BBQ Pulled Chicken (Printable)

Slow-cooked chicken breast shredded and coated in tangy barbecue sauce, perfect for sandwiches or as a main dish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 3.3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

→ Sauce & Seasoning

02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 ½ cups barbecue sauce
05 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
06 - 1 tbsp brown sugar
07 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
08 - ½ tsp ground black pepper
09 - ½ tsp salt
10 - ½ tsp chili powder

# How To Make It:

01 - Arrange chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker, ensuring even distribution for consistent cooking.
02 - Scatter chopped onion and minced garlic evenly over the chicken pieces.
03 - Whisk together barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, smoked paprika, black pepper, salt, and chili powder until thoroughly combined.
04 - Pour the prepared sauce mixture over the chicken and onions, ensuring all pieces are well coated.
05 - Cover and cook on low heat for 4-5 hours until chicken is fork-tender and easily shreds.
06 - Transfer cooked chicken to a cutting board and shred using two forks, pulling apart along the natural grain.
07 - Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker, stir thoroughly to coat with sauce, and heat through for 10-15 minutes.
08 - Serve hot as a main dish or piled onto sandwich buns with preferred toppings.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The slow cooker does practically all the work, leaving you free for hours while it transforms into something incredible
  • Leftovers somehow taste even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep
02 -
  • Resist the urge to lift the lid during cooking every time you check, you release heat and add thirty minutes to the total time
  • The chicken is done when it practically falls apart when you touch it with a fork, not when the timer beeps
03 -
  • A few drops of liquid smoke transform good pulled chicken into great pulled chicken
  • Let the meat rest in the sauce for at least fifteen minutes after shredding it absorbs so much more flavor that way
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