Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken – Plain Chicken

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Recipe – tender, juicy, and packed with sweet, tangy, and smoky flavor! Made with a simple homemade sauce and slow-cooked to perfection, it’s an easy, no-fuss meal the whole family will love. Serve it over rice with veggies, on a bun as a sandwich, or with classic sides like mac and cheese, coleslaw, and cornbread. Perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or backyard cookouts!

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Crock Pot Barbecue Chicken

This Slow cooker BBQ chicken is the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and smoky flavors, making every bite absolutely irresistible—seasoned chicken slow cooked in a homemade BBQ sauce. Whether served with mashed potatoes, coleslaw, or cornbread, this BBQ chicken is pure comfort food that’s effortless to make but tastes like you spent all day at the grill!

How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

This dish is effortless to make with only a few simple ingredients. Place chicken in a 6-qt slow cooker. Sprinkle with spices – kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Whisk together ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Coca-Cola, and lemon juice in a bowl. Pour the barbecue sauce over the chicken. Cover and cook on LOW heat for 6 to 8 hours. Remove chicken from the crock pot and shred with two forks. Place the shredded chicken back in the slow cooker and stir. 

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

• Can use any chicken you have on hand. Boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or chicken tenderloins all work great.
• Variations/Additions:
  • onions
  • bell peppers
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • brown sugar
  • onion powder
  • cayenne pepper
• Can I make Barbecue Chicken on the stovetop? Yes! In a large Dutch oven or pot, combine all of the ingredients and cook over medium-high heat until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. Shred chicken with two fork sand stir into sauce.
  • Can substitute four cooked, chopped chicken breasts or a whole rotisserie chicken for the raw, uncooked chicken breasts.
  • If using cooked chicken, add all ingredients to a Dutch oven. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Can I freeze Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken? Yes! Cool the chicken to room temperature and place in a freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
  • Leftover chicken is great in tacos, on a pizza, or on a salad.

What to Serve with BBQ Chicken

Slow cooker BBQ chicken pairs perfectly with all the classic comfort food sides, making it a versatile and satisfying meal. 

• For a hearty meal, serve it with creamy mashed potatoes or mac and cheese to soak up all that rich, flavorful sauce. 
• If you’re looking for something lighter, a crisp coleslaw or a fresh corn salad adds a refreshing crunch that balances the tenderness of the chicken. 
• Baked beans or Southern-style green beans bring a savory, smoky depth, while a side of buttery cornbread is perfect for sopping up every last drop of sauce. 
• For an easy and wholesome twist, shred the chicken and serve it in a bowl over fluffy rice with roasted or steamed vegetables, letting the sauce soak into every bite.
• It also makes an incredible sandwich—pile the juicy shredded chicken onto soft buns, top with coleslaw for some crunch, and enjoy the perfect handheld meal.

Whether you’re feeding a crowd at a picnic or just making an easy weeknight dinner, these sides will turn your BBQ chicken into a complete, mouthwatering meal!

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Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

Yield: 12 people

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 6 hours hrs

Total Time 6 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Recipe – tender, juicy, and packed with sweet, tangy, and smoky flavor! Made with a simple homemade sauce and slow-cooked to perfection, it’s an easy, no-fuss meal the whole family will love. Serve it over rice with veggies, on a bun as a sandwich, or with classic sides like mac and cheese, coleslaw, and cornbread. Perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or backyard cookouts!

• Place chicken in a 6-qt slow cooker. Sprinkle with spices – kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.

• In a bowl, whisk together ketchup, apple cider vinegar, Coca-Cola, and lemon juice. Pour the barbecue sauce over the chicken.

• Cover and cook on LOW heat for 6 to 8 hours.

• Remove chicken from the crock pot and shred with two forks. Place the shredded chicken back in the slow cooker and stir.

• Can use any chicken you have on hand. Boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or chicken tenderloins all work great.
• Variations/Additions:
  • onions
  • bell peppers
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • brown sugar
  • onion powder
  • cayenne pepper
• Can I make Barbecue Chicken on the stovetop? Yes! In a large Dutch oven or pot, combine all of the ingredients and cook over medium-high heat until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. Shred chicken with two forks and stir into sauce.
  • Can substitute four cooked, chopped chicken breasts or a whole rotisserie chicken for the raw, uncooked chicken breasts.
  • If using cooked chicken, add all ingredients to a Dutch oven. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Can I freeze Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken? Yes! Cool the chicken to room temperature and place in a freezer bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
  • Leftover chicken is great in tacos or on a pizza, or on a salad.

Steph