Easy 3-Ingredient Crockpot Pulled Chicken Recipe with Smoky Chipotle Sauce
A simple, flavorful pulled chicken recipe made with just three ingredients and cooked low and slow in a crockpot, delivering tender, juicy chicken with a smoky chipotle kick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 to 7 hours (low) or 3 to 4 hours (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes to 7 hours 10 minutes (low) or 3 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 10 minutes (high)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts
- 1 cup smoky chipotle sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Optional: 1 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Rinse the chicken breasts under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot. Pour the smoky chipotle sauce evenly over the chicken, making sure each piece is coated well. If using garlic or onion powder, sprinkle it evenly over the top now.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the chicken is tender and easily shredded with a fork.
- About 30 minutes before serving, test a piece by shredding it with forks. If it pulls apart effortlessly and looks juicy, it’s ready. If not, cook a bit longer.
- Carefully remove the chicken breasts from the crockpot and place them on a cutting board or large plate. Use two forks or shredding claws to pull the meat apart into bite-sized pieces.
- Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot and stir it into the remaining chipotle sauce. Let it sit on warm for 10-15 minutes so the meat absorbs more smoky flavor.
- Taste the pulled chicken and adjust salt or pepper if needed.
- Serve the pulled chicken on buns, tacos, or over rice with your choice of sides.
Notes
If the sauce is too thin after cooking, stir in a teaspoon of cornstarch mixed with a tablespoon of water and let it thicken on high for 10 minutes. For juicier meat, cook on low heat. You can substitute chicken breasts with thighs for richer flavor. Reserve some sauce before shredding to moisten chicken if needed. Adjust spice level by choosing milder chipotle sauce or diluting with tomato sauce or broth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 1/4 of
- Calories: 230
- Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: pulled chicken, crockpot chicken, chipotle sauce, slow cooker recipe, easy chicken recipe, smoky chicken, 3-ingredient recipe