Crock-Pot North Carolina BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

by Shelley · May contain affiliate links

Published Updated April 5, 2023

~ With a quick, five-ingredient sauce you mix directly in your slow cooker, these North Carolina-style barbecue chicken sandwiches are super easy and insanely delicious! ~

Crock-Pot North Carolina BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches Recipe {www.TwoHealthyKitchens.com}

Barbecue is one of those foods that sparks fiery debate and causes otherwise-rational people to draw some pretty strict regional lines of allegiance. Probably brings a lot of men to blows faster than a pretty woman. No, really.

It’s kinda like chili. (Beans in Texas? Oh no you don’t, cowboy!)

Or like pizza. (Chowing down on a deep-dish pie? Well Chicagoan … just be glad those New Yorkers are too busy folding their super-thin crusts in half to fight about it!)

Barbecue’s the same way. Even the spelling is up for debate … barbecue … barbeque … bar-b-q … BBQ???

But how about we put fiery debates and bickering aside for just one moment and drool a little together over today’s recipe. Take a peek at our tutorial video, and you’ll see just how crazy-easy our Pulled Chicken Sandwiches are to make … and you’ll completely stop caring about how to spell it or what city it came from!

Video Tutorial

So Just What Is Real BBQ?

The true mecca for barbecue in America is heavily concentrated in the southeastern states (y’all). But the variation is incredible, and the staunch supporters of each barbecue style will tell you their way is the best and only way. Competition at barbecue cook-offs is mighty intense as a result. Bragging rights, you know.

There are wet rubs and dry rubs.

There’s the sweet, thick, tomato-based Kansas City-style sauce or the more vinegary, peppery sauces of the Carolinas.

And don’t even get a die-hard barbecue fanatic started on the subject of which meat can be used in a proper ‘cue … the wrong choice is practically high treason in some states!

Crock-Pot North Carolina BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches Recipe {www.TwoHealthyKitchens.com}

So I realize that I’m treading on hallowed ground in offering up a BBQ recipe today. But I’m game if you are.

Let me be clear, though. I love barbecue. Of any kind.

I’m not picking favorites or choosing sides.

And since I live in Ohio, I’m blissfully removed from having to choose at all (yay – score one for Ohio!). I can embrace the “cowboy style” of West Texas one day and cook up some delicious Memphis-style bar-b-q (topped with pickles, of course!) the next.

Carolina Barbecue … My Way!

So with all due respect, I’m going Carolina-style with this recipe. Eastern North Carolina, to be exact.

The specialty there is a thin but boldly flavored sauce made of vinegar with a bit of cayenne-inspired spiciness. It’s fabulous. My mouth waters just thinking about it (not kidding).

And yes, yes, my dear NC readers … I know you really don’t call it barbecue unless I’ve cooked myself up a hog. I know, I know. But this is my BBQ … m’kay? And I’m going with chicken. Lean and healthy and the perfect backdrop for such a delicious sauce.

Trust me. It works.

Crock-Pot North Carolina BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches Recipe {www.TwoHealthyKitchens.com}

And here’s why we’re going NC-style today, friends. It’s because I miss North Carolina (sniff, sniff).

My family’s favorite unplug and reconnect vacation is, hands-down, the Carolina coast. Corolla, NC and South Carolina’s Hilton Head are our faves, but we’ve stayed all along the Outer Banks and Carolina coastline. From Duck to Avon to Emerald Isle.

It’s all good. It’s all beach (which is … good)!

I just got back from a fantastically raucous vacay in Corolla with 22 of my nearest and dearest. It was hilarious and spontaneous and delicious. My family’s just kind of like that. A whole lot of glass-is-half-full people who make terrible puns but fabulous food. A good kind of family to have, no doubt (except, maybe, for some of those puns).

Crock-Pot North Carolina BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches Recipe {www.TwoHealthyKitchens.com}
Yup … in NC, even the tiny quickie marts serve up BBQ! (For you OBX lovers: I spotted this sign outside of Wee Winks Market in Duck!)

I miss lots and lots of stuff about the beach, but BBQ is one thing I can recreate back here in Ohio. (Tossing sand all over my floor and permanently moving all 22 of those bad-pun-making aunts and uncles and cousins into my home weren’t great options … so I stuck to what I knew would work – food!)

Why You’ll Love this BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich Recipe

This recipe is insanely easy!

Prep time is about 5 minutes max (and that’s if you’re on sloooooow beach bum time).

No, it’s not the same as spending hours mopping my brow while I slow roast a whole hog over an open pit, but when I’m in a hurry, some chicken breasts and my slow cooker are the perfect substitute. Absolutely captures the barbecue flavor I love, and I’m still out the door in no time!

It’s crazy-good, and those spice lovers in your house can kick it right up with a little extra hot sauce.

Oh – and this pulled chicken sandwich is the whole reason I created the recipe for No-Mayo Greek Yogurt Coleslaw. They’re perfect for each other. Perfect. Highly recommended!

Crock-Pot North Carolina BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches Recipe {www.TwoHealthyKitchens.com}

So, pile that coleslaw on nice and high, and you’re good to go. Really, really good. Lip smackin’, finger lickin’, chillaxin’ by the ocean good.

I promise, no matter where you live and what kind of barbecue you swear by, you’re gonna love this quick and easy version.

And hey – if you need to, just call it something besides barbecue. Call it your new favorite chicken sandwich. Or go with I-Can’t-Believe-How-Delicious-This-Is Pulled Chicken. Whatever works.

No matter the name, you’ll definitely be gobbling this up!

Looking for More Easy, Healthy Crock-Pot Chicken Recipes?

We’ve got lots of ideas for you here at THK! You can peek at all of ’em by clicking here: Crockpot Chicken Recipes. Or, hop directly over to one like:

Or, if you’d just love to try this North Carolina Barbecue recipe in your Instant Pot, instead of your slow cooker, you’ll want to try our Carolina-Style Instant Pot Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches.

And, for an entirely different (but equally scrumptious!) barbecue chicken experience, check out our Easy, Cheesy BBQ Chicken Wraps. They’re ready in under 10 minutes!

Crock-Pot North Carolina BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Crock-Pot North Carolina BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Yield: About 4 cups of chicken – enough for about 6 sandwiches
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes

With a 5-ingredient sauce you mix directly in your slow cooker, these North Carolina-style Crock-Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches are super easy and so delicious!

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Combine vinegar, brown sugar, salt, hot sauce, and black pepper in your slow cooker. Add chicken.
  2. Cook in a 3-4 quart slow cooker, on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. If using a larger 5-6 quart crock-pot, cook on low for about 6 hours. (See note.)
  3. Just before serving, shred chicken (with two forks) and stir into sauce to incorporate.
  4. Serve on buns with coleslaw on top or as an accompaniment on the side, and pass hot sauce as needed.

Notes

Cook time: Through all of our testing, we found that this recipe works best in a 3-4 quart slow cooker, on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. If you're using a larger 5-6 quart crock-pot, we recommend cooking on low for only about 6 hours. We do not recommend cooking this recipe on high in a 5-6 quart crock-pot because the chicken tends to overcook and become dry. At the end of cook time, the chicken should be cooked through and should shred easily but also still be really moist and dripping with a bit of vinegary sauce once shredded.


Slow cooker variations: The exact heat and speed of cooking can vary between different slow cookers. Some slow cookers, especially newer models, may cook hotter and faster than others. Our research has also led us to believe that some models allow for imperceptible evaporation of liquid (although you'd expect that no liquid would be lost when using a slow cooker), which can leave your recipes less saucy and moist. Because this particular recipe uses very little liquid, it's particularly sensitive to these variations. No need to worry – it's delicious even when cooked until it's a bit drier. However, that's why we recommend shorter cooking times and/or lower heat for this recipe so that it will still be very moist and a bit saucy once fully cooked and shredded. Adding more liquid will lead to an unpleasantly sharp-tasting sauce (we've tried it) ... the key is simply to control the cook time and temperature to yield the most juicy, fall-apart-tender result.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 servings Serving Size: 2/3 cup chicken
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 206Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2g

Nutrition information is provided for cooked, shredded chicken only, as nutrition can vary for the buns and coleslaw depending on what you choose to use. Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may additionally vary depending on your choice of ingredients or preparation. No guarantees are made regarding allergies or dietary needs. Always consult a physician or dietician for specific advice and questions.

Did You Make This Recipe?

We'd LOVE to hear! Please leave a star-rating above. And, tag us on Instagram @twohealthykitchens or use the sharing buttons below!

Crock-Pot North Carolina BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches Recipe {www.TwoHealthyKitchens.com}
Crock-Pot North Carolina BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches Recipe {www.TwoHealthyKitchens.com}

88 thoughts on “Crock-Pot North Carolina BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches”

  1. How would I be able to make this recipe with already cooked and shredded rotisserie chicken? That’s a staple in our house so I’d love to be able to use it with this recipe vs the uncooked breasts. What would you adjust the slow cooker time too?

    I lived in eastern North Carolina for about 6 months a few years ago and I’ll always believe they have the best bbq!

    Reply
    • Hi, Sarah! I adore the shortcut of using rotisserie chicken breasts in recipes (pssssst … yes, I have loads of recipes that definitely DO work great with rotisserie chicken! 😉 ). But, I haven’t tested that strategy with this particular BBQ chicken recipe, so I can’t guarantee how well it would work. If you want to give it a try, though, I would first of all ditch the slow cooker altogether – with already-cooked chicken, I would simply heat it gently in a pan with the rest of the “sauce” ingredients. Try a low-ish heat so that you can give the chicken a little more time to mix and mingle with the sauce. If you give this idea a try, let me know how it works for you! ~Shelley

      Reply
  2. This was delicious! I used 2 pounds of chicken and doubled the sauce. Also used Lousiana hot sauce. My entire family loved it! It would be perfect for summer gatherings!

    Reply
    • I’m am absolutely thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed these pulled chicken sandwiches, Jessica! Thanks bunches for taking a moment to offer such lovely feedback – it means a lot to me to know that other families love my recipes as much as my own family does! Happy summer to you and your family! 😀 ~Shelley

      Reply
  3. I have made this several times. I cook and shred chicken and then add it to other recipes. Use it as a meal prep staple. Really good and really easy.

    Reply
    • Oh, I’m really happy to hear that this pulled chicken recipe has been so helpful to you, Colleen! Meal prepping is such a lifesaver for busy weeks! Thanks for being so kind to pop back and leave a comment! ~Shelley

      Reply
  4. Made this today and WOW I am hooked! Thank you so much for this recipe. If someone had handed me this sandwich and told me it was healthy, I’d call them a liar. In case no one else has shared this hack – I used my hand mixer to shred the chicken after cooking and it shredded the entire batch in about 20 seconds. Definitely will be making this again and again.

    Reply
    • Oh, Alex! I’m so thrilled you loved these Chicken Sandwiches (and especially that you didn’t even notice or care that they’re healthier – that’s always my goal with my recipes 😉 ). And thanks for the tip on using a hand mixer! I’ve heard that technique works well, but I honestly never bother to dig out my mixer and give it a shot LOL – that’s a wonderful suggestion, and I love that you shared it so other readers can enjoy trying it, too! One of the very best things about sharing recipes with fellow food lovers is the exchange of tips and tricks and new ideas – I just really enjoy that and appreciate so much that you shared your idea! Please pop back and let me know if you try other recipes, too – I’ll be anxious to hear! 😀 ~Shelley

      Reply

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