Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken Recipe (Slow Cooker)

5 from 5 votes
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This brown sugar BBQ chicken is simple, delicious, and absolutely perfect for a low-effort meal prep. Throw everything in your crock pot and the work is done!

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Brown sugar BBQ chicken in a slow cooker with a wooden spoon.

Why you’ll love this

This easy slow cooker brown sugar chicken recipe is simple, low effort and so flavorful! If you’re someone who loves to throw a bunch of ingredients into the crock pot and walk away, you need to get this one into your dinner rotation!

Personally as a dietitian one of my favorite things to have ready to go in your fridge is a protein, like chicken. It makes the week so much easier!

When you have a versatile protein like shredded chicken, you can easily make sandwiches, salads, and dinners in a pinch by adding a couple of easy side dishes to go with like roasted sweet potatoes, a side salad, or air fried broccoli.

It’s also a great recipe for meal prepping- using a slow cooker is one of my favorite easy ways to prep ahead! You can make a batch of this crockpot BBQ chicken at the start of the week and have an easy protein option all week long.

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to put together this simple slow cooker BBQ chicken recipe in a delish tangy sauce, and there’s no cutting board required!

Ingredients for brown sugar BBQ chicken on a countertop with labels.
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Ingredients

  • Boneless skinless chicken breasts: I prefer boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer them!
  • Barbecue sauce: You’ll need just one cup barbecue sauce, and you can use any barbecue chicken sauce that you like. I usually use Sweet Baby Ray’s, but any kind will work. I’ll sometimes use these Primal Kitchen BBQ Sauces for a lower sugar version, too! BBQ sauce ingredients do vary, so choose a sauce that you like!
  • Dark brown sugar: Brown sugar adds great flavor to this shredded chicken! Light or dark brown sugar will work here. You can also adjust the amount if you prefer a little less sweet, or use a brown sugar substitute.
  • Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar adds the perfect amount of tang to this barbecue chicken.
  • Worcestershire sauce: I love adding Worcestershire sauce for a boost of savory salty flavor!
  • Spices: For spices, you’ll need garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and black pepper.
Brown sugar BBQ chicken being scooped out of a crock pot with a wooden spoon.

How to make brown sugar BBQ chicken

  1. Add all ingredients to the bottom of the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Note: if using larger chicken breasts, you may want to slice them in half for even cooking.
Ingredients for brown sugar bbq chicken in a crockpot.
Ingredients for brown sugar barbecue chicken in a slow cooker mixed up.
  1. Shred chicken using two forks. Top with extra barbecue sauce if desired.
Slow cooker brown sugar bbq chicken finished in the crock pot.

How to store

Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Serve on a sandwiches or as a protein for your favorite dinners.

Brown sugar BBQ chicken in a slow cooker with a wooden spoon.

Serving suggestions

For a super easy meal idea, serve this brown sugar BBQ chicken on a fresh roll with a side salad. Or try it with one of these easy sides!

I love serving this flavorful chicken with some extra bbq sauce on Hawaiian rolls, too. I love using them for quick and easy dinners, like these Big Mac Ground Turkey Sliders and Chopped Italian Sliders.

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Brown sugar BBQ chicken in a slow cooker with a wooden spoon.
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Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken

Easy slow cooker shredded chicken made with simple ingredients like barbecue sauce, brown sugar and apple cider vinegar.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 4 hours
Servings: 10
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Equipment

  • 1 Slow Cooker

Ingredients 

  • 2.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, or thighs
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper, more to taste

Instructions 

  • Add all ingredients to a slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
  • Shred chicken using two forks. Top with extra barbecue sauce if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 203kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 444mg | Potassium: 516mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 198IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an estimate.

Did you try this recipe?Leave a comment + star rating below!

Hi, I'm Jamie

Iโ€™m a Registered Dietitian of over 10 years and I love creating simple, delicious recipes that leave you feeling good, too. Healthy eating doesnโ€™t have to be complicated! Let me show you with easy healthy recipes and realistic nutrition tips.

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Recipe Rating




9 Comments

  1. Trish Holmes says:

    5 stars
    So good on mashed potatoes! My husband and I ate it 3 nights in a row

    1. Jamie N, Registered Dietitian says:

      SO perfect with potatoes! Thank you for commenting and leaving a review!

  2. Maggie says:

    5 stars
    Made this chicken earlier this week, and it is the best ever! We ate it the past three nights and I could eat it again tonight if there was any left. Highly recommend trying this recipe!

    1. Jamie N, Registered Dietitian says:

      So happy you enjoyed it!! Thank you for leaving this kind comment and review ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Nicole says:

    5 stars
    I made this for my son for lunches for school and He absolutely loved it! Had to put it to the test, we ate it as a slider, had it on nachos, and also tried it with rice.. all versions were great. This is very versatile and we will definitely be making this again, thank you for sharing!

    1. Jamie N, Registered Dietitian says:

      Yum!! All delicious ways to use this chicken and I’m so glad you loved it!

  4. Sam p says:

    Made Today and used 1.5 cups of homemade bbq sauce! Was perfect, thank you for the recipe! Made so much we will be eating all week

    1. Jamie N, Registered Dietitian says:

      Yum!! Thanks so much for commenting!

  5. Christine says:

    5 stars
    This recipe was delicious and easy. I will definitely make it again.