Easy BBQ Chicken Recipe, Crockpot BBQ chicken recipe, BBQ Chicken in the Crock pot (2024)

Apr 29, 2010 | Dinner, Ten-Minute Meals | 24 comments

There is a Bulk cooking day in process at our house. Yes, it can be intimidating, but it’s SO worth the time.
Where should one start when you no idea what to do?

Easy BBQ Chicken in the Crockpot

With five minutes of preparation time, this easy Crock pot Barbeque Chicken dinner is a reality. Throw a huge amount of chicken in the crock pot, some BBQ sauce, and you’re on your way to making multiple meals with this recipe.
Right now I have homemade french bread rising (perfect recipe for beginners), and 8 pounds of ground beef thawing right next to my 15 pound turkey. (Hopefully, they’ll be ready for tomorrow.) I will have enough turkey for dinner, turkey pot pies, and shredded turkey to put in freezer bags.
We’ve already finished up our homemade refried beans from last time around (vlog), so I’m beginning to soak them now.
Next up is a quadruple batch of the best ever Neiman Marcus chocolate chip cookies with detailed bulk instructions, and some banana bread.
Come join me….now the easiest Crock pot BBQ chicken ever…

When we were at Myrtle Beach last week, my girlfriends and I took turns making one main meal. Of course, we all loved the slow cooker (made in this model.)
This easy BBQ Chicken Recipe was certainly a hit with both children and adults alike. The beauty of this recipe is that any one from the age of 5 – 105 can master this easy crock pot recipe. Pair that with free or nearly free Kraft BBQ sauce (stockpiled from Kraft’s great coupons), marked down chicken, and you have a simple, yet cost effective meal that allows you to feed a family of seven for under $500/month. 🙂
If you enjoy BBQ Chicken, you will adore my Oven Bake Barbeque Chicken Thigh recipe as well.
I love tweaking the recipe just a bit and making this easy and addicting Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe. It’s perfect for a gourmet sandwich filling as well.

Enjoy how many meals you can get from this simple recipe.

Easy BBQ Chicken
10 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 bottles of BBQ Sauce
1 cup of water (You may omit if you like thicker sauce.)
Add everything into crock pot and cook on high for 3 hours or cook on low all day. Shred after it’s all done cooking. Add more sauce to meet you favorite consistency when it’s done cooking.

The chicken and sauce size were difficult for me to guess because it’s dependent on how much chicken you want to fit in your crock pot. To me, filling it to the bring is essential so that you can have enough extra chicken for additional freezer meals.
You can not do anything “wrong” with this recipe as long as your crock pot is filled 2/3 of the way full. I add the water so that sauce may be used on top of rice for a meal. Then take the additional shredded chicken and baggy it up for future meals.
This is one of my top C.O.S.T Cooking Meals (cook once, serve twice or three times.) It’s perfect for these delicious BBQ sandwiches, burritos, or quesadillas, or BBQ Chicken Pizza

pic: Carolina Mama

Other posts you might enjoy

Stacey @ The Blessed Neston April 29, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Oooh, my mouth is watering! 🙂 Looks SOOO yummy!! Thanks for the inspiration, now I know what we’ll be having for dinner in the next week!
Blessings,
Stacey
Reply
Rachelon April 29, 2010 at 6:15 pm
I use this recipe a lot!! It is SO yummy and easy! Thanks for sharing! =)
Reply
Kristen H.on April 29, 2010 at 6:28 pm
And yet surely you know that NC barbecue has to be made with pork! 🙂 (Living 5 years in Lexington made me a barbecue snob, lol)
This does look yummy though.
Reply
- Jenson April 29, 2010 at 7:41 pm
  @Kristen H., That is too funny, Kristen. You are SO right. Can you tell I am a Northern transplant? That post is probably blasphemy to the native NC gal. 🙂 Until I moved here, I had never even heard of putting slaw on pork…now, yes, I am hooked. 🙂
  See Also
  A Killer Smoked BBQ Ribs Recipe That Shames The 3-2-1 Method Easy Lemon Spiced Grilled Artichokes Recipe The Best Smoked Pork Ribs Recipe Ever Copycat Outback Potato Soup Recipe
  Reply
  - Kristen H.on April 30, 2010 at 6:12 am
    @Jens, Well, I’m not from Lexington at least :). I grew up in Asheville and they’re not so particular about their barbecue. I must confess that barbecue slaw (with barbecue sauce IN the slaw) was a bit odd to me at first . I like it on the sandwich now that still think it’s gross plain.
    Reply
Jessica @ Life as I See Iton April 29, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Mmmm!! We love that here too 🙂
Have you tried Ciabatta bread? It takes less than three minutes hands on time total and is SO yummy! I haven’t tried it with the pulled BBQ chicken, but we’ve had it many, many times with other things (including broccoli crab soup this evening!) but your timely post after having that yummy bread makes me think I will have to try the two together soon for a super easy and yummy dinner!
Recipe is here: http://paulsbride.blogspot.com/2010/03/ciabatta-bread.html
Reply
Dianaon April 29, 2010 at 7:43 pm
And I already do the exact same thing!!!!!!!! Wow, I’m glad to know I’m on the right track 🙂 Actually, to use a little less bbq sauce, I add maybe 3/4 cup per 3 chicken breasts, water to cover the chicken, and then after I shred it I add extra bbq sauce on the sandwich.
Reply
Loison April 29, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Yes! I’ve made this before. Great, easy recipe!
Reply
Kirstenon April 29, 2010 at 10:55 pm
I started making this very thing back when I was working outside the home–I’m afraid it didn’t come out of trying to make an easy meal that could also be used later, but out of sheer desperation at having nothing planned for dinner;). Another version I make is to replace the BBQ sauce with salsa and, after shredding the cooked chicken, I toss in some refried beans, grated cheddar, and cottage cheese (weird, I know, but it tastes good). In spite of being cooked in salsa, they turn out quite mild–the flavor without the spice. I mainly use it to make frozen burritos for my husband to take to work with him.
Reply
Heyruthieon April 30, 2010 at 7:15 am
this is right up my alley! can i use *any* kind of sauce? i have KC Masterpiece stockpiled now from Harris Teeter’s freebie a few weeks ago. will that work?
Reply
Krystalon April 30, 2010 at 7:46 am
We have done something like that but we use a can of cola and a bottle of bbq sauce. I do it in either the crock pot or a pot on the stove top.
Reply
See Also
Lamb's Fry and Bacon Recipe - Australian.Food.com
Yalileon May 2, 2010 at 1:10 pm
I am going to try the Easy BBQ chicken. Thanks, Jenn.
Reply
Leahon May 3, 2010 at 10:58 am
You have just given me an easy recipe for when we go on vacation with the extended family. We each pick a night to cook for everyone so we aren’t having to eat out all the time.
Reply
Joyce Edgerton Lasloon May 25, 2012 at 9:52 am
I do this and cook enough for 2-3 meals. the 2nd night I shred it and make chicken tacos. the family loves the fried shells from tortillas
Reply
Kimberly Baker Bowenon May 25, 2012 at 10:13 am
Is the chicken thawed or frozen when you do this? Thanks.
Reply
Balancing Beauty and Bedlamon May 25, 2012 at 11:07 am
Kimberly Baker Bowen You can do it from frozen or thawed. I do both often. If frozen, just add on another hour or two. I let it go all day.
Reply
Kimberly Baker Bowenon May 25, 2012 at 11:12 am
Thank you!
Reply
Terri Cendejason May 25, 2012 at 3:04 pm
I think that is for dinner tonight!
Reply
Barbaraon June 6, 2012 at 12:01 pm
Is there any way to keep the chicken breasts from getting dry? I tried this yesterday and it ended up cooking on low for 9 hours. It was very tasty, but the chicken was so dry. Any advice?
Reply
- Jenon June 6, 2012 at 3:58 pm
  I think it can depend on two things. The fresh boneless typically stays much more moist than the frozen. I find frozen can get dry, but I still use it since it’s less expensive. Also, depending on your crock pot, the nine hours would just be too long. If you have to be gone all day and your crock pot can’t set to warm, then I’d go with fresh chicken and possibly more sauce. Typically, my chicken stays really moist, so I think it may just be that your crock pot temp is a bit high. Sorry about that
  Reply
Barbaraon June 6, 2012 at 4:29 pm
I’ll be sure to start it later in the day, and if my husband has to work later than expected I’ll switch it down to Warm setting. Thanks for the tips! It really was yummy despite the dryness =)
Reply
Priscilla Jacksonon April 19, 2014 at 4:15 pm
Now that I’m the caregiver for a mother with Alzheimer’s I need easy meals to make. I have fallen in love with my crock-pot. It makes things so much easier for me. Thanks.
Reply
Janon February 10, 2017 at 2:08 pm
I’m always looking for an easy savory meal to feed a group of 20. Do you think this would stretch enough, served on hamburger buns? About how many servings do you think this is? Tks!
Reply
- Jenon February 11, 2017 at 2:29 pm
  Yes, I think it would but you could add a few more breasts in there. It freezes well so if you don’t use it all, you’ll have a quick additional meal. It shreds very easily and you could even add a little melted cheese, tomatoes if people like those to make it stretch farther. 🙂
  Reply