Description
This BBQ Pulled Chicken recipe features tender, juicy chicken slow-cooked in a rich, tangy homemade barbecue sauce with a perfect blend of spices and onions. Ideal for gatherings, sandwiches, or casual dinners, this slow cooker method ensures the chicken is flavorful and easy to shred, making it a fuss-free crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder (or onion powder)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons regular or smoked paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon fine salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Chicken and Aromatics
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (or 1 lb of each)
- 1 large or 2 small yellow onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the sauce ingredients from the tomato paste through the black pepper until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Layer the slow cooker: Place the thinly sliced onions evenly in the bottom of a 4-quart or larger slow cooker, providing a flavorful bed for the chicken.
- Add the chicken: Place the chicken breasts and/or thighs on top of the onions inside the slow cooker.
- Pour sauce over chicken: Pour the prepared BBQ sauce mixture evenly over the chicken, ensuring it is well coated.
- Cook the chicken: Cover with the slow cooker lid and cook for 3 to 4 hours on the HIGH setting or 5 to 6 hours on the LOW setting, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and is tender enough to shred.
- Shred the chicken: Once cooked, remove the chicken from the slow cooker onto a sheet pan or platter. Using two forks or shredding claws, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
- Mix shredded chicken with sauce: Return the shredded chicken back into the slow cooker and stir well to coat the chicken fully with the sauce. Keep on the WARM setting until ready to serve.
Notes
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for a moister, more flavorful outcome, or chicken breasts for a leaner option.
- If you prefer a spicier flavor, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the sauce mixture.
- This pulled chicken is perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or served over rice or baked potatoes.
- Keep the shredded chicken warm in the slow cooker to maintain tenderness until serving.
- The recipe can be doubled for larger gatherings if you have a sufficiently sized slow cooker.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
