Crock Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken is delicious, tender chicken that is easily made with frozen chicken breasts, bbq sauce and special seasoning!
A DELICIOUS SLOW COOKER CHICKEN RECIPE
This recipe for Crock Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken brings a little of those yummy barbecue flavor indoors. No need for a grill and this recipe is easy peasy. And anything I can make in the slow cooker on a busy weeknight is always a bonus.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
We like serving this over some Texas toast or on brioche hamburger buns. You can also eat it all by itself with a fork or maybe top it with my FAMOUS COLE SLAW!
Of course not! I am using frozen chicken breasts here because they are less expensive than their fresh counterparts and I usually always have some in my freezer. But you can use fresh chicken breasts or even chicken thighs.
Smoked paprika is just paprika that has a smokey flavor. Don't skimp on the smoked paprika. This is really going to give it that authentic barbecue taste.
This can also be served with more traditional sides like Potato Salad or Macaroni Salad.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- small onion
- garlic
- smoked paprika
- salt & pepper
- bottled BBQ sauce (or make a HOMEMADE BBQ SAUCE)
HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT BBQ CHICKEN:
Spray your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Place your chicken breasts into the bottom. Season with salt and pepper.
Then season with smoked paprika. Smoked paprika is different than the regular paprika. It's just like it's name suggests. It has smoke flavor added which really brings a lot of flavor to a BBQ dish like this. Also add in minced garlic and diced onion.
Pour BBQ sauce all over the top.
Cover and cook on low for about 6-8 hours. When ready, take the chicken out and shred with two forks. The chicken will be so tender that this will be an easy job. Put shredded chicken back in crock pot and stir well to coat it with the BBQ sauce mixture.
And serve. I like to eat mine like an open-faced sandwich on thick toasted bread. But you can certainly eat it on hamburger buns too!
CRAVING MORE RECIPES? GIVE THESE A TRY!
Crock Pot BBQ Chicken (+Video)
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 18 ounce bottle BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Spray your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Place frozen chicken breasts into the bottom.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper & smoked paprika.
- Add in minced garlic and diced onion
- Pour BBQ sauce all over the top.
- Cover and cook on low for about 6-8 hours.
- When ready, take the chicken out and shred with two forks.
- Put shredded chicken back in crock pot and stir well to coat it with the BBQ sauce mixture. Then serve!
Video
Notes
- Eat these as an open-faced sandwich on Texas toast or on a hamburger bun.
- Fresh or frozen chicken breasts can be used.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Originally published: January 2011
Updated & Republished: June 2020
Anonymous
This looks delicious! I'm planning to make this for a family party. How many sandwiches do you get from 2-3 lbs of chicken? Thanks!
John
I actually used three big pieces of chicken breast (two pounds) and cut them in half. That made six small pieces. Each small piece can easily be made into two sandwiches (on burger buns). I would definitely make this for a rather small family get together for sure!
Anonymous
Hey, great idea using Texas toast. I'll have to try.
Michele
Is this texas toast you are using under the chicken?
Anonymous
Thanks for sharing!
sas94
This is probably a stupid question:/ but do you thaw out the frozen chicken breasts before placing them into the crock pot?
The Country Cook
Not a stupid question at all! I don't defrost them. The slow cooker will do all the work 🙂
Andrea
Made this for dinner tonight and it was wonderful! Thanks for a great recipe the whole family enjoyed. :o)
Cassie
I just had to tell you about this wonderful shredded bbq chicken sandwich recipe. I was down to cook the meal for this Wed.night fellowship dinner at my church. I multiplied your original recipe for 45 and it was a hit! Thank you so much. Regena in TN.
The Country Cook
Stephanie - nope. You would just put the uncooked chicken breast into the crock pot along with the BBQ sauce. And cook on low for several hours. Hope that helps!
Stephanie
Just found your blog today through pinterest, and I already have a long list of things I'm dying to try!
The Country Cook
Bella, I'm going to be sharing a post very soon with my BBQ sauce recipe - so stay tuned!! 🙂
Bella
Hello,
I don't know if I missed it....but would you be willing to share the recipe for making my own BBQ sauce? I'm a newbie but I'm guessing I would start with ketchup 😉
Tish
Oh, your disaster reminds me of one of ours... we had just driven home from VA to NJ... like 8+ hrs in traffic, thunderstorm, etc...
came into the kitchen before unpacking to get a soda. the soda USED to be kept above the stove top (over head cupboards), in cabinets that had doors on both sides. One side to the kitchen area, the other side was the eat in kitchen: table chairs. 2 windows, hutch, gossip bench, tea cart...
in reaching for the first bottle in an overly full cabinet, i knocked a 3 liter bottle of ROOT BEER out the other side. It exploded like a bomb. every inch of every surface had root beer, and the ceiling was dripping, and we had not unloaded our suitcases yet!
My mother and I got the giggles, and wouldn't let my dad see the mess (he was so mad at our laughing)... but man, we cleaned everything, the curtains. the ceiling. I never want to do that again!
Ginger
These look delicious! You just can't go wrong using the crock pot.
Rhondi
Sorry you had such a bad day, but those bbq chicken sandwiches probably made it all better. They look delicious! I'm making them this week.
thecountrycook
Mama J - that definitely would have been worse! So I guess I should be thankful it wasn't honey or syrup...lol.
Mama J
My 4 year old dropped a glass bottle of homemade pancake syrup all of the kitchen floor. We all stood there in stunned silence. Sticky, gooey shards of glass is a nightmare I hope never to relive. 🙂
Mother Rimmy
Not a fun day, but at least your dinner turned out great! My husband would be in heaven with this dinner. He loves BBQ anything.
Kristi
palatepassport
Paper towels are a must have in my household. This looks a rewarding sit at the TV meal after a disappointing day.
Annie
I am a huge fan of slow cooker recipes. Just a few weeks ago I made pulled pork but this sounds like such a nice alternative! Thanks for sharing!
Siggy Spice
YUM!
Sorry you had a bad day 🙁 Just so you know, I had to go check my stock of paper towels...the thought of running out about gave me a panic attack! Yes, I am sooooo non-green when it comes to paper towels, lol!
Sandra
LOL on "Are you flippin' kiddin' me" ..I am sorry that you had such a bad day..I had few of those:D
And your BBQ Chicken turned out great!!!
Lizzy
Gosh, what a day! Glad the BBQ chicken was not another calamity 🙂
thecountrycook
Palate - exactly!!
thecountrycook
Siggy - I'm looking at this as a public service announcement. I don't even want to tell you how much fun it was to wash all those towels, my pants, and yes, even my shoes!