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Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken (3 Ingredients, 5 Minutes Prep)

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It’s a meal of dreams. This Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe has three simple ingredients, 5 minutes of prep, and is ready in 3 hours. It’s juicy, tender, and oh-so-delicious. With mostly hands-off cooking, it’s perfect for a simple weeknight dinner, parties, or game days!

Side view of 3 ingredient Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken on a bun with coleslaw and chips

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Or even on sweltering summer days when you want to feed a crowd.

Are you ready for an easy crockpot recipe? If you’re a fan of simple slow cooker recipes, like Crockpot Hawaiian Pineapple Pork, another 3-ingredient, 5 minutes prep recipe, you’ll love this one too!

What to Love About Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

  • THREE simple ingredients
  • FIVE minutes of prep
  • READY in as little as 3 hours
  • SET IT and FORGET IT

Yep… when you’re planning a party, feeding a crowd, or simply busy… this set it and forget it recipe will become a favorite!

Kids love it; adults love it… busy home cooks love it too!

Side view of BBQ Chicken on a bun with coleslaw and potato chips

What 3 Ingredients Do You Need?

Ingredient measurements are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  • Boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • BBQ sauce (homemade or store-bought)
  • Sliced onion

How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

Read more specifics in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

The BBQ sauce is the star of this recipe. If you’re buying BBQ, splurge a little, or use your favorite brand. BUT, if you want to make your own, as it is incredibly simple to do, use your favorite recipe, or take a look at my favorite 10-Minute Simple Barbecue Sauce That’s Sweet and a Tad Spicy.

Add chicken to the bottom of the slow cooker, top with onion, and pour the sauce over the top.

Top view of uncooked chicken breasts in a black slow cooker insert

Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. Then, remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it with two forks.

Top view of shredded slow cooker BBQ Chicken on a white plate with 2 forks

Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot and stir to coat.

Top view of cooked shredded BBQ chicken in a black slow cooker insert

Serve on buns with coleslaw for a delicious meal!

How to Serve BBQ Chicken

One of our favorite ways to serve shredded BBQ chicken is on buns or sliders topped with cabbage slaw. It’s simply irresistible and everyone loves it.

You can also use it in tacos, salads, our favorite Easy BBQ Chicken Pizza, easy wraps, burritos or even over your rice (I like to add broccoli to that rice!).

What Sides Go With BBQ Chicken?

Here are a few ideas of what goes well with BBQ Chicken:

How to Store Leftover BBQ Chicken

If you have leftovers, and who doesn’t love those!, let the BBQ chicken cool to room temperature, and then refrigerate in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

For longer storage, you can freeze the BBQ chicken in freezer bags for up to 1 month. Defrost the chicken before reheating. We like to add additional BBQ sauce!

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken FAQ’s

How long does it take to cook the 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken?

The cooking time for this slow cooker recipe is approximately 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours, depending on your slow cooker’s settings and the size of the chicken pieces.

Can I use store-bought BBQ sauce?

Absolutely! Feel free to use your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce for convenience. However, if you prefer a homemade sauce or have a special recipe, you can make your own BBQ sauce from scratch, like my 10-Minute Barbecue Sauce.

Can I freeze the leftovers?

Absolutely! The leftovers can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 2-3 months. Thaw the chicken in the refrigerator overnight before reheating it.

Can I use a different type of meat?

While this recipe is specifically designed for chicken, you can experiment with other meats like pork or beef. Adjust the cooking time and ingredients accordingly to ensure the meat is cooked to your desired doneness.

Side view of BBQ Chicken on a white plate with a bun and chips

More Slow-Cooker Recipes You May Also Love

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Side view of 3 ingredient Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken on a bun with coleslaw and chips

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken (3 Ingredients, 5 Minutes Prep)

This Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe has 3 ingredients, 5 minutes of prep, and is ready in 3 hours. Juicy, tender, and oh-so-delicious!
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Servings: 10 servings

Equipment

Ingredients 

  • 3 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce (homemade or your favorite store-bought brand)
  • Cabbage Slaw for serving
  • Buns for serving

Instructions

  • Place chicken, chopped onion, and BBQ sauce in the base of the crockpot. Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
  • Remove chicken from the slow cooker and shred with two forks. Place the shredded chicken back into the slow cooker and stir until it's well coated with the sauce.
  • Serve BBQ chicken on buns with cabbage slaw.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 231kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 600mg | Potassium: 611mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 137IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Tried this recipe? Pin it Today!Follow me on Pinterest for more and use the "Pin" button at the top of the recipe card.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken, Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken
5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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