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Easy Crockpot BBQ Chicken makes tender, juicy chicken with just minutes of prep time! Even better, it’s naturally gluten free and can be added to salads, wraps, sandwiches, and more. This simple and flavorful recipe is the perfect start for so many family-favorite meals!
Why You’ll Love This Crockpot BBQ Chicken Recipe
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Slow cooker
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free, Dairy-free
- Skill Level: Easy
Crockpot recipes are my favorite – I love that I can prep, set, and forget! And they are even better when they are sassy, sauce, and delicious. My guys will devour anything slathered with barbecue sauce!
This crockpot bbq chicken easy method is one of the best ways I know to make flavorful, tender chicken that everyone loves. You can use a homemade BBQ sauce or grab a bottle of your favorite sauce (gluten free if needed). Serve chicken tucked into wraps, on salads, or make it into the star of your meal. Here are a few highlights:
- Easy. Yes – the crockpot is your friend here! Ten minutes or less of prep time is all you need for this easy and gluten free recipe, and you’ll let the crockpot do the heavy lifting of cooking the chicken to tender juiciness.
- Packed with flavor. From the sweet-tangy barbecue sauce to the savory and smoky spices, this dish loads a lot of flavor into every bite.
- Many ways to serve it. Stuff bbq chicken into sandwiches using my Gluten Free Hawaiian Rolls recipe or put out a big bowl on the table the next time you host a barbecue and let guests dig in. See more options lower down in this post.
Recipe Ingredients
Just a few simple ingredients are all you’ll need to make bbq chicken in crockpot! Here’s a look – the full ingredient amounts are in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Chicken: I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts in this recipe.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: A little apple cider vinegar adds tangy flavor and helps to tenderize the chicken.
- Kosher Salt and Black Pepper
- Dried Spices: Smoked paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite sauce or make my Bourbon BBQ Sauce, which is great in this chicken recipe!
How To Make Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Here’s a quick look at how to make this recipe. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.
- Place chicken in crockpot. Add the chicken to the crockpot.
- Season the chicken. Pour in the apple cider vinegar. Add the salt, pepper, and dried seasonings.
- Add BBQ sauce. Pour 1⁄2 cup of the BBQ sauce over the chicken.
- Cook. Cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Shred. Using two forks, shred the chicken.
- Cook. Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot.
- Add remaining sauce. Stir in the remaining BBQ sauce.
- Stir and serve. To serve the chicken, garnish with parsley.
Tips for Success
I love this easy recipe and I know you will, too.
- Cook the chicken breasts whole. Although you’ll shred the chicken after it’s cooked to perfection, to make sure it doesn’t overcook leave the breasts whole in the crockpot while they cook. Then easily shred them once they’re done.
- Save sauce: The reason we reserve some of the BBQ sauce to add in at the end is so that it adds an extra punch of flavor after the recipe has cooked. Don’t add it all at once!
- Use homemade sauce. I highly recommend making a batch of my homemade bbq sauce, linked above, for the best flavor. If you use store-bought sauce, make sure to fully check the ingredients and label so that you ensure you buy a gluten free sauce.
- Make it in the Instant Pot. You can also use this recipe to cook chicken in the Instant Pot! Cook the chicken on High for 30 minutes, then let the pressure release for 10 minutes. Or try my recipe for Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken if you’re short on time.
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers
Add cold BBQ chicken to a salad or wrap, or reheat it another time for tacos and more. Here’s how to store your leftovers:
- Fridge – Place leftover, cooled chicken in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer – Place cooled chicken in a freezer-safe sealable bag and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the chicken completely in the fridge before reheating it.
- To Reheat – You can reheat leftover chicken in the microwave at 30-second intervals until heated through, or add it to an oven-safe dish and reheat it in the oven at 350F.
What to Make with Leftover BBQ Chicken
Here are some of my favorite saucy recipes that you can make even quicker if you use your extra chicken:
Make It A Meal
Bbq chicken in crockpot is a great centerpiece to a meal, and I love adding classic sides like roasted potatoes, coleslaw, and more. Here are a few of my favorite ways to serve this chicken:
- Classic BBQ sides. Whip up a Potato Salad, Easy Coleslaw, or a pot of cheesy Gluten Free Stove Top Mac and Cheese and enjoy them with BBQ chicken.
- Salad. Keep it light with a fresh salad, either on the side or use the chicken to round out a veggie-packed salad into a fuller meal. My Strawberry Spinach Salad is a nice choice, or add shredded chicken to my Ultimate Cobb Salad for even more flavor.
- Potatoes. Chicken and potatoes make an easy and satisfying dinner. You can serve BBQ chicken with Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or Smashed Potatoes, or make a tangy side of Air Fryer Ranch Potatoes.
- Grain bowls. You can make a pot of rice or quinoa to go with chicken. Learn how to make white rice or brown rice, or a citrusy bowl of Cilantro Lime Rice. Then top it with the chicken, some veggies, and a dollop of Avocado Crema or a drizzle of Aji Sauce.
- Add to a wrap. I love making wraps with BBQ chicken! Make a batch of my Gluten Free Tortillas and use them to wrap up chicken plus a bit of coleslaw for a satisfying lunch.
More Crockpot Recipes To Try
Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Ingredients
- 3-3 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (use your favorite), divided
Instructions
- Add the chicken to the slow cooker, then pour the apple cider vinegar over the chicken and season with the salt, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper. Pour 1⁄2 cup of the BBQ sauce over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on Low for 5-6 hours or on High for 2-3 hours or until the chicken is cooked through and falls apart easily.
- Transfer the chicken to a bowl and use two forks to shred it, then return it to the slow cooker along with the additional 1⁄2 cup BBQ sauce. Stir to combine.
- Garnish with parsley if you like, and serve on rolls or salads, in tacos or wraps or however you like it, with additional sauce and coleslaw, if desired.
Did you make this?
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