Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Pulled Chicken
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Why we love this recipe
I do love my pile of slow cooker chicken recipes…there is something so satisfying about pretty much just dumping a bunch of ingredients into your Crock Pot in the morning, pushing the start button, going about your day, and having dinner all ready about 8 hours later!
This pulled chicken recipe cooks up boneless chicken all day in a lovely bath of brown sugar and soy sauce and other delicious ingredients, and at the end of the day all you need to do is pull it into bite sized shreds and serve it up!
It works as a sandwich filling, tucked into a tortilla or piled on a plate with some cool coleslaw. It’s deliciously versatile!
What is pulled chicken?
Pulled chicken is pretty much what it sounds like – chicken that has been cooked to lovely tenderness and then pulled apart into bite sized shreds.
You can do this with two forks, or you can be like the Southern husband and get out your Bear Paws Shredder Claws!
You can scoop out the chicken to shred it, or you can shred it right there in the slow cooker. And now that we have that all sorted out, welcome to my current favorite pulled chicken recipe!
Ingredients you need
Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Chicken: You can use either chicken breasts (our choice!) or chicken thighs – just make sure they are boneless
- Soy Sauce: We HIGHLY recommend the low sodium kind. You can always add salt but you can’t take it out.
- Brown Sugar: Either light or dark will work. Dark has more molasses and will give you a more pronounced brown sugar flavor.
- Balsamic Vinegar: This sweet, syrupy vinegar can be found next to the regular vinegar in your supermarket. After you use it for this chicken, use it again for this delectable balsamic steak salad!
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.
How to make this recipe
STEP 1: Place 2 pounds of boneless chicken in your slow cooker.
STEP 2: Mix a cup of chicken broth, pepper, poultry seasoning, brown sugar, soy sauce (I like to use low sodium), Worcestershire Sauce and balsamic vinegar together and pour this lovely concoction over the chicken, making sure you get a little bit underneath.
STEP 3: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours until chicken is done. Using two forks, shred the chicken right there in the slow cooker. Serve over rice, potatoes, in tortillas or in burger buns!
Recipe FAQs
You can! Just make sure they are boneless and you are good to go.
Either will work…dark brown sugar will make things a little sweeter because there is more molasses in it.
Yes! And not only that, I highly recommend making extra because you are going to want leftovers the next day. You can either reheat it right in the slow cooker, or on the stovetop – drizzle in a little chicken broth to keep it tender.
Drop your question in the comments section below and I promise to answer pronto!
Want to round out your meal?
One of the marvelous things about this super easy pulled chicken recipe is that you can serve it up so many ways!
Sometimes I just ladle it on a plate on top of a pile of mashed potatoes. (This is a great winter approach, especially if you add some roasted green beans on the side.)
Sometimes I serve it up with a side of my favorite sweet and tangy coleslaw recipe.
And if we are wanting something to nosh on during the Big Game I wrap in in a tortilla or pile it onto hamburger buns – with or without coleslaw added in!
Other slow cooker chicken recipes we love
Looking for more slow cooker inspiration? Here is our complete collection of slow cooker recipes!
Pulled chicken…it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Break out that slow cooker!
Could you leave us a review?
If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section.
Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Pulled Chicken
This fix it and forget it recipe for slow cooker brown sugar pulled chicken is great on its own or as a sandwich!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Place the chicken in your slow cooker.
- Mix all remaining ingredients together and pour over the chicken, making sure you get a little bit underneath.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours until chicken is done.
- Using two forks, shred the chicken right there in the slow cooker.
- Serve over rice, potatoes, in tortillas or in burger buns!
Notes
-
- Chicken: You can use either chicken breasts (our choice!) or chicken thighs – just make sure they are boneless
-
- Soy Sauce: We HIGHLY recommend the low sodium kind. You can always add salt but you can’t take it out.
-
- Brown Sugar: Either light or dark will work. Dark has more molasses and will give you a more pronounced brown sugar flavor.
-
- Balsamic Vinegar: This sweet, syrupy vinegar can be found next to the regular vinegar in your supermarket. After you use it for this chicken, use it again for this delectable balsamic steak salad!
So simple to make – we love to see it! Came out perfect!!
Janet! I’m so glad you liked it – hope you made enough for leftovers! :)