Cooking juicy, flavorful BBQ chicken in a crock pot is easy and convenient. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can make delicious slow-cooked BBQ chicken for sandwiches, salads, or just eating on its own.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Steps to Follow
Prepare the Chicken
Rinse the chicken and pat it dry with paper towels. Trim off any excess fat. Place the chicken in the slow cooker.
Make the BBQ Sauce
In a small bowl, stir together the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Pour the sauce over the chicken in the slow cooker and turn to coat.
Cook the Chicken
Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, until the chicken is very tender and pulls apart easily with a fork.
Shred and Serve
Once cooked, use two forks to shred the chicken right in the crockpot. Mix the shredded chicken with the BBQ sauce in the cooker.
Serve the BBQ chicken on buns for sandwiches, over salad, or on its own. Enjoy!
Tips for Best Results
- Choose boneless, skinless chicken thighs for extra juicy and tender BBQ chicken. The fat content keeps it from drying out.
- Look for a barbecue sauce you love – a thicker, syrupy sauce works best.
- Add extra spices to the sauce like chili powder, cayenne, or chipotle powder for a kick.
- Cook on low for longer rather than high for maximum tenderness.
- Let the chicken rest in the sauce for 10 mins before serving to absorb more flavor.
- Top BBQ chicken sandwiches with pickles, slaw, and onion for crunch.
Common Questions About Crock Pot BBQ Chicken
What kind of barbecue sauce works best?
Thicker, sticky barbecue sauces better cling to the chicken during slow cooking. Sweet tomato-based sauces are classic. Try different regional styles like Kansas City or Memphis.
Can I use frozen chicken?
Yes, frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs can go straight into the slow cooker, no thawing needed. Just add an extra hour of cook time.
How can I stop the sauce from burning?
If your slow cooker runs hot, place a foil liner over the bottom before adding sauce to prevent scorching and burning. Stirring halfway through may also help.
What sides go well with crockpot BBQ chicken?
Try easy sides like baked beans, coleslaw, cornbread, mac and cheese or potato salad. You can even cook sides in the crockpot too.
Can I prep this meal in advance?
Absolutely! Assemble the chicken and sauce in a freezer bag up to 2 days before. Defrost overnight in the fridge before cooking. The sauce also stores well for up to 5 days.
Final Tips for Delicious Crock Pot BBQ Chicken
Cooking up fork-tender BBQ chicken is so easy with a few simple tricks. Use bone-in chicken for richer flavor, play with different sauce flavors, and let it slow cook to falling-off-the-bone perfection. Leftovers make great sandwiches and salads all week long too. Now get ready to enjoy the easiest homemade BBQ chicken ever thanks to your crockpot!