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Crock Pot BBQ Chicken Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 73 reviews

This Crock Pot BBQ Chicken recipe delivers tender, flavorful chicken breasts slow-cooked to perfection with a tangy and sweet homemade BBQ sauce. Ideal for easy weeknight meals or meal prepping, this dish combines the smoky richness of smoked paprika and crushed red pepper with the sweetness of brown sugar and BBQ sauce, making it a crowd-pleaser perfect for sandwiches, salads, or simple mains.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 3.5 lbs (1.5 kg) boneless skinless chicken breasts

BBQ Sauce Mixture

  • 2 cups BBQ sauce (Sweet Baby Ray’s recommended)
  • ¼ cup (60 g) light or dark brown sugar, packed
  • 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼–½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Rinse and pat dry the boneless skinless chicken breasts to remove excess moisture for better sauce adherence.
  2. Mix the Sauce: In a bowl, combine BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir well until the sugar is fully dissolved and the spices are evenly distributed.
  3. Layer in Crock Pot: Place the chicken breasts evenly in the bottom of the crock pot. Pour the BBQ sauce mixture over the chicken, making sure each piece is coated.
  4. Cook: Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until chicken is fully cooked and tender.
  5. Shred the Chicken: Once cooked, remove chicken breasts and shred them using two forks. Return shredded chicken to the crock pot and stir into the sauce to coat evenly.
  6. Serve: Serve hot as is, or use it for sandwiches, wraps, or on top of rice or salads.

Notes

  • You can adjust the crushed red pepper amount to control the spiciness.
  • For a thicker sauce, remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking to allow excess liquid to evaporate.
  • Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 4 days and freeze well for up to 3 months.
  • Use chicken thighs instead of breasts for juicier results if preferred.
  • If you do not have a crock pot, you can use a slow cooker or cook covered in an oven-safe dish at 300°F for 2-3 hours.

Keywords: crock pot BBQ chicken, slow cooker BBQ chicken, easy BBQ chicken recipe, shredded BBQ chicken, crock pot chicken breasts

Find it online: https://mjrecipe.com/crock-pot-bbq-chicken-recipe/