Meals

Rays Crockpot Chicken.26

Sweet Baby Ray’s Crockpot Chicken

This Sweet Baby Ray’s Crockpot Chicken cooks tender chicken in a sweet, tangy barbecue sauce until it’s easy to shred. Serve it on buns, over rice, or alongside your favorite barbecue sides for a simple meal with plenty of flavor.

It’s perfect for busy weeknights, game day, potlucks, meal prep, or an easy family dinner.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4–5 hours on low or 2–3 hours on high
Total Time: Approximately 4½–5½ hours on low
Servings: 6

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Tender, easy-to-shred chicken
  • Sweet and tangy barbecue flavor
  • Made with simple ingredients
  • Slow cooker handles most of the work
  • Easy to serve in sandwiches, bowls, or wraps
  • Great for meal prep and casual gatherings
  • Easy to adjust the sauce’s sweetness and heat
  • Reheats well
  • Uses a familiar favorite barbecue sauce
  • Perfect for feeding a family or small crowd

Ingredients

Crockpot Chicken

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 1 bottle (18 ounces) Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce
  • ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar, optional
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, optional

For Serving

  • Hamburger buns
  • Coleslaw
  • Pickles
  • Rice
  • Baked potatoes
  • Extra barbecue sauce

How to Make Sweet Baby Ray’s Crockpot Chicken

Step 1: Add the Chicken

Place the chicken in the slow cooker in an even layer.

Step 2: Mix the Sauce

In a bowl, stir together the barbecue sauce, chicken broth, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.

Add the apple cider vinegar if you’d like a little extra tang.

Step 3: Pour the Sauce Over the Chicken

Pour the barbecue mixture over the chicken, turning the pieces so they’re coated on all sides.

Step 4: Slow Cook

Cover and cook on low for 4–5 hours or high for 2–3 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender. The thickest part should reach 165°F.

Cooking time varies with the size of the chicken pieces and your slow cooker. Avoid cooking longer than necessary, especially if using chicken breasts.

Step 5: Shred the Chicken

Transfer the chicken to a plate and shred it with two forks.

Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir it into the sauce.

Step 6: Thicken the Sauce if Needed

If you prefer a thicker sauce, leave the lid off and cook on high for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 7: Serve

Serve the chicken on toasted hamburger buns with coleslaw and pickles, or spoon it over rice, baked potatoes, or a salad.

Tips for the Best Sweet Baby Ray’s Crockpot Chicken

  • Use chicken thighs for a particularly tender result; chicken breasts are leaner.
  • Add brown sugar only if you like a sweeter barbecue sauce.
  • Use low-sodium broth to keep the finished dish from becoming too salty.
  • Check the chicken early so it doesn’t overcook.
  • Shred the chicken in a separate bowl if you want to remove excess liquid before mixing it back into the sauce.
  • If the sauce is too sweet, add a little apple cider vinegar.
  • If it’s too tangy, stir in a small amount of brown sugar.

Can I Use Frozen Chicken?

For more reliable slow-cooker cooking, thaw the chicken in the refrigerator before adding it. Frozen chicken can take longer to heat through, so cooking time becomes less predictable.

Can I Use Chicken Thighs?

Yes. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work very well and stay tender. Cook them until they reach 165°F and shred easily.

Delicious Variations

Spicy Sweet Baby Ray’s Chicken

Add ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or a few dashes of hot sauce.

Honey BBQ Crockpot Chicken

Stir 1–2 tablespoons honey into the sauce for a sweeter finish.

Garlic BBQ Chicken

Add two minced garlic cloves in place of some or all of the garlic powder.

BBQ Chicken Sliders

Serve the shredded chicken on small rolls with coleslaw and sliced pickles.

BBQ Chicken Rice Bowls

Serve over rice with corn, black beans, avocado, and a drizzle of extra sauce.

Can I Make It Ahead?

Yes. Cook and shred the chicken, then refrigerate it with the sauce in an airtight container for up to two days.

Reheat gently in the slow cooker or a covered saucepan until hot throughout.

Storage

Let the chicken cool, then store it with the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of broth if the sauce has thickened too much.

Can You Freeze Sweet Baby Ray’s Crockpot Chicken?

Yes. Cool the chicken completely and freeze it with the sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.

Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat until hot throughout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sweet Baby Ray’s Crockpot Chicken pulled chicken?

Yes. After slow cooking, shred the chicken and stir it back into the barbecue sauce. It’s delicious in sandwiches, wraps, and bowls.

Why is my sauce thin?

Chicken releases liquid as it cooks. Shred the chicken and cook the sauce uncovered on high for 15–20 minutes, or remove some liquid before stirring the chicken back in.

Can I skip the chicken broth?

Yes. The chicken will release some liquid as it cooks, though the sauce may be thicker. If you skip the broth, check the slow cooker during cooking and make sure the sauce isn’t scorching around the edges.

Can I cook it on high?

Yes. Cook on high for about 2–3 hours, checking that the chicken reaches 165°F and is tender.

How do I serve the chicken?

Pile it onto toasted buns, or serve it over rice, potatoes, salad, or baked sweet potatoes.

Can I make it less sweet?

Skip the brown sugar and add the optional apple cider vinegar. You can also stir in a little extra broth to balance the sauce.

Pro Tips

Use enough sauce to coat the chicken, but remember that the chicken will release liquid as it cooks. Check the temperature and tenderness near the end, then shred the chicken and let it soak in the sauce before serving.

Final Thoughts

This Sweet Baby Ray’s Crockpot Chicken is an easy, crowd-friendly meal with tender shredded chicken and familiar barbecue flavor. Serve it on buns with coleslaw or over rice for a simple dinner that works for weeknights, game day, or meal prep.

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