10+ Pulled Chicken Crock Pot Recipes You’ll Love for Easy Dinners

10+ Pulled Chicken Crock Pot Recipes You’ll Love for Easy Dinners

Pulled chicken crock pot recipes make dinner so much easier. You get juicy, flavorful chicken without standing over the stove.

These recipes let you cook chicken slowly so it becomes tender and easy to shred.

Close-up of shredded pulled chicken on a white marble countertop.

Using a crock pot means you can set it and forget it. That’s a lifesaver on busy days.

Whether you want something quick or a meal to share, pulled chicken from the slow cooker works for just about everyone.


Ingredients:

  • Chicken breasts or thighs
  • BBQ sauce or seasoning of your choice
  • Optional: onions, garlic, or spices

Cooking Instructions:

  1. Place the chicken in the crock pot.
  2. Add BBQ sauce or seasoning over the chicken.
  3. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
  4. Remove the chicken and shred it with two forks.
  5. Mix the shredded chicken back with sauce and serve.

1) Classic BBQ Pulled Chicken

Close-up of a pile of BBQ pulled chicken on a white marble countertop with a bright neutral background.

Classic BBQ pulled chicken is a breeze in the crock pot. Just mix your favorite barbecue sauce with brown sugar and apple cider vinegar.

This combo keeps the chicken moist and loaded with flavor. Add chicken breasts or thighs, pour the sauce over, and stir to coat.

Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or high for 3 to 4 hours. When the chicken’s tender, shred it with two forks right in the pot.

Let it soak in the sauce for a few minutes before serving. That’s the secret to juicy, tasty pulled chicken.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs (900 g) chicken breasts or thighs
  • 1 cup (240 ml) barbecue sauce
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp garlic powder

Cooking Instructions

  1. Mix barbecue sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and garlic powder in the slow cooker.
  2. Add chicken and coat it with the sauce.
  3. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
  4. Shred chicken with two forks in the pot.
  5. Stir and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

For more tips, you can check a slow cooker BBQ chicken recipe.

2) Italian Dressing Pulled Chicken

Close-up of shredded Italian dressing pulled chicken on a white marble countertop with a bright neutral background.

You only need a handful of ingredients for this one. Italian dressing gives the chicken a tangy kick with almost no work.

Put chicken breasts, Italian dressing, and a little seasoning in your crock pot. Cook it low and slow until the chicken’s pull-apart tender.

Shred and mix it all together. This chicken’s perfect for sandwiches, salads, or tacos.

It’s a real time-saver when you want flavorful chicken ready to go.

Ingredients

  • 3-4 chicken breasts
  • 1 cup Italian dressing
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

  1. Place chicken breasts in the crock pot.
  2. Pour Italian dressing over the chicken.
  3. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. Cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours.
  5. Shred the chicken with two forks and mix it with the sauce.

3) Chipotle BBQ Pulled Chicken

Close-up view of a bowl of chipotle BBQ pulled chicken on a white marble countertop.

Chipotle BBQ pulled chicken is ridiculously simple. The smoky chipotle flavor pairs perfectly with classic barbecue sauce.

Start with boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. The slow cooker makes them melt-in-your-mouth tender.

Mix BBQ sauce, chipotle peppers, and brown sugar for a sweet-spicy blend. Pour it over the chicken and let the crock pot do its thing.

Once it’s done, shred and toss the chicken in the sauce. You’ve got a meal that’s bold and hands-off.

Ingredients

  • 1.5 to 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup Italian dressing

Cooking Instructions

  1. Place chicken in the crock pot.
  2. Mix barbecue sauce, chipotle peppers, brown sugar, and Italian dressing together.
  3. Pour the sauce over the chicken.
  4. Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours.
  5. Shred the chicken with two forks and stir with the sauce.
  6. Serve warm.

For more details on this easy recipe, see Slow Cooker Chipotle Barbecue Chicken.

4) Brown Sugar and BBQ Sauce Pulled Chicken

Close-up of pulled chicken coated in brown sugar BBQ sauce on a white marble surface.

This recipe is about as easy as it gets. Toss chicken, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and a splash of Italian dressing into your slow cooker.

Let it cook until the chicken falls apart. The brown sugar adds a sweet note that balances the tangy sauce.

Serve it on buns, over rice, or with whatever sides you like. The slow cooker does the heavy lifting here.

Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup Italian dressing

Cooking Instructions:

  1. Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
  2. Pour BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and Italian dressing over the chicken.
  3. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
  4. Shred chicken with two forks and stir to mix well.
  5. Serve warm with extra BBQ sauce if you like.

For more details, you can check this pulled chicken crockpot recipe.

5) Honey Garlic Pulled Chicken

Close-up of honey garlic pulled chicken on a white marble countertop with a bright neutral background.

Honey garlic pulled chicken is a sweet and savory go-to. You only need a few things: honey, garlic, soy sauce, and ketchup.

The slow cooker does almost everything for you. After a few hours, shred the chicken right in the pot so it soaks up all the sauce.

It’s awesome for sandwiches, salads, or eating straight from the bowl. This recipe is for those nights when you want good food without a lot of fuss.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs chicken breasts or thighs
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Cooking Instructions

  1. Place chicken in your crock pot.
  2. In a bowl, mix honey, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, and red pepper flakes.
  3. Pour the sauce over the chicken.
  4. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
  5. Shred chicken with two forks and stir to coat in sauce.
  6. Serve warm.

You can find more details on making this dish at Buns In My Oven.

6) Buffalo Style Pulled Chicken

Close-up of a pile of buffalo style pulled chicken on a white marble countertop with a bright neutral background.

Buffalo style pulled chicken is spicy, tangy, and honestly just fun to eat. Add chicken breasts, Buffalo sauce, and a few seasonings to your slow cooker.

Cook on low for about 4 to 6 hours. Once the chicken’s done, shred it and mix with the sauce.

Use this in sandwiches, wraps, or on top of a salad. It’s a solid choice when you want a meal with a little kick.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs chicken breasts
  • 1 cup Buffalo sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp butter or ghee
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • Optional: 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

Cooking Instructions

  1. Place chicken breasts in the crock pot.
  2. Add Buffalo sauce, garlic, butter, salt, pepper, and paprika.
  3. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or HIGH for 2-4 hours.
  4. Remove chicken and shred with two forks.
  5. Stir shredded chicken back into the sauce.
  6. Serve in your favorite way.

For more details, see this slow cooker Buffalo chicken recipe.

7) Sweet and Spicy BBQ Pulled Chicken

Close-up of sweet and spicy BBQ pulled chicken on a white marble countertop with a simple bright neutral background.

Sweet and spicy pulled chicken is a crowd-pleaser. Combine BBQ sauce and brown sugar for sweetness, then add chili flakes or hot sauce for that spicy edge.

Let it all simmer with the chicken until it’s fork-tender. Shred the meat and stir it back into the sauce for a perfect mix of sweet and heat.

Try a splash of apple cider vinegar for a little tang. You can tweak the spice and sweetness to fit what you’re craving.

Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs chicken breasts
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp chili flakes
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Cooking Instructions:

  1. Place chicken in the crock pot.
  2. Mix BBQ sauce, brown sugar, chili flakes, and vinegar.
  3. Pour mixture over chicken.
  4. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
  5. Shred chicken with two forks.
  6. Stir shredded chicken into sauce.
  7. Serve warm.

8) Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Tacos

Close-up of slow cooker pulled chicken tacos with cilantro and red onions on a white marble countertop.

Pulled chicken tacos in the slow cooker are as easy as it gets. Toss chicken, salsa, and taco seasoning in the crock pot.

Let it cook on low for about 7 hours. The chicken turns super soft and shreds easily.

Pull it apart with forks and serve in warm tortillas. Top with cheese, lettuce, or avocado—whatever you like.

This one’s perfect for busy days when you want dinner waiting for you.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds chicken breasts
  • 1 cup salsa
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1 small onion (optional)

Cooking Instructions

  1. Put the chicken and sliced onion in your slow cooker.

  2. Mix salsa and taco seasoning together, then pour that over the chicken.

  3. Set it to low and cook for 7 hours. (If you’re using the oven, aim for about 325°F or 163°C.)

  4. Shred the chicken with two forks.

  5. Serve on tortillas and pile on any toppings you love.

For more ideas, check out slow cooker pulled chicken tacos recipes from Reddit.

9) Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Close-up of two pulled chicken sandwiches on a white marble countertop with a bright neutral background.

Pulled chicken sandwiches are ridiculously easy in the crock pot. Just let the chicken cook low and slow until it’s tender enough to shred.

Mixing it with BBQ sauce gives you that classic, tangy flavor. These sandwiches are a lifesaver on busy nights.

Top with coleslaw or pickles if you’re feeling fancy. The slow cooker does most of the work, so you can actually kick back a bit.

You can tweak the sauce to make it as mild or spicy as you want. This one’s a real crowd-pleaser, whether it’s a weeknight dinner or you’re feeding a few friends.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs chicken breasts
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp yellow mustard
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
  • Buns for serving

Cooking Instructions

  1. Dump BBQ sauce, ketchup, water, vinegar, Worcestershire, mustard, cumin, and cayenne into the crock pot.

  2. Add the chicken breasts and coat them in the sauce.

  3. Cook on low for 6-7 hours, or crank it to high for 3-4 hours if you’re in a hurry.

  4. Shred the chicken right in the crock pot with two forks.

  5. Stir everything so the chicken soaks up all that sauce.

  6. Pile onto buns and add your favorite toppings.

This recipe’s inspired by slow cooker pulled chicken sandwich ideas like the ones at Ambitious Kitchen.

10) Pulled Chicken Sliders

Close-up view of pulled chicken sliders on a white marble countertop.

Pulled chicken sliders are pretty much a no-brainer if you want something easy and tasty. Toss the chicken in your crock pot with spices and sauce, let it cook until it’s falling apart.

Mix in BBQ sauce for extra flavor and juiciness. Serve it on slider buns with pickles or coleslaw—honestly, that’s a classic combo.

Perfect for family dinners or parties. You can feed a crowd without stressing.

Ingredients

  • 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 medium onion, sliced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Slider buns

Cooking Instructions

  1. Toss the chicken breasts and sliced onion into the crock pot.

  2. Sprinkle salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic over the chicken.

  3. Let it cook on low for 6-7 hours, or crank it to high and go for 4 hours. Aim for the chicken to hit 165°F (74°C) inside.

  4. Pull out the chicken and shred it up with two forks.

  5. In a bowl, mix ketchup, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce.

  6. Pour the sauce over the shredded chicken and give it a good stir.

  7. Pile the chicken onto slider buns. Add whatever toppings you like—no judgment.

For a full walkthrough, check out slow cooker pulled chicken sliders.

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