Crockpot BBQ Pulled Chicken
Made with tender chicken breasts, a smoky spice blend, and tangy BBQ sauce, this Crockpot Pulled Chicken is easy to make with pantry staples.
Servings: 8
Equipment
Ingredients
- cooking spray
- 1½ tablespoons brown sugar dark or light
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoons kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- ½ cup 100% pineapple juice or chicken stock
- 2-2½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts trimmed of fat and gristle
- 1-2 cups BBQ sauce
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper.
- Lightly spray the insert of your slow cooker with cooking spray, pour in the pineapple juice, then add the chicken in a single layer. Sprinkle half the seasoning blend over the chicken, flip, and sprinkle the opposite side of the chicken with the remaining seasoning.
- Place the lid on the crockpot and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours. The chicken breasts are fully cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (73℃) and easily shred.
- Once the chicken is fully cooked and tender, remove it to a clean cutting board or large mixing bowl and shred it with two forks.
- Return the shredded chicken back to the slow cooker, add ½ cup of BBQ sauce, and stir to combine, adding more sauce as needed, desired to ensure the chicken is well coated in the BBQ sauce.
- Return the lid to the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 10-15 minutes to warm through.
- Serve as desired with additional BBQ sauce.
Video
Notes
Swap Chicken Breasts for Thighs: Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs trimmed of fat and grizzle and slow cook until the thighs reach 185°F for tender results.
Cayenne Pepper: Omit or decrease to control spice level.
BBQ Sauce: Any variety of BBQ sauce works here. Use what you love as the flavor make a huge impact to the overall taste of the pulled chicken.
Pineapple Juice: Use canned juice for the best flavor. Drained from a can of pineapple in 100% juice works well.
Storage: Store in airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. Defrost in the fridge if needed and reheat as desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 246kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 635mg | Potassium: 656mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 388IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
