It’s football szn people. That means lots of family time, hanging with friends and enjoying the weekends.
Today, I’m bringing you one of my favorite easy meals for any time you’re serving a crowd: slow cooker pulled chicken sandwiches! Throw it all into a crockpot and then forget about them until you’re ready to serve. They’re nutritious, made with a homemade sauce and even perfect for weeknight dinners.
The best part about these pulled chicken sandwiches isn’t just that they’re easy though, it’s also that you can keep them warm in the slow cooker until they’re ready to be served. BOOM!
Ingredients in slow cooker pulled chicken sandwiches
These easy pulled chicken sandwiches are made with super simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry and refrigerator. The best part? You just add the following to your slow cooker with your chicken and let your slow cooker work some magic:
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs: I like using chicken thighs because they’re more tender, cheaper and flavorful than regular chicken breast.
- Ketchup: feel free to use any kind. I prefer a lower sugar ketchup.
- BBQ sauce: again, you can use any kind of BBQ sauce you like. I prefer Stubb’s Spicy BBQ sauce because it’s lower in sugar.
- Worcestershire sauce: a bit of Worcestershire adds an amazing savory flavor.
- Apple cider vinegar: you’ll want to add a little acidity to the sauce. This is the kind I use!
- Yellow mustard: some tangy yellow mustard pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the BBQ sauce.
- Spices: we’re adding cumin and cayenne for additional delicious flavor.
- Hamburger buns: I love a whole grain, seedy hamburger bun but feel free to use any brand you’d like (even gluten free).
- Toppings: don’t forget my famous homemade healthy coleslaw to go on top! You could also add a slice of cheese, red onion, fresh tomato, crisp lettuce — the options are endless.
How do you pull chicken?
Pulling chicken is much easier than it sounds. All you have to do is:
- Once your chicken is done cooking in your slow cooker (after 6-7 hours on low, or 3-4 hours on high) you’ll remove each chicken thigh with a slotted spoon and place it onto a cutting board.
- Take two forks and pull apart each chicken thigh until your chicken is fully shredded
- Add your newly pulled chicken back to your slow cooker and stir it into your sauce to soak up all of that saucy flavor. Done!
How to store, freeze & reheat BBQ pulled chicken
- To store: If you have leftover pulled chicken, simply store it in an airtight bag or container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- To freeze: allow the pulled chicken to cool completely before transferring it to a freezer safe bag or container. It will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow the pulled chicken to thaw in the refrigerator before fully reheating or using it.
- To reheat: for a hands-off option, you can add the leftover pulled chicken to your crock pot and place it on “warm” to warm it back up. Otherwise, you can simply reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop.
More ways to use this crockpot pulled chicken
- Add it to these delicious zucchini boats
- Throw it on a big salad like this one
- Top a yummy, loaded quinoa bowl
- Use it as a topping for your favorite homemade pizza!
What goes well with pulled chicken sandwiches?
After topping your crock pot pulled chicken sandwiches with the delicious cilantro cabbage slaw, I love serving them with any of these healthy side dishes:
- Street Corn Pasta Salad
- Sesame Garlic Grilled Sweet Potato Fries with Yogurt Curry Dip
- Cashew Crunch Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad
- Avocado Tomato Chickpea Pasta Salad
- Jalapeño-Goat Cheese Grilled Stuffed Mini Peppers
- The Easiest Chopped Greek Chickpea Salad
- Spicy Maple Dijon Grilled Brussels Sprouts
You can also serve the slow cooker pulled chicken in lettuce cups, on top of salad, or even in tacos. SO GOOD.
More easy chicken recipes you’ll love
- Baked or Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken (with the best honey mustard marinade!)
- Hot Honey Bangin’ Crunchy Cornflake Baked Chicken
- Healthy White Chicken Chili
- One Pan Sazon Skillet Chicken
- Healthy Orange Chicken Stir Fry with Coconut Cauliflower Rice
Get all of my chicken recipes here!
I know you’re going to love these pulled chicken sandwiches, please let me know if you make them by leaving a comment and rating the recipe below. I’d love to hear from you and it helps encourage others to make the recipe too! xo.
Incredible Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
Ingredients
- For the chicken:
- 1 ½ pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
- ½ cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup low sugar bbq sauce (I love Stubb’s Spicy BBQ sauce)
- ¼ cup water or chicken broth
- ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- For the slaw:
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup shredded red cabbage
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
- Freshly ground salt and pepper
- For serving:
- 4 whole grain or gluten free seedy hamburger buns
Instructions
- Add ketchup, bbq sauce, water, worcestershire, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, cumin and cayenne pepper to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Place chicken thighs on top and flip over to coat the chicken thighs with the sauce. Cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 hours.
- Once done, shred chicken and place back in the slow cooker and stir with the sauce. Serve immediately or turn slow cooker to the warm setting and serve later.
- Make the slaw while the chicken is cooking: In a medium bowl combine carrots, cabbage, cilantro, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, sesame oil and salt and pepper. Set aside to marinate until you are ready to serve.
- Once ready to serve, use a slotted spoon to add chicken to bun, top with slaw and remaining bun. You can also serve these with sliced cheese if you prefer. Serves 4.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
161 comments
These look incredible! Those buns!! What brand are those?
they’re delicious! I just try to find super seedy buns at Whole Foods 🙂
Wow! This is an awesome recipe. I will definitely be making it again soon
So glad you loved it!
I prefer to use chicken breasts. Would I need to make any changes to this recipe? Perhaps cook it a little less time?
The recipe should be fine as is to make with chicken breast! 🙂
These were AMAZING!! The slaw makes it!! I admit I used organic chicken breast- definitely a keeper! Thanks Monique for another winner!!
So glad you liked them, Carrie! They are one of my favorites for an easy dinner or for BBQs!
This was awesome! Normally my family only eats chicken breasts but I tried the thighs and wouldn’t change a thing. My husband and I ate it with the slaw and it will definitely be in our rotation. Even my picky 13 year old son consumed it although I didn’t give him the slaw:)
Yay! I’m so happy you and the fam loved them, Eileen! 🙂
Listen 👂🏾 This recipe was sooooo GOOD! Hands down!!!! Now some things I did differently was I added sliced sweet onions, paprika, chili power & garlic power. However, Excellent!!!! Thanks again Monique 😉
Glad you loved it Lisa! Those additions sound great – this one’s great for customizing, too.
wow this turned out SO good and was so simple! I ended up making it in my instant pot (set to manual for 15 minutes, release pressure manually) and it turned out great!
awesome and thanks for the tip on the instant pot! so happy you liked this recipe 🙂
Thank you for posting these instant post directions! SO helpful!!!
Easy and delicious dinner! Even my kids loved it!
I used primal kitchen’s classic bbq sauce and ketchup and this was beyond good!!! So dang easy to put together too. I slow-cooked it on high for 4 hours and turned our perfect. Keeping this recipe for all the potlucks this summer! I love all your recipes, but this is definitely in my top 3.
Whoo hoo! So glad to hear that, Alyssa! Thanks for taking time to leave a comment too! 🙂
Big fan of this recipe! Easy to make and approved by my picky boyfriend!
Amazing! So happy to hear that.
This was so easy and so delicious! I love your recipes. Always something for every palate!
So happy to hear that Sandy! This is one of my favs for summer parties. And absolutely – something for everyone here!
Made exactly as the recipe stated and these were delicious! Had leftovers the next day and they were just as good!
Amazing! So happy to hear that. Best leftovers 🙂
Made this tonight. The pulled chicken was perfect. As well as the slaw. We really enjoyed it. I couldn’t find any whole grain seedy buns.. but I did find a seeded sourdough. So I just cut it into sandwich sized lengths and sliced them down the middle. Grilled them a minute in a Ian with olive oil. Absolutely delicious. A great go to recipe. Thank you!
Perfect! Sounds like the best dinner. Glad you enjoyed!
The slaw sounds great but my husband doesn’t like cilantro, what would be a good replacement?
You can simply leave it out!
This looks fantastic! How do I modify the cook time for my instant pot?
I actually don’t use an Instant Pot so I’m not sure what the instructions would be. Let me know if you try it!
This is a staple recipe for us in the summertime! It’s so quick and easy. We’ve made it in our Instant Pot and it works beautifully!
Perfect for game day too!
I have not made this recipe as yet, but plan to very soon. I can usually tell just by looking at the ingredients how a recipe will turn out and this one sounds like a 5 star recipe! I just have a question that no one seems to have addressed. Does the sauce turn out watery ? Most slow cooker recipes tend to lead to watery sauces. If so, how do I thicken up the sauce to stick to the chicken? Thanks in advance.
Hi Sherry! So excited for you to make this recipe. The sauce is not watery and most of the chicken should absorb the sauce perfectly. However, if it doesn’t, you can always stir in a teaspoon of cornstarch or arrowroot starch to thicken it up!
Chicken can be so booooring!
This recipe is fun and delicious. Followed it to a T! I’m literally eating leftovers right now. The slaw just makes it SO amazing.
I did use regular hamburger buns and they didn’t really stand up to the test, even though I toasted them. Will definitely use a harder bun next time! Thank you for the GREAT recipe!!
The perfect way to jazz up chicken! So glad you enjoyed.
My husband and I have made this a handful of times. So good! Super super simple, juicy, delicious. This is a go to meal for us!
Amazing! Glad you both love this one – it’s one of our favorites, too.
These were a family dinner hit! After a hot summers day, I knew I could walk over to my slow cooker and literally throw dinner on the table. Boy was it delicious, and the dinner table was silent. I made mine with breast chicken, left out the cayenne for the kids and it was perfect. Thanks for the recipe!
Amazing! I’m so glad. Such a great family dinner!
How about a instant pot? Have you tried it in an instant pot? I love this recipe and did it as directed, but I also have an instant pot and wanted to try it.
I haven’t tried these in an Instant Pot so I’m not 100% sure what the instructions would be. Let me know if you do!
Can’t get past the 5 pop up ads to even see the recipe.
This recipe looks awesome and it uses everything I already have on hand in my home! Would I be able to use frozen chicken thighs and have the same result? Thanks so much for any feedback!
This was a delicious and super easy recipe. My family LOVED it! I will be making it again next week while we stay inside #coronavirus
Perfect! Enjoy!!
Unbelievable flavor! Love the combo of all the ingredients. Next time I will 900% be doubling the recipe!
Aren’t they delicious?? Perfect for doubling!
Monique, I usually comment how much my 3 kids and I love your recipes but today THIS recipe made my husband’s TOP 3 chicken recipes list! That’s a huge compliment! I simply served the pulled chicken with cornbread and Gala apple slices as sides. Tasted so good after working hard in garden all morning! My new go to Saturday recipe cause so easy and flavorful! I used Stubb’s Mesquite BBQ and chicken tenders cause that’s what I had on hand.
Amazing!! So happy to hear that, Jill 🙂 and love Stubb’s!
Yum!!! This was a super simple, yummy weeknight dinner. Definitely planning to double this for family bbqs this summer. I used sugar free ketchup and sugar free bbq sauce (G. Hughes sweet & spicy). The slaw was fantastic! Never tried a recipe I didn’t like from Monique! Another winner.
Perfect! So happy you loved this one!
Made this for dinner and it will definitely be going in our rotation! So easy, so good and kid approved!
So happy to hear that!
Used chicken breast and put in instant pot for 12 min on high pressure and it turned out! Wish I would have made more for leftovers!
Perfect! I’m glad that worked out well!
Super easy and delicious! I used spicy brown mustard instead of yellow because it was all I had and it still turned out great. The slaw definitely compliments the chicken nicely!
Perfect! Love a good spicy brown mustard 🙂
Will do it for sure,I don’t have a slow cooker,what is the best way to do it instead..Thank you
You could make it in a dutch oven on the stovetop!
Yes, I love slow cooker recipes and have saved some, and this will definitely be the next one to try. Your sandwwiches look so nice and delicious, can’t wait to make it! Thanks for sharing!
Always love a good slow cooker recipe! Hope you like this one 🙂
This was absolutely delicious! The chicken is so tender and flavorful. And I’m not a coleslaw person because I don’t like the creamy ones, but this was perfect! I could eat coleslaw all the time if it tasted like this! Definitely will be making this again!!
Amazing! So happy you loved these!
This meal is absolutely delicious!! It was my first time using a crockpot and I wasn’t sure how it would turn out… So good that I shared this recipe with all my closest friends and family!!!! 10/10 recommend.
I paired it with an onion roll
Amazing! So happy you loved it 🙂
So easy and so tasty!! I love a good slaw too so this was a win win!
Best combo! 🙂
I have made this several times now, it has become a family favorite.
Super easy to put together. I have served it on whole wheat rolls and also on brown rice. The leftovers freeze well.
Do you think this would work with bone-in chicken thighs? My husband accidentally bought bone-in/skin-on thighs and now I have an abundance. Maybe remove the skin and just cook a little longer before shredding off the bone? It looks delicious and can’t wait to try it!
Hi! Yes that should work just fine 🙂
My kids loved this recipe! Husband was sceptical but ate his words or rather his facial expression when asked to stir the slow cooker. Welcome addition to family recipe collection. Thank you
So happy to hear that! Such a great dinner.
Delish and easy to make! This dish is a regular on the menu for dinner! I like to add extra chill flake for more heat.
Super easy and very delicious! I’ve put slaw on pulled pork but never thought to do it with pulled chicken—game changer. I added some diced red onion to the slaw for a little more kick. I topped it with homemade spicy pickle chips and looked forward to the leftovers the next day. You could also put this on a bed of shredded kale or other greens if the bun is not for you. So good, thanks for the recipe!
Sounds amazing! And absolutely 🙂 glad you enjoyed!
I cannot get over how delicious this recipe was tonight!! The flavors go so well together and it is a piece of cake to make. I followed the recommendations of a previous commenter and cooked the chicken in my Instant Pot. I had 2 chicken breasts and cooked them for 15 minutes on manual mode. The key is to let it naturally release!! I had enough sauce that I very easily could have used 3 breasts if I had them. Don’t hesitate to make this recipe! You will not regret it.
Perfect! I’m glad it worked out well in your Instant Pot!
Vey very good. Great balance of flavors. Used vintage cheddar cheese and it gave it come creaminess.
Would make again and again.
Love it! Glad you enjoyed!
Hi, this looks so delicious.
Is there a way to make this, if i dont have a slow cooker?
You could use a dutch oven and cook on low!
This was so so so good! Made it in the instant pot instead of the slow cooker and it was so delicious. Huge hit with my husband snd son, I will surely be making this again!
Perfect! So glad it was a hit!
These were SO GOOD! I used chicken breasts instead of the thighs. The chicken was so tender and that slaw is fantastic! Was a hit with the whole fam! We used the leftover chicken to make rice bowls 🙂
Perfect! So happy to hear that!
Unbelievable! This is in our weekly rotation now! So easy and delicious, the slaw that goes with the pulled chicken is another layer of deliciousness!
These BBQ chicken sandwiches were tasty and easy! The sauce was the perfect mix of tangy and sweet…even 18 month old gobbled up the chicken! Chicken thighs make such tender, shreddable meat-perfect for little chompers.
Love that! Perfect dinner 🙂
easy and tasty, a go-to in our household!
So happy to hear that!
So delicious and simple!
Glad you enjoyed!!
This chicken is AMAZING. Delicious and flavorful. I make it in the IP with a little extra water/broth added to avoid the burn notice and do 12-13 min (depending on size of chicken pieces) on high pressure with manual release. Everything is perfect about this recipe – love it on a toasted bun with melted cheese and a big pile of slaw.
Perfect! Love that!
My go to bbq chicken recipe! I also make this chicken to put on salads or homemade bbq chicken pizza.
Amazing!! Love that idea 🙂
The slaw!! Definitely using it in other recipes. Absolutely perfect 🤩
So easy and tasty! I loved the slaw, it added such a nice, crisp crunch to the sandwich.
Sooo delish! Loved the flavor combo especially the slaw!
These were such a hit in our house. I loved it for its ease – throw it in the crock pot and go on with our crazy lives. And my family loved it for the taste! The best part is the bright cabbage salad on top.
Such a step up from just throwing bottled bbq sauce in the slow cooker!! Also love doubling the slaw recipe to add into salads through out the week.
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed!
Tasty and easy!
Glad you enjoyed!
This recipe is sooooo fabulous! I have made it multiple times and all of the flavors come together amazingly! I have also made the coleslaw and added it to chicken tacos and it was so good!! YOU WILL BE ADDICTED!!!
Love that! Great idea to use it for chicken tacos 🙂
I love this recipe, I have made this multiple times as it has become a family favorite. It is simple to make and so delicious. I made no modifications. I have recommended this recipe to my friends to make and they have all enjoyed it as well. It’s a keeper!
So happy to hear that!
If I can’t stand ketchup, would you substitute with additional bbq sauce, or is there any other sauce you’d recommend?
Additional BBQ sauce should be fine!
Super easy and really delicious. Entire family loved it! We served over rice with some avocado and green onion (bbq bowl style) and it was devoured
Perfect! Sounds amazing!
TRY THIS RECIPE!
I can’t say enough good things about this pulled chicken. It has ingredients you always have at home, is super easy and tastes amazing.
It’s a regular menu item in our home!
So glad you love it!! One of our favs, too 🙂
Perfect birthday party meal! Only substitute was the oil, I used olive oil for the slaw. These were fantastic and really easy to make. I will definitely be making it for meal prep as it stores and stays good refrigerated.
Absolutely! Glad it was a hit!
Easy and delicious. Made this exactly as the recipe read except we cooked it in the instapot not the crockpot. So good! We topped it with Trader Joe’s Sriracha barbecue which made it just that much better!
Perfect! Love that!
Such a fabulous recipe!!! So easy and delicious every time! If I’m short on time, I’ll make it in the InstantPot, love to double it in the crocpot too!! The slaw is amazing!!!!
Love it!! Perfect dinner 🙂
Watery and tasteless.
Sorry to hear that! Can I ask what type of BBQ sauce you used? All of the add-ins should make the chicken perfectly flavorful.
Tried this today for the first time, and it’s a winner! I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Prep was lightning fast. The slaw is amazing too! Thank you!
Perfect! So glad you enjoyed!
These are truly incredible!! My whole family loved this meal! Can’t wait to make again. Super easy, filling, and healthy!
I’m SO happy you guys loved them, Meghan! YAY!
MAJOR winner! I have made this more times than I can count – it is in our regular family meal rotation!
Woohooo! So happy you’re loving them!!
I make this at least once or twice a month. Really easy and so good! I make enough for 2 meals. We will eat it once on little rolls, another time over brown rice. Great recipe!
These were delicious!! Made them twice in two weeks! The first time made them in the slow cooker and they were perfect! The second time I procrastinated so I used the instant pot and just cooked on the poultry setting and they were still delicious!
Great recipe, so easy and yummy!
So easy and so tasty! And most of the ingredients were already in my pantry. I wish I had made these sooner!
I’m so glad you tried and loved them, Chanel!
Always a crowd pleaser!!!! Great recipe!
Yay! So glad that you and everyone love them!
Absolutely love this sandwich! It’s become a staple in our home. Feels like a clean bbq sandwich and the slaw is to die for!
Another 10/10 recipe from Monique!! The chicken was so tender and the BBQ sauce was delicious! Highly recommend!
Huge hit with the whole family. Husband HATES Mayo so he loved this coleslaw (and even found the empty Tupperware from our leftovers in the sink the same night we had it…)
HA I’m so glad he and the whole fam loved it!! Thank you!
I have a large crock. I made a double batch with chicken breasts, I did not have sugar-free ketchup so I used some regular ketchup and some tomato paste. It was completely cooked in 3 hours. Super simple and totally delicious. Even the “picky one” liked it!
I’m so glad you loved it, Suzanne! Thanks so much for leaving a review 🙂
This looks amazing! If I use chicken breast instead
of thighs, is the cooking time the same?
Thank you
Hello! Yes the cook time will be the same 🙂 Enjoy!
So good! Mixed the sauce up the night before so I could just dump it all in the slow cooker in the morning. Made the maple Brussels listed in the post as a side!
These were a huge hit with both my parents and significant other. I used chicken breasts but otherwise followed the recipe as written – super easy and turns out great every time. The chicken is incredibly tender (I use the slow cooker function on the Instant Pot, set on medium for 6.5 hours with a sealed valve) and the cole slaw is a nice, bright addition. This one is going in the regular rotation.
These live up to the title! They are so incredible and I love the easy prep- especially with a newborn! I bought rainbow slaw from the store that was sliced cabbage, carrots and broccoli and served it on an onion roll with sweet potato fries. Such an amazing recipe, I will be taking this to next cookout.
Aw thank you, Mama!! Sounds like such a good meal 🙂
Very tasty and simple weeknight meal. Lovely on a warm evening like tonight. My partner and I will be doing this again! Thank you for sharing this recipe
Of course! SO glad you both loved this recipe.
These look incredible! I actually have an entire whole roasted chicken in the fridge and was wondering if I could shred it and toss it in the sauce for these? If so, how would you suggest I go about doing so before continuing with the rest of the recipe and plating them?
You could definitely cook the whole chicken with the sauce, take it out of the crockpot and shred it on a cutting board. Make sure you remove all of the bones and that there aren’t any that fell out in the crockpot. Hope you enjoy this recipe!
Can I use Chicken legs. That’s what I have on hand
Sure! I would recommend making sure you really check for bones and make sure they are all removed before serving. Enjoy!
This dinner is so easy and delicious. Definitely a new staple in our weeknight rotation and leftovers are delicious. Leftovers also freeze well. A nice change from pulled pork!
I made this for my lunches and enjoyed it all week! Instead of buying the individual ingredients for the slaw, I bought a bag that already had everything prepped and just added the dressing. I’m now a fan of Stubb’s sauce, too!
Seriously the best! Glad you are loving his recipe 🙂
Delicious! This was so easy to make and so satisfying to eat! We’ll definitely make this again!
Yay! I am so glad you are loving this recipe and it turned out great for you, Katie. These are always a family favorite ❤️
These are fantastic pulled chicken sandwiches, Monique!! I followed everything exactly as your recipe is but used our Ninja to cook due to lack of time for the crock pot. Did as another reviewer said, 15 minutes with manual steam release. Definitely will make these again and will use your sauce for pulled pork sandwiches!
Thanks for the great recipe!
Awesome, so glad to hear that worked well and that you loved them, Mary!