Classic Summer Cookout BBQ Chicken Crockpot
This recipe features tender chicken cooked in a tangy and sweet BBQ sauce right in your slow cooker, perfect for a hassle-free summer meal. It's an easy way to prepare flavorful BBQ chicken that's ideal for sandwiches, salads, or platters.
Equipment
- slow cooker
- medium bowl
- cutting board
- two forks
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds Chicken boneless, skinless breasts or thighs
Sauce Base
- 1 bottle BBQ sauce (18 ounce, your favorite brand)
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar packed
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for a little heat)
Other
- 1/4 cup water (if needed to thin sauce)
Instructions
Preparation
- Arrange chicken breasts or thighs in the bottom of your slow cooker.
Sauce Making
- Combine BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, and all spices in a medium bowl, then stir thoroughly.
Cooking
- Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the chicken, ensuring it is fully covered.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender.
Finishing Steps
- Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board and use two forks to shred it until easily separated.
- Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker with the sauce and stir until well coated.
- Keep the BBQ chicken warm in the slow cooker until ready to serve.
Notes
For a thicker sauce, you can remove the lid for the last 30 minutes of cooking on HIGH. This BBQ chicken is great served on buns as sandwiches, or alongside coleslaw and corn on the cob.