The Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken is your new weeknight dinner hero, offering a tender, flavorful, and incredibly easy way to enjoy classic BBQ comfort food with minimal effort. This recipe is perfect for busy evenings when you crave a satisfying meal without the fuss.
Key Ingredients for The Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken
- 2 to 2.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 1 cup your favorite BBQ sauce, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Optional toppings: sliced green onions, sesame seeds, pickled red onions, extra BBQ sauce
How to Make The Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Get ready for an unbelievably easy and satisfying meal! This Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken is your ticket to tender, fall-off-the-bone chicken bathed in a rich, smoky BBQ sauce. Its simplicity is its superpower; just toss everything in and let your slow cooker do the work. The resulting flavor is deep and comforting, perfect for a hearty family dinner. Preparation time is minimal, typically less than 15 minutes before it cooks low and slow for hours, delivering maximum flavor with minimum effort.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs or breasts dry with paper towels. This helps them brown slightly if you choose to sear them first (an optional but recommended step for extra flavor) and ensures the sauce adheres better. Season both sides of the chicken generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Ensure the brown sugar is well incorporated.
- Assemble in the Crockpot: Place the seasoned chicken in the bottom of your slow cooker. Pour the prepared BBQ sauce mixture evenly over the chicken. Make sure the chicken is well-coated in the sauce.
- Cook Low and Slow: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through. The exact cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of your chicken pieces and your specific slow cooker model. For thighs, cooking until they easily shred is ideal. For breasts, be careful not to overcook them, as they can become dry.
- Shred or Slice: Once the chicken is cooked and tender, remove it from the slow cooker. If using chicken breasts, you can either slice them thinly or dice them into bite-sized pieces. If using chicken thighs, they will likely shred very easily. Use two forks to pull the chicken apart into shreds, or cut it into chunks.
- Return to Sauce and Thicken (Optional): Return the shredded or sliced chicken to the slow cooker with the BBQ sauce. Stir to coat the chicken thoroughly. If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can remove the lid and cook on high for another 15-30 minutes, or mash some of the chicken with the sauce to help thicken it naturally. Alternatively, you can mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water to create a slurry, then stir it into the sauce and cook until thickened.
- Serve: Serve the Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken hot. It’s fantastic served on buns for sandwiches, over rice, alongside mashed potatoes, or with a fresh salad. Garnish with your favorite toppings for an extra burst of flavor and texture.
Why You’ll Love This Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken
This Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken is a game-changer for weeknight dinners, boasting incredibly tender, melt-in-your-mouth chicken coated in a rich, smoky, and slightly sweet BBQ sauce that’s simply irresistible. It’s a true cost-saver compared to ordering takeout or dining out, allowing you to create a restaurant-quality meal right in your own kitchen for a fraction of the price. The magic lies in its perfect balance of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors, elevated by the subtle smokiness of paprika and the comforting depth of Worcestershire sauce, setting it apart from even your go-to pulled pork.
If you adore the convenience of slow cooker meals and the satisfying comfort of BBQ flavors, this recipe is for you. It’s your new go-to for busy evenings when you want something delicious without the stress, and it’s so simple, anyone can master it. Don’t wait to transform your dinner routine – give this phenomenal Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken a try this week and discover your new favorite way to enjoy classic BBQ!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Storing Leftovers:
- Allow the Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken to cool slightly before storing.
- Transfer the chicken and any remaining sauce to an airtight container.
- Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating:
- Microwave: Place desired portion in a microwave-safe dish, add a splash of water or extra BBQ sauce if needed, cover, and heat on medium power for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through, until heated through.
- Stovetop: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and sauce, stirring occasionally, until heated through. You may need to add a little liquid to prevent sticking.
- Oven: Transfer leftovers to an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
Freezing:
- Cool the Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken completely.
- Portion into freezer-safe bags or containers.
- Remove as much air as possible before sealing.
- Label with the date and freeze for up to 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Final Thoughts
The Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken truly delivers on flavor and ease, making it an indispensable recipe for any home cook. Give this simple yet incredibly satisfying dish a try and experience the joy of delicious, slow-cooked BBQ with minimal effort.
Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Pat the chicken thighs or breasts dry with paper towels. Season both sides of the chicken generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.2 to 2.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, to taste salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper
- In a small bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Ensure the brown sugar is well incorporated.1 cup your favorite BBQ sauce, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- Place the seasoned chicken in the bottom of your slow cooker. Pour the prepared BBQ sauce mixture evenly over the chicken. Make sure the chicken is well-coated in the sauce.2 to 2.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, 1 cup your favorite BBQ sauce, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Once the chicken is cooked and tender, remove it from the slow cooker. If using chicken breasts, you can either slice them thinly or dice them into bite-sized pieces. If using chicken thighs, they will likely shred very easily. Use two forks to pull the chicken apart into shreds, or cut it into chunks.2 to 2.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- Return the shredded or sliced chicken to the slow cooker with the BBQ sauce. Stir to coat the chicken thoroughly. If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can remove the lid and cook on high for another 15-30 minutes, or mash some of the chicken with the sauce to help thicken it naturally. Alternatively, you can mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water to create a slurry, then stir it into the sauce and cook until thickened.2 to 2.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, 1 cup your favorite BBQ sauce
- Serve the Best Crockpot BBQ Chicken hot. It’s fantastic served on buns for sandwiches, over rice, alongside mashed potatoes, or with a fresh salad. Garnish with your favorite toppings for an extra burst of flavor and texture.2 to 2.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, 1 cup your favorite BBQ sauce, sliced green onions, sesame seeds, pickled red onions, extra BBQ sauce