This quick and easy three-ingredient shredded BBQ chicken will amaze you with its deliciousness and easy. Perfect for a weeknight supper dish or for your weekly meal prep, this versatile dish can be paired with a variety of tasty sides. Use the instant pot or a slow cooker to prepare this healthy dish the family will love.

This picture is designed for Pinterest, and it shows two angles of the finished barbecue shredded chicken dish displayed on a black plate.

Three-ingredient BBQ shredded chicken

Chicken — I love drumsticks for the recipe for a couple reasons: 1) they are an inexpensive cut 2) I love dark meat and 3) I get free drumsticks for life in my ButcherBox every month, so I am always looking for recipes to use this cut! Any chicken can work for this recipe, though, so pick your favorite or the cut you need to use up from your freezer.
Barbecue sauce — Choose your favorite sauce for this recipe. If you are looking for a keto chicken recipe, consider using sugar free barbecue sauce or if you are doing a Whole30, select a Whole30 compliant sauce. I’ve made this recipe with a variety of sauces, and usually I pick what I have in my pantry (which I usually buy based on what’s on sale).
Coconut aminos — Coconut aminos are a soy sauce alternative that is available at most grocery stores nationwide. Even in my rural community, I can find coconut aminos at our grocery store. You can also substitute soy sauce if you prefer!
Water — This ingredient is optional…so does this count as an ingredient? When I’m using my instant pot, I sometimes get a burn warning, so I find it helps to add a splash of water to the mix, which helps reduce the burn warning.

How to make the barbecue chicken (in the instant pot or slow cooker)

This recipe is extremely easy, and starts with placing the chicken in the instant pot or slow cooker. Then, you can add the barbecue sauce and coconut aminos right into the instant pot. I use a large spoon to make sure the two liquid ingredients mix together and also coat all sides of the chicken. Then, you can pressure cook the chicken for 45 minutes and do a natural release when the time is up. If you want to use the slow cooker, cook the chicken for 6-8 hours on low.

I like to shred the chicken in a separate bowl, and then add the liquid from the instant pot 1/2 C. at a time, mixing well to make sure the sauce coats the chicken.

This picture is a compilation of four pictures, each showing a step in the process to make this shredded barbecue chicken dish.

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken in the instant pot? YES! I typically make this recipe with frozen chicken.
Can I use any cut of chicken for this recipe? Yes, you can use chicken breasts, thighs, etc. in this recipe.

Easy Shredded BBQ Chicken

Author: Laura

Print Recipe

Description

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 1/2 – 2 lbs. chicken
1/2 C. BBQ sauce
1/4 C. Coconut aminos
1/4 C. Water (optional)

Instructions

Place the chicken inside the instant pot or slow cooker.
Add the barbecue sauce and coconut aminos.
Mix the liquids well, making sure all of the chicken is coated.
Cook the meat
1. Instant pot: Set the instant pot to pressure cook for 45 minutes. Natural release when the timer goes off.
2. Slow cooker: Set the slow cooker to low and cook for 6-8 hours (or until chicken is cooked through and tender)
Remove the meat from the bone and shred in a separate bowl.
Add the liquid mixture to the meat, 1/2 C. at a time until a desired consistency is reached (typically 1/2 – 1 C. will be enough)

Notes

The water may be needed if your instant pot is prone to a burn warning.