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Easy Crockpot BBQ Chicken (Pulled Chicken) Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.2 from 11 reviews
  • Author: Evelyn
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 hours
  • Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Slow Cooking
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This Easy Crockpot BBQ Chicken recipe delivers tender, flavorful pulled chicken with minimal effort. Combining classic BBQ sauce, Italian dressing, and a touch of sweetness from brown sugar, this dish is perfect for sandwiches, salads, tacos, or straight off the slow cooker. Ideal for busy days, it uses simple pantry ingredients and slow cooking to bring out rich smoky-sweet flavors in juicy chicken breasts.

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, fat trimmed off

BBQ Sauce Mixture

  • 1 1/4 cup barbecue sauce (such as Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey BBQ)
  • 1/2 cup fat-free Italian dressing
  • 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar (optional: reduce to 1/8 cup or omit for less sweetness)
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the crockpot: Liberally spray the inside of a large crockpot or slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray, or use a disposable liner for easy cleanup.
  2. Season the chicken: Season the trimmed boneless, skinless chicken breasts evenly with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Place them at the bottom of the crockpot.
  3. Mix the sauce: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together barbecue sauce, Italian dressing, light brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce until fully combined.
  4. Combine and cook: Pour the BBQ sauce mixture evenly over the chicken breasts. Cover with the crockpot lid and cook on high for 2.5 to 3 hours or on low for 5 to 6 hours, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
  5. Check doneness: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat.
  6. Shred the chicken: Once cooked, shred the chicken using two forks directly in the crockpot so it absorbs the cooking juices and sauce for maximum flavor.
  7. Serve: Serve the pulled BBQ chicken on buns for sandwiches or use as a topping for pizza, salads, tacos, nachos, over rice, or enjoy as is.

Notes

  • Using a disposable crockpot liner makes cleanup easier and faster.
  • Adjust the amount of brown sugar according to your preferred sweetness level, or omit for a less sweet dish.
  • Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F to guarantee it is safely cooked.
  • Leftover pulled chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3-4 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
  • This recipe works well with chicken thighs as a more flavorful alternative to breasts.

Find it online: https://evelynscooking.com/easy-crockpot-bbq-chicken-pulled-chicken-recipe/