There’s nothing quite like the comfort of BBQ pulled chicken — especially when your slow cooker does all the heavy lifting. This Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken with BBQ Sauce is the kind of recipe every busy home cook needs: minimal prep, big flavor, and crowd-pleasing results. Whether you’re feeding the family on a weeknight, planning a casual weekend gathering, or stocking the fridge with leftovers for easy lunches, this tender, saucy chicken is always a hit. Just toss everything into the slow cooker and let the magic happen!
What You’ll Need
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts
- 2 ¼ cup favorite barbeque Sauce
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp chipotle chili powder
- ¼ tsp ground white pepper
Equipment I Used
- Slow Cooker
How to Make It
Add the Chicken
Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker. No need to cut them — they’ll shred beautifully once cooked.
Make the Sauce
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chipotle chili powder, and white pepper. Whisk everything together until smooth and well blended.
Coat the Chicken
Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker. Use a spoon or spatula to ensure the chicken is fully coated.
Cook Low and Slow
Cover the slow cooker with the lid.
- Cook on LOW for 6–7 hours
- Or HIGH for 3–4 hours
The chicken is ready when it’s fork-tender and easy to shred.
Shred the Chicken
Use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker. Once shredded, stir it around to soak up all that rich BBQ sauce.
Serve and Enjoy
Serve the pulled chicken on buttered, toasted buns, or enjoy it on its own with a side of coleslaw, roasted potatoes, or even over rice. It’s just as delicious reheated the next day!
Make Ahead Tips
This slow cooker pulled chicken is perfect for meal prep! You can make it up to 3 days in advance and store it in the fridge. It actually tastes even better the next day as the flavors deepen. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of water or extra BBQ sauce to keep it moist.
Storage and Reheating Tips
- Refrigerator: Store cooled pulled chicken in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Pulled chicken freezes beautifully! Let it cool completely, then transfer to freezer-safe containers or bags. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating:
Reheat in a saucepan over low heat or in the microwave. If the sauce thickens too much, just add a splash of water or extra BBQ sauce to loosen it up.
Whether you’re feeding a crowd, planning ahead for busy weeknights, or just craving something saucy and satisfying, this Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken with BBQ Sauce is a recipe you’ll come back to again and again. It’s simple, flavorful, and incredibly versatile — just the way comfort food should be.
Tried this recipe? Don’t forget to leave a comment and rating below — I’d love to hear how it turned out! And if you’re sharing on social media, tag me so I can see your delicious creations. Happy cooking! 🍗✨
Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken with BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts
- 2 ¼ cup favorite barbeque Sauce
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp chipotle chili powder
- ¼ tsp ground white pepper
Directions
- Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Turn the heat to low.
- In a separate bowl, combine Barbecue Sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chipotle chili powder, and ground white pepper. Use a whisk to stir and combine.
- Pour the barbecue sauce mixture into the slow cooker with the chicken breasts. Use a spoon to stir and coat all the chicken with the barbecue sauce mixture.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours, or high for 3 to 4 hours.
- When the chicken is tender and pulls apart easily with a fork, it is ready to be shredded.
- Shred chicken while still in the slow cooker. Mix the chicken and barbecue sauce together until well coated.
- Serve on buttered and toasted hamburger buns or as is with a side of coleslaw and potatoes.
LITTLE MESSY KITCHEN 
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