Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken
Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken is packed with flavor and a guaranteed family favorite! Chicken thighs simmer in a homemade BBQ sauce until tender, then shredded and served on buns, over salads, in tacos, wraps, or baked potatoes, the possibilities are endless!
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A Note from Kim
Juicy, Tender, and Totally Addictive
Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken is my go-to for those busy days when dinner feels impossible. With just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep, it’s a total breeze to throw together, and the flavor is amazing. Plus, it’s so versatile! Pile it on buns, toss it into tacos, serve it over a salad, or even enjoy it in a wrap.
After our slow cooker pulled pork became a household favorite, I knew we had to create a pulled chicken version that could stand on its own. A little trial and error later, we’ve got a winner! This is one you’ll want to keep in your regular meal rotation!
With love (and lots of good eats), 
This is the best recipe I have found for chicken in the slow cooker. And the tip for using your stand mixer to shred it is so good! It worked perfectly. All of your tips and suggestions are great, thank you for sharing.
— Imsen
Ingredients You’ll Need
You probably have all the ingredients needed for this slow cooker pulled chicken recipe already in your kitchen. Everything is so easy to just throw in the Crockpot before lunch and have a great dinner all set and ready! Here’s everything you’ll need:
Measurements are in the recipe card.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs. I recommend using chicken thighs rather than chicken breasts for this recipe. They stay juicy and succulent, shred easily, and absorb the sauce nicely. You can use bone-in chicken thighs, you’ll just need to pull it from the bone once cooked. Skinless chicken breasts tend to dry out quickly and won’t absorb the sauce as well.
- Ketchup. Any brand works! We love Heinz® ketchup!
- Dark brown sugar. Light or dark brown sugar will work. Personally, though, I think dark brown sugar offers the most flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce. This ingredient adds to the depth of flavor.
- Apple cider vinegar. The vinegar helps to balance the sweet and savory blend of the sauce.
- Yellow mustard. The tang from the mustard is the perfect compliment to the sweetness of the sauce.
- Spices. We’re adding garlic salt and a 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper for even more delicious flavor.
- Buns. Don’t forget some large, fluffy buns if you’re making BBQ chicken sandwiches. Brioche buns are my favorites! You can even make sliders, like my pulled pork sliders!
How to Make Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken
This slow cooker BBQ chicken recipe is so super simple! Below, you’ll find a rundown of the basic instructions and then you can find the full, printable recipe in the recipe card. Here’s the easy process:
- Pre-cook chicken. In a large skillet, brown the chicken for four minutes on each side in about one tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. This is an extra step, but it’s so worth it for the most flavorful pulled chicken
- Make the sauce. Stir together all of sauce ingredients to make the super tasty homemade barbecue sauce.
- Slow cook. Place chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker and pour the homemade sauce evenly over the top of the chicken. Cover and cook on high for one hour. Reduce heat to low, and cook five to six hours. If you won’t be able to adjust the temperature setting after one hour, simply cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- Pull chicken. Once cooked, remove the chicken from the slow cooker using a slotted spoon and place it onto a cutting board. Using two forks, pull apart each chicken thigh until your chicken is fully shredded. Add the shredded chicken back to the slow cooker and stir it into the juice.
- Serve. Pile shredded chicken on buns to enjoy as a chicken sandwich or enjoy another preferred way!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is possible to overcook chicken in the slow cooker. If the meat is cooked too long it could end up dry and not juicy and tender. See the recommended times in the recipe card for juicy results.
No! The terms pulled chicken and shredded chicken are used interchangeably and mean the same thing. However, “pulled meat” typically refers to meat pulled off the bone.
According to the USDA, it is safe to cook raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!
We have not tried this specific recipe using an instant pot, but this is a very popular, highly reviewed recipe for instant pot pulled chicken.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many ways to make this pulled chicken recipe into a meal! Here are some of my family’s favorites:
- Sandwiches. Add a generous scoop of coleslaw or no-mayo slaw right on top of the meat, top with a toasted Brioche bun, and dig in! Other great toppings are onion slices, jalapeño, and pickles.
- Main course. Serve with a variety of sides, like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, potato salad, deviled eggs, baked beans or whatever other sides you have available.
- Stuffed potatoes. One of my favorites! Roast up some russet potatoes or sweet potatoes and stuff them with the pulled chicken. You can add shredded cheddar cheese or whatever other toppings you like.
- Salad. For a lighter meal option, make a BBQ chicken salad.
- Nachos or tacos. Use leftover chicken to make BBQ chicken nachos or tacos along with cheese and other toppings.
- Pizza. Make your own pizza with leftover meat, extra BBQ sauce, shredded cheese, onions and other toppings.
Kim’s Recipe Tips
- Browning the chicken thighs. This is an optional step, but it brings a lot of extra flavor to the recipe. If you have the time, I recommend it.
- Shredding the chicken. To shred the chicken super quick, add it to a large bowl and use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer to shred it.
- Make more. This recipe feeds about 4 adults. If you are feeding a crowd, you can easily double or triple the recipe.
- Meal prep ahead of time! I love having this on-hand in the fridge because it’s so versatile and makes weeknight meals a cinch.
Storage & Reheating Tips
- Storage. Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container or bag and kept in the refrigerator for up to about 4 days.
- Freezing. Allow the meat to cool completely before transferring it to a freezer safe bag or container. It will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating. To reheat, you can place it in the crock pot and place it on “warm” to warm it back up. Alternatively, you can simply reheat it in the microwave, oven or on the stovetop.
More Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes
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Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs*
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For serving
- 4 hamburger buns
- homemade coleslaw (can also used store-bought bagged coleslaw
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Instructions
- Brown 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs* for four minutes on each side in 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over med-high heat.** Remove from heat and place in a slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper for the BBQ sauce. Pour the sauce over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on high for one hour. Reduce heat to low, and cook five to six hours. Alternatively, if you won’t be able to adjust the temperature setting after one hour, simply cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- Remove chicken from sauce and then shred it on a large cutting board or plate, using two forks or your hands. Stir shredded chicken into the sauce. Spoon mixture onto 4 hamburger buns with coleslaw, serve over a salad, or baked potato.
Notes
- Storage. Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight bag or container and kept in the refrigerator for up to about 4 days.
- Freezing. Allow to cool completely before transferring it to a freezer safe bag or container. It will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating. To reheat the leftover chicken, you can place it in the slow cooker and place it on “warm” to warm it back up. Alternatively, you can simply reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Did you make this recipe?
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This pulled chicken recipe is a total lifesaver. I made it for a weeknight dinner and had plenty of leftovers for sandwiches and salads.
Love how juicy and flavorful this turned out! So easy to make, and it’s become a family favorite already.
Quick, easy, and so flavorful. This recipe is perfect for feeding a crowd or meal prepping for the week.
This is a weekly staple at our house. Last night I made it for a gathering of friends, hoping to have leftovers this week, and there are very few leftovers-everyone happily gobbled it up!
I’ve used boneless chicken breasts, boneless chicken breasts and thighs, and a pork roast. They all turn out wonderfully!! Thank you Kim!
Hands down one of the best slow cooker chicken recipes I’ve tried. Easy, tasty, and versatile. My kids couldn’t get enough!
Made this for dinner last night and it was a HUGE hit with my family of 4. Everyone asked me to make this again and we had no leftovers. Definite keeper. And, not only was it delicious, the house smelled good and it was so easy to make. Thanks for sharing this.
Pulled chicken made simple and delicious! I can’t believe how effortless it was. Perfect for busy weeknights and lunch prep.
Long time reader and first time poster just stopping by to say, WOW. We made this for dinner last night and it was a WINNER. Both my husband and 15 year old step son (both of them delightfully adventurous eaters with lots of recipe tasting experience) declared this the best BBQ they’ve ever eaten ever. I had to concur.
I can’t get over how easy this was! Tender, juicy, and packed with flavor.
I made this recipe the other night, and it was very tasty. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Absolutely delicious! The chicken was tender and full of flavor. My husband had it over rice, and I made sandwiches—the best of both worlds.
Made this for a small get-together and everyone raved about it. I doubled the chicken and cooked it on high, it turned out perfectly tender.
This recipe is a winner! Super easy and flavorful. My whole family loved it, some had it on sandwiches, and others over mashed potatoes. We’ll definitely be making this again soon!
I love this recipe! I make it at least once a month. For those of you who are wondering, you can make it with chicken breasts, but it is way better with dark meat. I usually do half and half. Also, when in a pinch I’ve not browned the chicken (gasp!) and it has still been so so delicious.
Made this for a game-day gathering and it was absolutely delicious! Everyone loved it!
So good and so easy! I love that I can throw everything in the slow cooker and come back to perfectly cooked chicken. My kids are obsessed.
Made this for dinner tonight and it was a hit! I doubled the chicken for my hungry teens, and we all loved it. Easy, flavorful, and totally repeat-worthy.
This chicken is so tasty, I’ve made this recipe several times. I like to add an onion at the beginning of cooking and some sliced mushrooms for the last hour, and serve with provolone and pickles (pickles are a necessity) on a bun.
This is one of my favorite recipes of yours – I make it all the time. I tried it once skipping the browning step and it was not as good – so important!
This pulled chicken is now a go-to in our house. So simple, and everyone loved it, especially with a little extra BBQ sauce on top.
Love this recipe…however I substitute great, beautiful pork for the chicken. Chicken is so versatile, and like good ground beef, if you have chicken you’re always guaranteed an awesome meal. But I like to do it a bit different…thus I use pork for this. And it’s AWESOME! All the same ingredients….just pork instead
Made this for a casual dinner with friends over the weekend. Had to sub rice vinegar for the apple cider. Turned out really good. Topped them with lettuce, onion and garlic aioli.
This was the best shredded bbq I’ve ever had!! So tender and delicious!
This is the best recipe I have found for chicken in the slow cooker. And the tip for using your stand mixer to shred it is so good! It worked perfectly. All of your tips and suggestions are great, thank you for sharing.
Awesome! So happy that you love this recipe! Thanks for your feedback.
We made this for a weekend BBQ and everyone went back for seconds. The slaw was super easy to whip up, too. Already planning to make it again next weekend!
This turned out so good! The chicken was juicy and flavorful. Will definitely make again!