This Slow Cooker Gluten Free BBQ Pulled Chicken is the quintessential “set it and forget it” meal. By slow-cooking boneless chicken breasts in a savoury-sweet blend of BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and grated onion, you achieve a fall-apart tenderness that rivals traditional pulled pork.
Whether you’re feeding a crowd at a backyard gathering or prepping lunches for the week, this recipe delivers maximum flavour with minimal effort. It’s naturally dairy-free (depending on your sauce choice) and 100% gluten free, making it a safe and delicious staple for any Celiac Disease friendly kitchen.
Gluten Free BBQ Pulled Chicken | Crockpot Slow Cooker Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lbs boneless chicken skinless breasts, trimmed of fat
- 1 ½ cups BBQ Sauce
- ½ medium onion grated (with juice)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
- Stir together all sauce ingredients in a 5-6 qt slow cooker.
- Add chicken breasts and turn to coat.
- Cover and cook on high 3 to 4 hours or on low for 6 – 7 hours.
- Chicken is done when cooked through and easy to shred
- Remove chicken to a cutting board and shred each breast using two forks.
- Place shredded chicken back in the crock pot and stir to coat with the BBQ sauce
Nutrition Details
Recipe Video
Did you enjoy this gluten free recipe?
Let us know how it was in the comments below!The Perfect Gluten Free Weeknight Solution
Finding dinner options that are both satisfying and safe for a gluten free lifestyle can often feel like a chore. However, some of the best meals are the ones that require the least amount of active kitchen time. Our Gluten Free BBQ Pulled Chicken is a prime example of how simple ingredients can transform into a high-quality, gourmet-style protein that the whole family will love, regardless of whether they follow a gluten free diet or not.
Why This Gluten Free Recipe Works
The beauty of this dish lies in the slow-cooking process. Chicken breasts, which can often become dry when baked or pan-fried, stay incredibly moist when bathed in a tangy sauce for several hours. The addition of grated onion is a secret weapon here; as it cooks, the onion melts into the sauce, adding a depth of flavour and natural sweetness that diced onions simply can’t match.
Ingredient Spotlight: Navigating the “Hidden” Gluten
When making BBQ chicken, the most critical step for those with Celiac disease or gluten sensitivity is the sauce selection. Many commercial BBQ sauces use barley malt or modified food starch derived from wheat as thickeners. Always look for a certified gluten free label. Similarly, Worcestershire sauce is a key ingredient in this recipe for that essential umami kick, but traditional versions (especially in the UK or certain brands in Canada) may contain barley malt vinegar. In North America, many mainstream brands are gluten free, but always double-check your labels!
Customizing Your Flavour Profile
One of the reasons this recipe is a favourite at Gluten Free Journey is its adaptability.
- For a Smokey Kick: Add a teaspoon of liquid smoke or a tablespoon of smoked paprika.
- For Heat Seekers: Toss in some sliced jalapeños or a dash of crushed red pepper flakes.
- For Extra Sweetness: If you prefer a Kansas City-style stickiness, an extra drizzle of honey or maple syrup goes a long way.
The Art of the Chicken Shred
Once your chicken is cooked through and tender, the fun part begins: the shredding. While the traditional two-fork method works perfectly, you can save time by using a hand mixer or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Simply place the warm chicken breasts in a bowl and mix on low speed for about 30 seconds. You’ll have perfectly shredded chicken in a fraction of the time, ready to be tossed back into the slow cooker to soak up every last drop of that golden sauce.
Serving Suggestions: Beyond the Bun
While we love a good gluten free brioche bun topped with coleslaw, this BBQ chicken is versatile enough to anchor several different meals:
- Stuffed Sweet Potatoes: Top a baked sweet potato with a generous portion of chicken, sour cream, and chives.
- BBQ Chicken Tacos: Use corn tortillas and top with a quick cilantro-lime slaw.
- Low-Carb Bowls: Serve over a bed of cauliflower rice with roasted corn and black beans.
- The “Classic” Salad: Cold leftovers are fantastic on top of a hearty garden salad with ranch dressing.
Meal Prep and Freezing
This recipe is a meal-prepper’s dream. It stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to four days and freezes beautifully. To freeze, let the chicken cool completely before transferring it to freezer-safe bags. When you’re ready to eat, thaw it overnight in the fridge and reheat it gently on the stovetop with an extra splash of water or BBQ sauce to maintain that juicy consistency.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Recipe
Yes! If you are short on time, you can put frozen chicken breasts directly into the slow cooker. You may need to add 1–2 hours to the cooking time on the “Low” setting to ensure they are cooked through and easy to shred.
No. Many brands use thickeners or flavorings derived from wheat or barley. Always check the ingredient list for “barley malt,” “malt vinegar,” or “wheat starch,” or look for a “Certified Gluten-Free” logo on the bottle.
The best way is to reheat it in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add a tablespoon of water or a little extra BBQ sauce to the pan to create steam, which helps keep the chicken moist. You can also microwave it in a covered bowl for 1–2 minutes.
Absolutely. Chicken thighs have a higher fat content and will result in an even juicier, richer pulled chicken. The cooking time remains roughly the same.
To make this in a pressure cooker, add the sauce ingredients and the chicken (add 1/2 cup of chicken broth to ensure there is enough liquid for the pot to come to pressure). Cook on High Pressure for 15 minutes, followed by a 10-minute natural release.
Popular choices include Schär, Promise Gluten Free, or Kinnikinnick. For a more artisanal feel, look for local gluten free bakeries that offer fresh brioche-style rolls.
Thanks-a-mundo for the recipe. Much thanks again. So Fantastic. Bernette
This recipe was a wonderful surprise! When I think of pulled anything, it is pulled pork. Using chicken was even better!
Best wishes. Aaren Reggis
Even though this is more of a summer time type meal, it was so great to have after a long rainy week. Will be enjoying again and again!
We’ve now tried this recipe a few times and always a delicious dinner. 4 stars because it was a bit liquidy but we think that was our own fault (too much liquid added, not enough meat!)
This was absolutely delicious!
As soon as I found this recipe I went on reddit to share some of the love with everyone! Delicious
Made this for V-Day, last night. It was great!
Absolutely delicious! I would give this one 10 stars!
I cooked on low for 10hrs and then shredded, keeping it on warm for a couple more hours. I am seriously keeping this recipe forever. This is the perfect weekend bbq/potluck food and went great with grilled corn on the cob!
You can’t stop eating this.
Our family is headed to the northshore of Minnesota to gorgeous resort this summer. I will be making this for our first family vacation since the pandemic. And yes, I will pack my slow cooker. Thank you for your awesome recipes! Everyone LOVES this BBQ chicken!
Super duper easy, also easy to modify by adding a little extra honey, red pepper flakes, black pepper, etc. to please any crowd. The chicken was tender with just the right amount of sauce. definitely recommend topping with coleslaw. Delicious!
Great BBQ chicken sandwiches. I halved the recipe and added hot sauce to heat it up. Love the brown sugar, it gave it a smokey taste.
[…] 1. Gluten Free BBQ Pulled Chicken Recipe […]
I made this for a 2nd time for Super Bowl. This time I had some really large chicken breasts and decided to season them and sear in a pan. It was def. still very raw when I added to the slow cooker (cooked for high 3 hours; then set to warm). Was way better doing it this way the 2nd time. More flavorful. I also added liquid smoke to the sauce. Also better flavor. Will continue to use this recipe as it’s so easy and yummy!!
I have made this recipe several times for my picky family. They love it and can’t believe it’s not pork.
I have made this slow cooker pulled chicken several times. I use a different BBQ sauce (a chipotle flavoured one) and skip the sugar, but it turns out sooo good every time. I used it for tacos, in a chicken salad or in sandwiches. Thank you for this, I am always looking for easy to make and flavourful recipes.
I have made this recipe several times for my picky family. They love it and can’t believe it’s not pork.
This was a hit at my work potluck!
I’ve made bbq chicken in a crockpot many times but listen to me when I say THIS is THE one to make. It’s insanity. Lunacy! Just SO tender and bursting with flavor.
Easy to follow instructions and chicken is fall apart tender.
I love this recipe – so, so tasty!
Mine turned out perfect! I only did 4 chicken breast (they were rather large) and cooked it 6-7 hours on low. I found the sauce the perfect consistency. Will make again!
I have loved every single recipe of yours that I have tried! This one is no exception… Simple, quick, easy to toss together and feeds a bunch of hungry teens. There are never any leftovers.
The flavor is wonderful and a crowd-pleaser. Will definitely make this again!
I’ve made this recipe soooo many times since I first saw it and have never been disappointed. It’s really easy and even a novice cook will be surprised how well it turns out. I usually make my own coleslaw and it works just as well. I double the sauce when I’m cooking as hubby loves the strong flavour and I’m the exact opposite. So I put the extra sauce in another dish so that it can be added. Thank you again.
Love this, we’ve made it several times! It’s a Home Run!
What an easy and delicious recipe! I opted to use chicken thighs instead of breast and it was awesome. Definitely will make when I want hands off cooking! Thank you.
I fell in love with this recipe! I served it with Hawaiian Cole slaw. My family loved it. I used slow cook mode on my instant pot for this recipe. The dish turned out really good.
So easy and yummy! It’ll be perfect for my sliders.
Served this on pretzel buns with coleslaw. Family loved it. I plan to make more soon and freeze for after our new baby arrives. Thanks for this recipe!
This is absolutely outstanding! I have made it 5 times now and never had an issue. Devoured every single time with no leftovers. Thanks so much for sharing!!!
I made this with a mix of Sweet Baby Ray’s. It was absolutely DELICIOUS!
This was delicious! Simple and easy.
This was really good. I used Kraft barbecue sauce because that’s what I had in my pantry. I followed the rest of the recipe as is.
So good! Everyone loved. Thank you for sharing!
Very good, and super easy! Definitely putting this in the rotation….it was hit with the family.
The chicken was so tender we didn’t have to shred it. Great recipe for hot days!
Adding to our must have during heatwaves menu! So good.