Why Make This Recipe
Crockpot BBQ chicken is a perfect dish for any meal. It’s easy to make, flavorful, and great for feeding a crowd. Plus, it requires minimal effort. Toss everything in the crockpot, and let it do the cooking for you. You’ll have delicious pulled chicken ready to enjoy!
How to Make The Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, with fat trimmed off
- 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)
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Directions:
- First, liberally spray the inside of a large crockpot or slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. For less mess, you can use one of those awesome disposable liners.
- Season your trimmed boneless, skinless chicken breasts with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Place them in the bottom of your crockpot.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, Italian dressing, light brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Whisk until well mixed.
- Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken breasts. Place the lid on the crockpot.
- Cook on high for 2.5-3 hours or low for 5-6 hours. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Once the chicken is cooked, you can serve it whole or use two forks to shred it right in the crockpot. This allows the chicken to soak up all the extra sauce.
- Serve on buns for tasty BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches or use it on pizza, salad, tacos, nachos, over rice, or by itself. Enjoy!
How to Serve The Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken
You can serve this pulled chicken on burger buns for delicious sandwiches. It also works great over rice, as a topping for nachos, or even inside tacos. Get creative and add your favorite sides to make a complete meal!
How to Store The Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Store leftover BBQ chicken in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay good for about 3 to 4 days. If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Just thaw it in the fridge before reheating.
Tips to Make The Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken
- Adjust the sweetness: You can tweak the brown sugar amount to your liking. You can reduce it or even leave it out if you prefer a less sweet dish.
- Experiment with different BBQ sauces: Try different flavors or brands of barbecue sauce to find your favorite.
- Don’t skip the seasoning: Adding salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder enhances the chicken’s flavor. Be generous!
Variation
For a spicy kick, add some hot sauce or cayenne pepper to the sauce mix. You can also substitute the chicken with turkey breast or even use a mix of chicken and pork for a unique flavor.
FAQs
Can I use frozen chicken?
Yes, you can use frozen chicken breasts. Just make sure to increase your cooking time by a bit.
Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely! Just ensure your crockpot is large enough to hold all the ingredients. Cooking time may need to be adjusted slightly.
Can I add vegetables?
Yes, you can add chopped vegetables like bell peppers or onions to cook with the chicken. Just make sure they are cut into smaller pieces for even cooking.
Enjoy your cooking, and have fun with this easy crockpot BBQ chicken recipe!
Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
- 1 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar optional
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Spray the inside of a crockpot with non-stick cooking spray.
- Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder, then place them in the bottom of the crockpot.
- In a bowl, combine barbecue sauce, Italian dressing, light brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Whisk until mixed.
- Pour sauce mixture over the chicken breasts and cover with the lid.
- Cook on high for 150-180 minutes or low for 300-360 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Shred the chicken in the crockpot if desired and serve.
