BBQ Pulled Chicken Slow Cooker Recipe (or Instant Pot)
Looking for an easy weeknight meal? Try Alison Needham’s Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken recipe! Simply toss all the ingredients in the slow cooker (or Instant Pot!) and you’ll have a delicious dinner with minimal effort!
Got five minutes? You can make this BBQ Pulled Chicken recipe.
Alison’s easy recipe comes together in just five minutes (if not less). You can make this delicious dish in your slow cooker the morning of, or toss it in the Instant Pot and you’ll have a healthy meal on the table in about a half hour.
Don’t skip the California Prune BBQ Sauce
If you don’t have a batch of California Prune BBQ Sauce on hand, you might be tempted to add store bought BBQ Sauce. Don’t do it!!!!! Alison’s naturally sweetened homemade BBQ Sauce is refined sugar free, tangy and delicious – and keeps for up to a month in the refrigerator.
How to make BBQ Pulled Chicken
We’re not kidding when we say this recipe couldn’t be easier.
Slow Cooker recipe:
Put ingredients in slow cooker. Turn it on.
Instant Pot recipe:
Add ingredients to Instant Pot. Turn it on.
Seriously, it doesn’t get easier than this. (We know, there’s the matter of cooking times – you can get all that info in the recipe card!)
What to serve with BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
Serve these simple sandwiches with any of the following:
Potato salad
Green salad
French Fries
Baked Beans*
The Best Baked Beans recipe
Since you’ve already made a batch of California Prune BBQ Sauce, you should probably use it make Baked Beans! Alison uses the same sauce to sweeten her baked beans. You’ll never buy canned beans again.
BBQ Pulled Chicken Slow Cooker Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 ½ cups California Prune BBQ Sauce divided
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground pepper
Instructions
Slow Cooker Directions:
- Place chicken, 1 cup (about 90g) of BBQ sauce , garlic and onion powders, salt and pepper into the bowl of a slow cooker (omit the chicken broth).
- Cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours, or high heat for 3-4.
- Shred chicken, stir in reserved BBQ sauce and serve.
Instant Pot Directions:
- Put the chicken thighs into the stainless inner cooking pot of an Instant Pot. Pour 1 cup (about 90g) of the BBQ sauce and chicken broth over the chicken and toss to coat. Sprinkle the mixture with the garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper and stir again to combine.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot making sure the valve is in the sealed position. Press manual (high pressure) and set to 12 minutes. When it’s done, carefully turn the valve to release the steam (quick release style). Use a clean dishcloth to mute the sound and the steam that billows out.
- Remove the lid and using a slotted spoon, scoop the chicken out of the instant pot into a serving bowl. Shred chicken with two forks and stir in reserved BBQ sauce.
Assembly:
- Serve chicken on buns topped with coleslaw.
Notes
Nutrition
Our favorite quick + easy dinner recipes
If you loved our Slow Cooker recipe for BBQ Pulled Chicken, try these easy dinner recipes!
Sheet Pan Chicken Marbella
All the flavors of the classic Chicken Marbella recipe in a fraction of the time. We’re absolutely obsessed with this recipe from our friend Meg at This Mess is Ours.
Crunchy Grilled Cheese with Sweet and Savory Caramelized Onions
What’s the secret ingredient in Teri‘s Caramelized Onions? California Prunes! She calls her Sweet and Savory Caramelized Onions a “magic elixir” and we agree. Grilled cheese sandwiches have never tasted better.
Coq Au Vin
This take on the traditional Coq au Vin recipe amps up the flavor and slashes the time to under an hour. You’ll love this recipe from our friend Peter Sidwell.
Chicken and Prune Pizza with Cauliflower Crust
Sweet and tangy, this Chicken and California Prune Pizza will delight your tastebuds. The combination of blue cheese, red onion, and prunes is utterly irresistible.
Did you try this recipe? Maybe you’ve got a favorite recipe using California Prunes that you’d like to share with us? Snap a pic and share it on social using #caprunes.
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