Can we talk about the easiest crock pot recipe there ever was? Crock Pot BBQ Chicken with Homemade BBQ Sauce is where it’s at!
Chicken breasts are placed into a crock pot, drizzled with an easy homemade BBQ sauce then…slow cooked. Bet you didn’t see that coming. ;) Shred said cooked chicken then use in everything from sandwiches, like I’m showing here, to nachos, wraps, quesadillas, or salads.
I get asked about summer crock pot recipes all the time, and this recipe definitely fits the bill. What’s more summery than BBQ Chicken made in a crock pot so there’s no heating up your kitchen or grill? Plus, by letting the crock pot do the work for you, you’ll have more time to spend outdoors.
The homemade BBQ sauce the chicken cooks in is totally easy, too. It’s a bit tangy, spicy, and not too sweet but if you’re just not feeling up to the task you could use your favorite bottled ‘Q too. Whatever gets you eating faster!
Can I Use Frozen Chicken Breasts in the Crock Pot?
The USDA advises that you DO NOT cook chicken breasts from frozen in the crock pot, which is a guideline that I follow. That said, make sure your chicken breasts are fully thawed if frozen prior to making this recipe.
Alrighty – let’s (slow) cook!
How to Make This Recipe
Start by mixing up that BBQ sauce made with 100% fridge and pantry staples (thanks, well-stocked kitchen!) The ingredient list might look long but I bet you have all of the ingredients, including ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, spices, and vinegar already on hand. You could absolutely make this a few days ahead of time too!
Place 2lbs chicken breasts into the bottom of a 6-quart crock pot then pour 1-1/4 cups of the sauce on top, lifting each chicken breast to make sure some of the sauce gets underneath.
Pop a lid on top of the crock pot then cook on low for four hours or until the chicken easily shreds with a fork. Totally succulent! Shred the chicken then slide it back into the cooking juices to cook for 30 more minutes on low.
When you’re ready to rock, mix the chicken with the remaining sauce then serve on sandwiches, on top of nachos, or in Ben’s #1 favorite meal, BBQ Chicken Quesadillas!
More Crock Pot Recipes You’ll Love
- Crock Pot Salsa Chicken
- Crock Pot White Chicken Chili
- Crock Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
- Crock Pot Mojo Pork
- Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
- Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
- Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches
- Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers
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Crock Pot BBQ Chicken with Homemade BBQ Sauce
Description
Crock Pot BBQ Chicken with Homemade BBQ Sauce is easy and luscious. Use the shredded chicken in sandwiches, nachos, wraps, and more!
Ingredients
- 2lbs chicken breasts
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/3 cup water
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon (or more or less,) cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Directions
- Place chicken in the bottom of a 6-quart crock pot. Whisk together remaining ingredients in a large bowl then reserve 3/4 cup and pour the rest over the chicken. Lift each chicken breast to make sure some of the sauce has gotten underneath then place a lid on top and cook on low for 4 hours or until the chicken shreds easily with a fork. Shred chicken then return to the crock pot and cook on low for 30 minutes. Transfer shredded chicken to a separate container then mix with reserved BBQ sauce and serve.
Notes
- Here is the crock pot I have >
- You could use 2 cups of your favorite BBQ sauce instead of the homemade sauce.
- The USDA recommends thawing meat before cooking it in the crock pot.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Farmer Approved Field Recipes - Rural HousewivesRural Housewives 05.14.2015
[…] Crockpot BBQ Chicken with Homemade BBQ Sauce […]
Mary 05.11.2015
Made this last night and it was so good! I used less chicken, less ketchup (because I ran out), and double the Worcestershire sauce – it was so great! I have been searching for a BBQ sauce that would mimic restaurant quality pulled chicken or pork, and I think this is it! Thank you!
Kristin 05.12.2015
So glad you enjoyed, Mary, thanks for the feedback!!
Kristin@HelloPassport 05.11.2015
These look divine and kid-friendly! I cannot wait to make this asap. Do you find your homemade BBQ sauce to be less sweet than purchased sauce? So where did you get that black umbrella? It would be perfect for my deck which is practically unusable from noon until sunset because of a direct hit from the blazing sun.
Kristin 05.12.2015
Yep, definitely less sweet than store bought, which I like! Unfortunately the umbrella was already here when we moved in so I’m not sure about the brand. I’m sorry!
Patti 05.10.2015
I just made this yesterday and I love it! Your directions were spot on. The chicken turned out great and I loved the BBQ sauce. I have yet to find a store bought sauce that I like and this one was delicious. The best part is that it was so easy to make. I also used one of those crock pot liners for easy cleanup. I normally don’t, but just wanted to see how they worked too. So glad I found your website!
Kristin 05.10.2015
So glad to hear it not only turned out great but you liked the sauce!! Like you said, it’s hard to find a sauce you like, plus everyone like something a bit different, so I’m happy you liked it. :)
Fiona @ Get Fit Fiona 05.09.2015
This looks so good! Gotta love easy to make recipes.
Elizabeth 05.09.2015
Made this for dinner tonight! It was great and super easy!!!! Thanks for posting this! Oh, and the BBQ sauce had such a nice little kick to it.
Kristin 05.10.2015
So glad to hear, Elizabeth, thanks for the feedback!
Laura 05.09.2015
Looks heavenly! I am doing a 60 day free of refined sugar and greatly missing BBQ sauce. Would you recommend honey or agave in place of the sugar?
Kristin 05.10.2015
I would do maybe a mixture of honey and molasses!
Heather 05.08.2015
Looks delish! And will give us plenty of time to fill in the big hole in our deck!! I kid you not – we had our hot tub taken out about a month ago – but with a one-year-old the deck repair is not top priority. We’ll be lucky to get it filled in this summer!
Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert 05.08.2015
These sandwiches look great! I love using the slow cooker for pulled meats!
elizabeth 05.08.2015
Yum! I make this all the time (actually I made it on Tuesday!) but I’ve never made my sauce from scratch before, so that’s nice info! I wanted to mention, also, that sometimes I have a problem with chicken breasts in the crock pot: cooking it for four hours doesn’t work for me, because I work for 9 hours per day and my crock pot doesn’t turn itself off–it stays on the “warm” setting. Inevitably my chicken has gotten over-crocked and turned into mush. Soooo I’ve experimented a bit and discovered that if I cook the chicken breasts on low for 2 hours and then allow the pot to switch automatically to the “warm” setting for like 7 more hours until I get home, the chicken comes out perfect! It doesn’t over-cook and turn into mush that way, but it’s still very easy to shred with a fork. Anyway, perhaps that little tip will help some other full-time working people! Thanks for your blog–I really love it!
Kristin 05.08.2015
Oh that’s a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
Crock Pot BBQ Chicken with Homemade BBQ Sauce – Iowa Girl Eats | webindex24.ch – News aus dem Web 05.08.2015
[…] Crock Pot BBQ Chicken with Homemade BBQ Sauce – Iowa Girl Eats […]
Phoebe @Feed Me Phoebe 05.08.2015
This recipe looks so comforting and delicious! Will have to serve the chicken on gluten-free buns!
Lisa 05.08.2015
Kristin you are my girl. I am such a fan of the food you post on your blog and this is no exception. Many of the things on this site are staples in my everyday kitchen (i.e. balsamic meatballs, gumbo, caprese lasagna, and many of your inspiring salads). This is my first time commenting and this recipe is what compelled me to speak up. This is what I’ve been craving, and I didn’t even know it until I saw it. (The pickle! The pickle.) I’m sure this chicken will be part of my arsenal as it begins to heat up here in Vancouver, Canada! Have a great weekend. :)
Kristin 05.10.2015
Yes! Lisa, I love it! I hope you enjoy this dish – it really is so very good! :)
Matt Robinson 05.08.2015
LOVE this, especially with that sauce!
Stephanie 05.08.2015
That looks delicious! I love BBQ crockpot anything!
http://aneducationindomestication.com
Emma 05.08.2015
This looks delicious!! Can’t wait to try it! What brand did you use for the GF buns for the sandwiches?
Kristin 05.10.2015
I tried Schar. They were….not good (which is why I didn’t mention them!)
Emma 05.11.2015
Bleh I have had those and the texture is so strange. Oh well, the search for good GF bread continues! Thanks again for the great recipe! :)
Julie 05.08.2015
I was admiring your nice big table, too, & then noticed that the umbrella appears to be suspended in mid-air. Did you photoshop the umbrella pole out of the pic??? :P
Kristin 05.08.2015
Haha no, we don’t use the stand in the table – the big black umbrella is bolted to the rail and suspended (can’t think of what those umbrellas are called!)
heather 05.11.2015
LOL, it’s “off-set.” Facing those back bottom windows, the suspension rod is visible to the left. #KnowYourRods #Sorry
Hila 05.08.2015
I love your outdoor dining table. I know you said you got it at a local store, but can you share the brand and model? I want a nice big outdoor table like that!
Lindsey @ Simply Lindsey 05.08.2015
This chicken looks delicious! Crock pot BBQ chicken is one of my favorites, but I’ve never made it myself! Definitely trying this recipe soon. :)
Britt@MyOwnBalance 05.08.2015
I love the idea of making your own bbq sauce! i like being able to control what goes into my sauce!