Today, I’m bringing you one of my favorite dinners for any time you need something super easy or want to serve 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 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!
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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:
- Chicken thighs: I like using boneless skinless 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 or onto a sheet pan to catch all the juices.
- 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
- Put it into a wrap or on top of a naan pizza with shredded cheddar cheese, onion and pineapple!
- 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.
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Incredible Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
Ingredients
- For the chicken:
- 1 ½ pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
- ½ cup ketchup
- ½ 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
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- For the slaw:
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup shredded red cabbage
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ 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
This post was originally published on May 13th, 2019, republished on September 30th, 2020, republished on September 3rd, 2023, and republished on August 24th, 2025.
I have only made the chicken portion and it is so good! Love this with thighs or breasts I have done both!
Absolutely! Glad it’s a favorite!
Delicious and so dang simple! Huge hit with my family. Will make again.
So happy to hear that!
This recipe is a huge staple, I make it every month. The chicken comes out really tasty and it can be served in many different ways. This is a great dish to make ahead if you are bringing food to an event or on a trip.
Absolutely! This one’s so versatile 🙂
So easy for a group! The mayo-less slaw is a hit.
The best!
Looks amazing! How long does the slaw last once made? Thanks 🙂
It should last 3-4 days in the fridge!
I’ve made this recipe a couple times now and it is really delicious and super easy to come together! I like to serve it with sweet potato fries and top it with a spicy coleslaw. I keep the recipe saved in my “favorite recipes” notes on my phone!
So happy to hear that!!
My five year old that hates chicken loved the pulled chicken sandwich (with cheese instead of the coleslaw). My husband, who dislikes veggies, really enjoyed the coleslaw on the sandwich while I preferred it on the side. I doubled the serving for coleslaw and it was all consumed by my husband and I! I did chicken breast instead of thigh and it was really good. A new family fav.
Amazing! Dinner wins all around!
Absolutely love this pulled chicken!! So easy to make, and so good. I didn’t even do the slaw or make into a sandwich – just ate it by itself! Thanks, Monique. Delicious and going in my must-cook-regularly rotation!
Amazing! Glad you enjoyed!
This recipe is so easy and so good! My 3 and 7-year olds both gobble this up every time. I make it on the stove top- letting it simmer for about an hour. We love it!
The perfect weeknight meal!
I’ve made this recipe a handful of times and shared with family & friends. The BEST pulled chicken sliders and slaw I’ve ever tasted. Making it tonight for a NYE celebration. We just buy the Hawaiin rolls from the store because it’s quick and easy. Perfect just how it is!
So happy to hear that!
DELISH! Easy and healthy meal. Will be adding to the regular dinner rotation!!!!
So glad you enjoyed!!
Can this recipe be made in the instant pot? Do you have directions for that? Thank you!
I actually don’t own an instant pot so I’m not sure what the instructions would be!
This was a crowd pleaser. Doubled the recipe! So good!
So happy to hear that!
Really tasty, we loved the slaw especially. We found the chicken to be literally swimming in sauce and verified that we did have measurements correct. I’d almost half the wet sauce ingredients if I were to make this again.
These are meant to be pretty saucy but not overly so! Let me know if you give it a try reducing the ingredients. Glad you found them tasty!
I quadrupled the recipe and used sweet baby Ray’s bbq sauce and chicken broth instead of water. It was very watery. It tasted pretty good, but I should have used a second slow cooker on high and not in one 7qt cooker to the tippy top.
Ah, yes I’d suggest dividing between two slow cookers next time!
My husband requests this recipe weekly! Such a simple recipe, with simple ingredients. Plus, who doesn’t love throwing everything in a crock pot and walking away!? Don’t skip the homemade slaw, ITS AMAZING! Everything ambitious kitchen does is fantastic and you can’t go wrong!
Love it!! Glad it’s a favorite!
OK I have made this recipe multiple, multiple times but this time I was out of buns so I put it on a flatbread with red onions and pineapple and some mozzarella and it was FIRE. Boyfriend added jalapenos too. Chicken is great as sandwiches (how I usually make them) but sometimes I like creative uses for leftovers!
Omg that sounds amazing! Great idea!
I followed this recipe exactly and was not impressed. The chicken was very tender but not flavorful and the sauce became incredibly watery. The coleslaw just tasted like cilantro which was expected given the amount in it but I don’t think it paired well with the meat. I would not make this recipe again because of the lack of flavor but all the other comments seem to love it so maybe it was just me!
Hi Tessa! So sorry to hear that this wasn’t a hit. With the various sauces and seasonings I’ve always found the sauce to be plenty flavorful, so I might suggest trying out a different BBQ sauce? I always suggest tasting the slaw, too, after it marinates to add extra salt and pepper as needed (that should help!)
Made this for my partner recently and we absolutely loved it. 10/10 so easy and the slaw is to die for!
This sounds delicious. I need this for about 12 people. Do i iust tripple up on all ingredients im assuming and is everything gluten free besides bread?
Hi Cindy – Yes, you can triple this recipe. I would double check your ingredients to make sure they are certified GF in case of an allergy. Hope you enjoy!
Excellent!! Love the combo of flavours. The sauce is so good!
YUM! Glad you are enjoying this recipe, Katrina 🙂
Very easy weeknight meal and so delicious! I used chicken breast and it came out perfect . Made the coleslaw recommended with it.
YUM! So glad youre loving this recipe and it turned out fabulous for you 🙂