Description
This Crockpot BBQ Chicken recipe delivers tender, flavorful shredded chicken slow-cooked in a tangy and sweet homemade BBQ sauce. Perfect for busy days, this easy slow cooker meal combines simple pantry ingredients with minimal prep, resulting in juicy chicken that’s great for sandwiches, rice bowls, or as a hearty main dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
BBQ Sauce Mixture
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Crockpot: Place the chicken breasts into the bottom of the crockpot, creating an even layer to ensure uniform cooking.
- Mix the Sauce: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the BBQ sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper.
- Combine Sauce Ingredients: Stir the ingredients together until fully combined and smooth, ensuring the flavor is evenly distributed.
- Pour Sauce Over Chicken: Evenly pour the sauce mixture over the chicken breasts in the crockpot, coating them thoroughly.
- Coat the Chicken: Use a spoon to make sure the chicken is well coated with the sauce mixture for maximum flavor infusion.
- Cover the Crockpot: Place the lid securely on the crockpot to retain heat and moisture while cooking.
- Cook the Chicken: Set the crockpot to cook on low for 6 to 7 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours, allowing the chicken to become tender and infused with the sauce.
- Check for Doneness: After the cooking time, ensure the chicken is fully cooked and tender by checking its texture and internal temperature (at least 165°F / 74°C).
- Shred the Chicken: Using two forks, shred the chicken directly in the crockpot to absorb the sauce fully.
- Mix Shredded Chicken with Sauce: Stir the shredded chicken to coat it thoroughly in the BBQ sauce, blending the flavors together.
- Serve and Enjoy: Serve the BBQ chicken on buns, over rice, or with your favorite side dish for a delicious meal.
Notes
- For extra smoky flavor, add a few drops of liquid smoke to the sauce mixture.
- Use chicken thighs instead of breasts for juicier meat if preferred.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Adjust the amount of honey or BBQ sauce to taste for preferred sweetness or tanginess.
- Serve with coleslaw, pickles, or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
