BBQ Pulled Chicken is a delicious and easy dinner option, with tender shredded chicken coated in a rich, flavourful BBQ sauce. The combination of BBQ sauce, onion, garlic and apple cider vinegar gives the chicken a lovely balance of sweetness and tanginess.

I love how versatile this recipe is, making it a great option for busy weeknights or when feeding a crowd. It is a simple way to turn everyday chicken into a tasty family meal that everyone can enjoy.

How to make BBQ pulled chicken without a slow cooker

This recipe features a gifted Biroix Dutch Oven in Blue to showcase this recipe. 

I have a lovely slow cooker BBQ Chicken version of this recipe and I was asked the other day for a version for those without a slow cooker or pressure cooker. So thought best I test it myself to see how to create the best oven baked version. 

It was so lovely and simple and I am delighted to bring you an oven baked version. I have kept it very similar in that it contains just a few ingredients. 

What BBQ sauce works best for Pulled Chicken?

The base of this recipe is the BBQ sauce, so choosing one you enjoy makes all the difference to the final flavour. I tend to use a lovely sweet, cheap BBQ sauce as that brings such a gorgeous end result, without needing anything fancy.

If you prefer a spicier or richer BBQ flavour, simply use your favourite sauce or whatever you already have in the pantry. The beauty of this recipe is that you can easily adjust the flavour depending on the BBQ sauce you choose.

Do I need a Dutch oven to make BBQ Pulled Chicken?

Today, I have used a Dutch oven to make this BBQ Pulled Chicken, as having a dish with a well-fitting lid is ideal for keeping the heat and moisture inside while the chicken cooks. This helps the chicken become lovely and tender, making it easy to shred once cooked.

However, you certainly don’t need a Dutch oven to make this recipe! Any ovenproof dish will work well. Simply cover it tightly with aluminium foil to trap the heat and moisture inside, giving you the same lovely tender result.

Should I use chicken breasts or thighs for BBQ Pulled Chicken?

The key to this recipe is baking the chicken until it is lovely and tender and easily falls apart when shredded. You can use either chicken breasts or chicken thighs, depending on what you have on hand or prefer.

I personally love using chicken thighs for pulled chicken as they have so much flavour and tend to stay lovely and moist during cooking. Chicken breasts will also work well, but they are leaner and can dry out more easily, so the cooking time may vary. Whichever you choose, the important thing is to cook the chicken until it is tender enough to pull apart easily with two forks.

What do I need to make BBQ Pulled Chicken?

The ingredients in this recipe are simple. Feel free to add or omit ingredients to suit your taste. The full recipe and method is in the printable recipe card down below.

• Chicken (Thighs or Breasts)
• BBQ Sauce
• Onion
• Garlic
• Apple Cider Vinegar or White Wine Vinegar
• Oregano
• Salt & Pepper
• Cornflour

If you wish you can omit the onion, vinegar and oregano and still have a delicious dish! So it really is versatile. 

How to make BBQ Pulled Chicken

To assemble this could not be easier, in the oven dish you add the chicken thighs or breasts trimmed of most of the visible fat. Then top this with the onion if using. 

Then combine all of the rest of the ingredients, and pour this over the chicken breasts. Ensure that you toss to coat every nook and cranny of the chicken until it is well coated.

Then pop on the lid or a double layer of aluminum foil and bake. At around the one hour mark I like to stir it, this allows me to check on the progress of the chicken, then cook for up to a further hour.

Depending on the cut of chicken it should be perfectly tender at the 2 hour mark. 

Then take the dish from the oven, remove the chicken carefully and add it to a bowl. Using two forks or meat claws shred the chicken into small pieces. 

With the sauce if you wish you can add cornflour to it to thicken, if doing so take out a third of a cup of the liquid and add 2 teaspoons of cornflour and mix well, pour back into the oven dish and whisk to ensure no lumps remain. 

Then return the shredded chicken to the sauce to coat.

How to serve BBQ Pulled Chicken

There are so many delicious ways to serve this BBQ Pulled Chicken, depending on what you feel like and what you have on hand. It is lovely served over rice with coleslaw or a fresh salad, or tucked into soft tacos with coleslaw and a drizzle of Kewpie mayo.

It is also delicious served in sliders, bao buns or even used as a filling for baked enchiladas. The options are endless, making it a great recipe to have on hand for easy family meals.

For my family, this recipe makes enough for two meals, which is always a bonus!

Can I freeze BBQ Pulled Chicken?

Definitely, it also freezes really well, so you can pop any leftovers into the freezer for another easy dinner.

Once cooled in the refrigerator in an airtight container, pop it in the freezer. It will keep for 3 months. Reheat to piping hot before using.

Other family chicken recipes to try

If you are a fan of chicken dishes check out some of my favourites on my website:

• Creamy Garlic & Bacon Chicken
• Creamy Chicken & Bacon Fettucine 
• Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Chicken
• Slow Cooker Satay Chicken

Oven Baked BBQ Pulled Chicken recipe

I really hope you love this BBQ Pulled Chicken as much as we do. It is such a delicious and versatile family meal, and one I know I’ll be making again and again.

If you give this recipe a go, I’d love to hear how it turned out for you in the comments. You can also leave a ⭐ rating in the recipe card above, it really helps others find and enjoy this recipe too.

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Happy baking,
Anna x