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Home / Healthy Recipes

Skinny Pulled Crockpot BBQ Chicken

4.34
/5
6 hours 10 minutes
29 Comments
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By: The Chunky Chefpublished: 06/05/2018

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Perfect for summer picnics and cookouts, this skinny pulled crockpot bbq chicken is amazingly flavorful, yet uses no bottled bbq sauce and is only 1 freestyle smart point per serving!

Just because you’re eating healthier, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy classic summer cookout food like this crockpot bbq chicken!  Lean boneless skinless chicken breasts are cooked with a homemade barbecue sauce until they’re fall apart tender and ready to be piled on a whole-wheat bun or lettuce cup!

Incredible pulled BBQ chicken made easy in the crockpot... made from scratch with no bottled bbq sauce!  Perfect for a summer bbq or picnic! | #bbqchicken #pulledchicken #crockpotchicken #weightwatchers #freestyle #smartpoints

I’m always in the mood for FANTASTIC warm-weather cookouts and summer barbecues.  There’s really nothing that beats classic cookout food in my book.  Don’t get me wrong, I love comfort food, and tasty party bites, but they’re not my number 1.

Being on Weight Watchers or watching what you’re eating doesn’t mean you have to toss all your beloved cookout foods aside… especially with the zero points food list on the freestyle program!

BBQ chicken on bun

For example, usually my family goes for a traditional pulled pork bbq or even shredded beef… but those have points.  So I’ve been working on a great pulled bbq chicken that tastes really delicious.  Ta-da!!  Here it is, and I think you’ll really love it!

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO COOK CHICKEN IN THE SLOW COOKER

That ultimately depends on your slow cooker, but a general rule of thumb is about 5-7 hours on LOW.  Since chicken breasts are very lean, if you cook them a lonnnnnng time, they’ll dry out.

Bbq shredded chicken on bun with coleslaw

WHAT GOES WELL WITH PULLED CHICKEN

Anything you’d normally serve at a cookout!  I love broccoli salad, roasted corn on the cob, creamy coleslaw, and potato salad.  Don’t worry, I have those other three recipes coming soon!  In fact, the coleslaw will be posted in a few days.

COOKING TIPS FOR COOKING CROCKPOT BBQ CHICKEN

  • Season the chicken breasts before adding the sauce.  I like to put on some disposable gloves and really rub the seasonings into the meat.
  • If you have a few points to spare, consider making this bbq chicken with a mixture of breasts and thighs, or even all thighs.  It really adds moisture, but of course, adds points as well.
  • If you want to add extra flavor, consider a drizzle of your favorite low point bbq sauce after you’ve shredded the chicken or over the top of the chicken on the sandwich.
  • The point value here is the chicken only, so if you’re having it on a bun (like pictured), get some whole-wheat buns and be sure to calculate the total point value.

Sandwich of bbq pulled chicken with coleslaw on white plate

Since the weather is warming up, I really hope you give this crockpot bbq chicken a try… I’m sure you’ll love it!!

HELPFUL TOOLS:

  • Slow Cooker – I love the clamp down lid on this slow cooker, and it’s really affordable.

 

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Incredible pulled BBQ chicken made easy in the crockpot... made from scratch with no bottled bbq sauce!  Perfect for a summer bbq or picnic! | #bbqchicken #pulledchicken #crockpotchicken #weightwatchers #freestyle #smartpoints

Skinny Pulled Crockpot BBQ Chicken

4.34 from 42 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
Calories: 118
Servings: 8 servings
(hover over # to adjust)
Print Rate Pin
This skinny pulled crockpot bbq chicken is amazingly flavorful, yet uses no bottled bbq sauce and is only 1 freestyle smart point per serving!

Ingredients

  • 5 - 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of excess fat
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, smashed
  • 15 oz can tomato sauce
  • 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp light brown sugar, packed

Instructions

  • Grease 6 quart or larger slow cooker and add chicken breasts. Sprinkle with salt, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper and rub into the chicken. Top with onion slices and garlic cloves.
  • In a mixing bowl, add tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar and brown sugar and stir to combine. Pour into slow cooker and toss gently to combine.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 5-7 hours, or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
  • Remove chicken to cutting board or large mixing bowl and shred using two forks. Return to slow cooker and toss in the sauce/juices. Serve on a whole wheat bun, lettuce cup, or by itself.

Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!

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Nutrition Disclaimer

The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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Calories: 118 | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 655mg | Potassium: 485mg | Sugar: 5g | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 7.5% | Vitamin C: 7.3% | Calcium: 1.9% | Iron: 5.5%

I’m not a nutritionist, and nutritional values here on my recipes should be used for general information purposes only.  This information is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. You should seek prompt medical care for any specific health issues and consult your physician before starting a new diet and fitness regimen.

Incredible pulled BBQ chicken made easy in the crockpot... made from scratch with no bottled bbq sauce!  Perfect for a summer bbq or picnic! | #bbqchicken #pulledchicken #crockpotchicken #weightwatchers #freestyle #smartpoints

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Meet The Chunky Chef

Hey there! I'm Amanda. Wife, mother, photography nerd, and bacon lover! I believe that delicious meals should be easy to make. Now that you’re here, stay a bit, browse a few recipes, and let’s get cookin’!

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Recipe Rating




  1. Doris Ford says

    Posted on 8/12 at 9:12 pm

    It was really awesome not like being on a diet Journey at all

    Reply
  2. Christine says

    Posted on 7/18 at 1:15 pm

    Made this for my son’s graduation party and it was hit!! Others asked for the recipe as well. Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Julie Puchot says

    Posted on 9/21 at 8:49 pm

    Thank you for this recipe! It was delicious! I added a 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne to the chicken and a squirt of sriracha to the sauce to add a bit more zing. Perfect! Went great with Cooking Light Creamed Corn recipe!

    Reply
  4. Susan Kudler says

    Posted on 8/4 at 3:01 pm

    This is delicious and easy. It doesn’t require a lot of ingredients and I love having leftovers. There are only two of us so we gave some to our picky eater daughter who loved it and also had leftovers. She ate hers on a bun. I served it along with coleslaw made with a low points homemade dressing and a salad or corn on the cob.

    It is a tiny bit bland for our taste so I added a bit of leftover bottled bbq sauce I had in refrigerator but pepper flakes or chili powder or perhaps liquid smoke would be good.

    Reply
  5. Dawn says

    Posted on 6/10 at 4:44 pm

    I thought if turned out great!  I added some red pepper flakes in when I cooked the chicken. For 1 sp I will definitely make this again and again. 

    Reply
  6. DANA A PRICE says

    Posted on 8/5 at 11:01 am

    Made this for a family reunion. It was the hit of the party. Very flavorful without any additional barbecue sauce but is also delicious with your sauce of choice.

    Reply
  7. Terri says

    Posted on 7/30 at 6:28 pm

    Just made this today. The whole family loved it. I had it on a whole wheat bun, velveeta cheese and pickles. I loved it . It was only 4 WW smart points!!!
    Great dinner for all. Thanks

    Reply
  8. Ashley D says

    Posted on 1/30 at 9:02 am

    So at 1 point per serving, it must be the tomato sauce? Since chicken breast are free. Can you confirm? Or would it be one point if you did thighs and breast?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 1/30 at 10:52 am

      I just plugged the ingredients into Weight Watchers recipe calculator tool, but I would assume the tomato sauce and brown sugar

      Reply
      • Anna M. says

        Posted on 5/22 at 8:58 am

        It’s the balsalmic vinegar and brown sugar

        Reply
    • Hannah says

      Posted on 1/1 at 6:05 pm

      What kind of canned tomato sauce did you use?

      Reply
  9. Britteny says

    Posted on 12/22 at 7:06 pm

    Can this recipe be substituted with pork?  I know that would change the fat/calories?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 12/22 at 8:04 pm

      I think pork would work well!

      Reply
  10. Dom says

    Posted on 12/11 at 5:38 am

    What is the weight of 5-6 chicken breasts? 

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 12/11 at 9:04 am

      That will vary significantly, as no two chicken breasts are exactly the same weight… but I would estimate anywhere between 3-6 lbs.

      Reply
  11. Hemanth Ramineni says

    Posted on 7/15 at 5:54 pm

    Can I make it in a Le Creuset pot?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 7/15 at 8:13 pm

      I never have, but I think that should work. Just google the oven temperature conversion for a slow cooker on low.

      Reply
  12. Chelsea says

    Posted on 6/24 at 10:53 am

    I might be missing this, but how much is 1 serving?

    Reply
    • The Chunky Chef says

      Posted on 6/24 at 8:56 pm

      No real measurement, just 1/8 of the recipe 🙂

      Reply
    • Yusuf says

      Posted on 7/7 at 2:52 pm

      Hi! Could I substitute smoked paprika for normal paprika? I can’t find smoked paprika for the life of me

      Reply
  13. Sandra | A Dash of Sanity says

    Posted on 6/8 at 7:24 am

    I’d happily eat this for dinner any night of the week!

    Reply
  14. Anna says

    Posted on 6/7 at 6:08 pm

    BBQ chicken is one of my faves to make during summer! This crockpot version looks perfect!

    Reply
    • Angela Jennings says

      Posted on 10/21 at 9:52 pm

      Anyone made this without brown sugar or substituted with something else?

      Reply
  15. Amy @ Little Dairy on the Prairie says

    Posted on 6/7 at 4:01 pm

    I love pulled chicken! I have to make this!

    Reply
  16. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

    Posted on 6/7 at 10:17 am

    I love this idea! So simple and pretty!

    Reply
  17. Dee says

    Posted on 6/7 at 12:42 am

    This is the perfect recipe for summer!

    Reply
  18. Delaney | Melanie Makes says

    Posted on 6/6 at 6:27 pm

    This is perfect for summer!

    Reply
  19. Jacque Hastert says

    Posted on 6/6 at 2:11 pm

    Love that you don’t have to skimp on flavor to stay healthy with this!

    Reply
  20. Luke says

    Posted on 6/6 at 4:54 am

    Hey, today I have tried this recipe. It is really awesome. Thanks for sharing it with us. Good work, Keep it up.

    Reply

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