Healthy BBQ Pulled Chicken (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker)

Use your Slow Cooker or Instant Pot to make this recipe for smoky BBQ pulled chicken using skinless, boneless chicken breasts. Seasoned with my healthy homemade BBQ sauce, this versatile shredded chicken base recipe is great for enchiladas, in wraps, sandwiches, and much more. Skip the jarred BBQ sauce once, and you won’t go back! Slow cooker and Instant Pot cooking instructions listed below.

I am here with more healthy chicken dinner recipes for the win! We’re in the midst of another busy busy season in our house. Such is life, right?!?! It feels like we are rarely home to enjoy a lengthy home cooked meal. I tend to gravitate toward an easy weeknight chicken dinner that can also serve as meal prep! I do love Instant Pot shredded chicken recipes like my Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore or Instant Pot Pulled Chicken Tinga.

As a nutritionist, I love to create easy shredded chicken for meal prep. It’s such a versatile way to add protein to lunch or dinner recipes. This BBQ slow cooker shredded chicken is not only perfect for healthy meal prep, but it’s also delicious!

We love BBQ everything. My family is especially big on BBQ pulled pork and chicken. What is so amazing about this recipe, is that the sauce can be whisked up in just a few minutes! No need to cook and let the flavors meld, all that magic will happen in the Slow Cooker or Instant Pot. We’ll get perfectly shredded chicken for meal prep or for dinner, and then a smoky, tangy, and chipotle flavored BBQ sauce without the junk ingredients!

How to make Healthy BBQ Sauce

Here are the ingredients you need to make BBQ Sauce:

• Chicken broth
• Tomato paste
• Apple cider vinegar
• Honey
• Coconut aminos (you can also use soy sauce)
• Dijon mustard
• Smoked paprika
• Onion powder
• Liquid smoke
• Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• Adobo sauce

This BBQ sauce couldn’t be easier! All you do is whisk together the ingredients, and then we will pour the BBQ sauce into the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker to let the chicken braise and shred.

Serving and Storing BBQ Chicken

So how do you serve this tasty chicken? I love to serve over greens, with a delicious Mexican Slaw recipe in a wrap, or over a bowl of cauliflower rice. My kids love this as a sandwich, or in a tortilla. This makes for a perfect lunch option all week! My husband will prep this on the weekend and have an entire week’s worth of chicken for lunch. So many great reasons to make this!

You can store this shredded chicken for meal prep for up to 7 days in the fridge.

Other Shredded Chicken recipes you will love!

If you are for some more shredded chicken for meal prep, here are some other recipes you will love:

• Instant Pot BBQ Ranch Chicken
• Chicken Mole
• Pepperoncini Chicken

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Healthy BBQ Pulled Chicken (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker)

An easy chipotle BBQ pulled chicken recipe seasoned with homemade BBQ sauce! The shredded chicken can be cooked in an Instant Pot or Slow Cooker.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 4 hours

Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes

Servings 6

Author Amy Rains

5 from 1 vote

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Ingredients

• 3 lbs Chicken Breasts*
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 6 oz can tomato paste
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup coconut aminos or soy sauce
• 2 tbsp brown mustard
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 large garlic clove crushed
• 2 tbsp liquid smoke
• 2 chipotles in adobo sauce chopped
• 2 tbsp adobo sauce

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix together broth, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, honey, coconut aminos, mustard, paprika, onion powder, garlic, liquid smoke, chipotles, and adobo sauce.
2. For the Slow Cooker:
3. Place your chicken at the bottom of your slow cooker. Pour sauce on top. Cook on low for 4-5 hours, or until chicken can easily be shredded with a fork.
4. Remove from heat and serve.
5. For the Instant Pot:
6. Place your chicken in the bottom of your Instant Pot. Pour sauce on top. Select the manual function. Cook on high pressure for 8 minutes.
7. Use a natural release. Remove the lid, and shred the chicken with a fork of knife.
8. Serve hot.

Recipe Notes

This is a very saucy recipe, you can use up to 4lbs of chicken and have plenty to last for leftovers or lunches.