      we love chicken barbecued on the grill so I know they will love this easier way to serve it looks great and easy

      Reply
    10. Annissa

      October 19, 2018 at 12:12 pm

      5 stars
      Love how this is easy to make and it looks so tasty! Awesome shots!

      Reply
    11. Adrianne

      October 19, 2018 at 11:15 am

      5 stars
      I agree about the store bought sauce and high level of sugar! The recipe looks like it has great flavour, will try it this weekend!

      Reply
    12. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

      October 19, 2018 at 10:20 am

      5 stars
      I love that you only need two ingredients for this and you can leave it to cook away in the slow cooker. BBQ chicken is one of our favourite family dinners so I might have to give this a try.

      Reply
    13. Jo of Jo's Kitchen

      April 07, 2015 at 9:56 am

      Yummy! I must try this!

      Reply
    14. Lucy @ BakingQueen74

      April 02, 2015 at 7:47 pm

      This sounds lovely, as a big fan of the slow cooker too I will be trying this very soon. Nice to find a healthy bbq sauce recipe too!

      Reply
    15. Jenny

      April 02, 2015 at 2:51 pm

      This looks amazing! I love your blog and the journey you've been through! It's truly inspiring. I'm getting into cooking and I think it's incredible how you lived off takeaways, microwave and oven cooked foods before becoming the incredible cook you are. :)

      Reply
    16. Anita-Clare Field

      April 02, 2015 at 12:41 pm

      Huzzah for a savoury recipe, Anything with the words, slow cooked and BBQ in it has my vote. It looks delicious !

      Reply
    17. Sally - My Custard Pie

      April 02, 2015 at 12:34 pm

      I love my slow cooker too. Haven't done anything BBQ style though so inspired.

      Reply
    18. Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours

      April 02, 2015 at 12:28 pm

      I nearly always fry off and do some pre cooking with the slow cooked. Love the chuck it all in approach.

      Reply
    19. Tammy

      April 02, 2015 at 4:58 am

      Let's hear it for that homemade bbq sauce! Yes, I totally agree that should go on everything :D

      This looks really good ^_^

      Reply
    20. mira

      April 02, 2015 at 4:15 am

      I can only imagine how great it tastes! So easy to make and looks delicious!

      Reply
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    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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