Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken

5-ingredient Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken is meltingly tender and an easy way to create a delicious hands-off meal

Turn this zesty chicken into a sandwich by piling it high on a bun and topping it with our Asian Coleslaw for a cool twist

The magic of the slow cooker is that you can prep everything in the morning and have dinner ready without much hassle. Win-win, right? This one takes just 15 minutes of prep time!

There are only 5 basic ingredients for this crockpot BBQ chicken recipe and you probably have them in your refrigerator and pantry right now.

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Ingredients for Pulled Chicken:

• BBQ Sauce – pick your favorite brand or make our 15-minute Homemade BBQ Sauce
• Garlic Cloves – we use 3 cloves but add a few more if you love garlic
• Cumin – this spice has an earthy flavor and is a great flavor boost
• Chili Powder – this is where the kick of spice comes in but you can tone it down by adding a little less if desired
• Chicken Breasts – 2 pounds of boneless and skinless breasts

If making Pulled Chicken Sandwiches or Pulled Chicken Sliders add:

• 6 large or 12 slider buns
• Asian Coleslaw with Peanut Dressing

How to make Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken:

This recipe is super simple with just a few steps:

• Whisk all of the sauce ingredients together in a bowl
• Place whole skinless, boneless chicken breasts in the slow cooker
• Pour the BBQ Sauce mixture over the chicken and make sure it is well-covered

• Put the cover on the slow cooker
• If you have all day you can cook the chicken on low for about 8 hours, but if time is an issue it can be cooked on high for 4 hours

• Once the chicken is finished cooking (165˚F recommended), and tender, take it out of the slow cooker and shred it on a cutting board using two forks to pull it apart

• Return the shredded chicken back to the slow cooker, mix it thoroughly with the sauce, and heat for another 15 minutes. If needed, add more BBQ sauce.
• Serve as is or as sandwiches or sliders

Different ways to use Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken:

My favorite way to eat this chicken is to create a pulled chicken slider or sandwich topped with our cool Asian Coleslaw.

To make:

• Start with a bun that is sturdy enough to hold both the chicken and the slaw. I like a poppy seed, sesame seed, or an onion bun, but whole wheat works well too.
• Top the shredded chicken with about 1/3 cup of Asian Coleslaw. The flavors really meld well together.

Other Variation Ideas:

• If you don’t want to use a bun you could also wrap this amazing chicken up in a big piece of sturdy lettuce for a tasty chicken lettuce wrap
• Put it right on your plate and top it with any coleslaw!
• Use the chicken as the protein base in a rice bowl
• Make a burrito or use the mix in tacos or nachos

Storing leftover Pulled Chicken:

FREEZER: Pulled chicken freezes very well which makes it great for meal prep. Be sure to let it cool completely, then separate it into serving sizes that work for you, and store tightly sealed in the freezer for up to 3 months.

REFRIGERATOR: Store in a sealed container for up to 3 days

Suggestions for beverage pairing:

• Our Spicy Mango Margarita or refreshing Paloma Cocktail are both great matches
• Asian beer is a great accompaniment for a pulled chicken sandwich
• Light to medium-bodied Chenin Blanc or Rose is a good contrast to the sweet and salty flavors in the BBQ sauce

Other easy main dishes to try:

• Asian Baked Chicken
• Sheet Pan Salmon
• Skirt Steak with Mustard Sauce
• Garlic Shrimp with Roasted Tomatoes

Perfect side dishes to pair with pulled chicken

• Refreshing Citrus Salad is a light side
• Try our zesty Black Bean and Corn Salad
• An easy Grilled Caesar Salad adds a smoky touch to dinner
• Grilled Corn with Sweet Chili Sauce adds a spicy touch to match the chicken

Read more about making the perfect Shredded Chicken, which is a great technique to have on hand!