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Crockpot BBQ Chicken

ByMelissa Jo Posted on Updated on
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A hand holds a barbecue pulled pork sandwich topped with pickle slices in a hot dog bun, with another similar sandwich on a plate in a kitchen setting.

There are some recipes that I keep coming back to because they’re just so easy, and this Crockpot BBQ Chicken is definitely one of them. It’s one of those meals you can throw together in just a few minutes, let the slow cooker do all the work, and end up with tender, juicy chicken that’s packed with sweet and smoky barbecue flavor. I love serving it on toasted brioche buns with my Best Potato Salad, a side of Honey Butter Cornbread, or Cowboy Caviar for the perfect backyard barbecue meal. It’s also delicious piled onto baked potatoes, nachos, wraps, or even over creamy mac and cheese.

If you’ve made my Crockpot Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches before, you’re going to love this recipe too. It has that same easy, toss-it-in-the-crockpot convenience, but with a classic sweet and smoky barbecue flavor everyone loves. We made a few little changes to make it even better, like brushing each chicken breast with mustard before it goes into the slow cooker and adding a little extra brown sugar for the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. Before you get started, read through the recipe because I’ve sprinkled some of my favorite little tips throughout to help you get the best results every single time.

Thinly sliced red onions spread at the bottom of a black slow cooker, ready for cooking. A kitchen counter with a plant and drawers is visible in the background.
Start with a layer of onions for extra flavor!
Raw chicken breasts placed on a bed of sliced red onions inside a black slow cooker, ready for cooking.
Right on top they go!
A hand holds a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning over a slow cooker containing raw chicken breasts and sliced red onions. A bouquet of flowers is visible in the background.
My little secret ingredient. Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning!
A hand squeezes yellow mustard onto raw chicken breasts topped with a powdered seasoning and sliced red onions inside a black slow cooker.
Trust me on this one… you won’t taste the mustard, but it makes a difference!
A hand sprinkles red paprika from a small white bowl over raw chicken breasts in a slow cooker. The chicken is topped with sliced red onions, mustard, and a dusting of white seasoning.
Raw chicken and sliced red onions in a slow cooker are topped with various spices and seasonings, while more seasoning is being sprinkled in from above.
A hand holds a jar of Spice World chopped garlic above a slow cooker filled with raw chicken, red onions, and assorted spices. A bouquet of red flowers is visible in the background.
A woman in a red top smiles while holding a large bottle of Sweet Baby Rays Barbecue Sauce in a bright kitchen. She is leaning over a counter near a vase of flowers.
SWEET BABY RAYS!!
A hand pours a thick red sauce from a measuring cup into a slow cooker filled with raw chicken and sliced onions on a kitchen counter.
Pour it right over the top and let the magic begin!
A hand holds a bottle of White House apple cider vinegar above a slow cooker filled with barbecue sauce, onions, and other ingredients. A vase of colorful flowers sits in the background on a kitchen counter.
Close-up of a thick red sauce, possibly barbecue or tomato-based, in a black pot, topped with several small, rectangular slices of butter.
A person with dark nail polish uses two forks to lift saucy shredded barbecue chicken from a black slow cooker in a kitchen setting.
Fork tender and smelling amazing!
A hand with dark purple nails lifts a serving of saucy shredded barbecue chicken from a slow cooker; a bouquet of flowers and a kitchen counter are visible in the background.
Three hot dog buns filled with shredded barbecue chicken sit on a white plate. The buns are lined up side by side, and the shredded chicken is coated in a rich, red barbecue sauce.
Sweet, smoky, juicy, and ready to pile high on a bun!
Three hot dog buns filled with shredded barbecue chicken and topped with sliced pickles are arranged on a white plate. A checkered tray and slow cooker are visible in the background.
Go ahead… make it extra messy. That’s the best kind!

Melissa’s Tips

Don’t skip the mustard. It might sound a little strange, but it adds just the right amount of tang without tasting like mustard.

Shred it while it’s hot. The chicken practically falls apart when it’s nice and warm, making this step so much easier.

Let it soak. After shredding, stir the chicken back into the sauce and let it cook for another 20 to 30 minutes. It soaks up all that sweet and smoky flavor.

Use your favorite BBQ sauce. Every sauce has its own personality, so use one your family already loves. This recipe is easy to make your own.

Toast your buns! If you’re making sandwiches, don’t skip this step. A lightly toasted bun adds the perfect little crunch and holds up so much better to all that saucy BBQ chicken.

I especially love the “Pile it high… don’t be shy!” caption. That feels so Melissa and would be adorable on the sandwich photo.

🤔 Common Questions

Can I use chicken thighs?

Absolutely! Boneless skinless chicken thighs work great and stay extra juicy.

Can I freeze BBQ chicken?

Yes! Let it cool completely, then freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

Can I make it ahead?

Definitely. It actually tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had time to come together.

Three hot dog buns filled with shredded barbecue chicken and topped with sliced pickles are arranged on a white plate. A checkered tray and slow cooker are visible in the background.

Crockpot BBQ Chicken

This Crockpot BBQ Chicken is one of those easy family dinners you'll find yourself making again and again. Tender shredded chicken cooks low and slow in a sweet, smoky barbecue sauce with a few simple upgrades that make all the difference. Perfect for sandwiches, sliders, baked potatoes, nachos, wraps, salads, and so much more!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 8 people

Ingredients
  

  • 4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1¾ cups BBQ sauce
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • ½ medium red onion thinly sliced
  • ½ teaspoon yellow mustard for each chicken breast
  • 1 packet ranch seasoning
  • 3 tbsp butter cut into pats and lay on top of the chicken right before you turn that crockpot on

Instructions
 

Step 1

  • Place the sliced red onions in the bottom of your crockpot. Lay the chicken breasts on top of the onions.
  • Brush about ½ teaspoon of yellow mustard over each chicken breast.
  • Sprinkle the ranch seasoning packet evenly over the chicken, followed by the smoked paprika, brown sugar, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper (if using), and minced garlic.

Step 2

  • Pour the BBQ sauce evenly over the chicken. Slice the butter into pats and place them over the top.

Step 3

  • Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours or HIGH for 2½ to 3 hours, until the chicken is tender and easily shreds with two forks.

Step 4

  • Remove the chicken and shred it. Return it to the crockpot and stir everything together until the chicken is coated in all that delicious sauce.
  • Cover and cook for another 20 to 30 minutes so the chicken can soak up all the flavor before serving.
Keyword bbq, bbq chicken, crockpot
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

🗒 More Delicious Recipes

👝 How to Store Leftovers

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop with an extra splash of BBQ sauce if needed.


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