The Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken (Easy Pulled Chicken)

The smell of savory barbecue wafting through the house creates an inviting atmosphere, perfect for family gatherings or cozy weeknight dinners. This recipe for The Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken (Easy Pulled Chicken) offers tender, flavorful pulled chicken with minimal effort, cooking to perfection in about 3 hours. The secret lies in the combination of barbecue sauce and Italian dressing, which melds beautifully with the chicken, ensuring every bite is delicious.

This recipe is ideal for busy weeknights or meal prep Sundays. It’s great for feeding a crowd or simply enjoying leftovers throughout the week. You can store any extras in the fridge for a quick meal later.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• The chicken becomes incredibly tender and can be shredded easily.
• It requires just 10 minutes of prep time for a hassle-free cooking experience.
• The combination of sauces brings a unique and delicious flavor.
• This dish is incredibly versatile, perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or salads.

What You’ll Need

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this delicious pulled chicken.

For the Chicken

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

For the Sauce

• 1 1/4 cup barbecue sauce (We love sweet Baby Ray’s Honey BBQ)
• 1/2 cup Italian dressing (I use this fat-free one)
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar (can reduce to 1/8 cup or omit if you prefer it less sweet)

For Seasoning

• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Use low-sugar barbecue sauce for a healthier option.

Substitutions & Swaps

• Use chicken thighs instead of breasts.
• Swap brown sugar for honey or maple syrup.
• Substitute balsamic dressing for Italian dressing.
• Omit sugar for less sweetness.

How to Make It

Follow these simple steps to prepare your BBQ chicken.

Spray the Crockpot

Liberally spray the inside of a large crockpot or slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray, or for less mess, use a disposable liner.

Season the Chicken

Season your trimmed boneless, skinless chicken breasts with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder, and place them in the bottom of your crockpot.

Combine the Sauce

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add barbecue sauce, Italian dressing, light brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Whisk until combined.

Pour the Sauce

Pour the mixture evenly over the chicken breasts, place the lid on the crockpot, and cook on high for 2.5-3 hours or low for 5-6 hours. Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to 165 degrees internal temperature.

Shred the Chicken

Once fully cooked, you can either serve the chicken whole or use two forks to shred it right in the crockpot to soak up all the extra chicken marinade and BBQ sauce.

Serve

Serve on buns for delicious BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches or enjoy on pizza, salad, tacos, nachos, over rice, or by itself.

How to Store It

Fridge: Store for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
Freezer: Yes, it freezes well for up to 3 months.
Reheat: Microwave on medium for 2-3 minutes or until heated through.

Tips for Best Results

• Make sure chicken is trimmed of excess fat for better flavor and texture.
• Adjust sugar based on your taste preference for sweetness.
• For an extra kick, add some cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix.
• Always use a meat thermometer for perfectly cooked chicken.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve with coleslaw and potato salad for a classic BBQ meal.
• Top on nachos for a creative twist.
• Pair with corn on the cob for a sweet summer feast.