• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Grilling 24x7
  • Grilling 24x7
  • About
  • Recipes
    • By Food Type
      • Beef
        • Pellet Grill
        • Charcoal Grill
      • Poultry
        • Chicken
        • Turkey
      • Pork
        • Pork Ribs
        • Pellet Grill
        • Charcoal Grill
      • Seafood
        • Crab
        • Shrimp
        • Lobster
        • Fish
      • Veggies
        • Appetizers
        • Side Dishes
        • Soups and Casseroles
        • Main Dishes
      • Lamb
      • Keto Diet
    • By Course
      • Appetizers
        • Beef
        • Poultry
        • Pork
        • Seafood
      • Soups and Casseroles
      • Salads
      • Side Dishes
      • Main Dishes
        • Beef
        • Poultry
        • Pork
        • Seafood
        • Pizza
      • Dessert
      • Sauces/rubs
    • By Method
      • Cast Iron Recipes
        • Appetizers
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
        • Side Dishes
        • Soups and Casseroles
        • Main Dishes
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
      • Tailgate Recipes
        • Grilled Appetizers
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
          • Veggies
        • Side Dishes
        • Soups And Casseroles
        • Main Dishes
          • Beef
          • Poultry
          • Pork
          • Seafood
          • Veggie
  • Reviews
  • Tips
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
Grilling 24x7 » Recipes » Poultry Recipes » Chicken Recipes » BBQ Smoked Pulled Chicken

BBQ Smoked Pulled Chicken

by Frank Campanella 7 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links that will not change your price but will share some commission. Please read the Privacy Policy

Jump to Recipe

The easiest BBQ Smoked Pulled Chicken recipe you will ever make! This juicy smoked chicken is perfect for making sandwiches, tacos, and more!

smoked BBQ pulled chicken sandwich on a roll with mustard bbq sauce

Instead of a traditional bun try out this Easy Naan Recipe that will take this pulled chicken up a notch!!

Looking for more delicious ways to enjoy chicken? Be sure to check out queso chicken, shredded buffalo chicken with celery slaw, buffalo chicken sloppy joes, and smoked parmesan chicken wings with vodka sauce.

Why This Pulled Chicken Recipe Is the Best

This recipe is hands down one of the best ways to enjoy smoked shredded chicken either as a sandwich on tacos or on its own.

Made with boneless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, barbecue sauce, and of course some smoky flavor, this pulled chicken recipe will become one of the family's favorite recipes in your house.

smoked pulled chicken on a bun

Smoked Pulled Chicken Ingredient List

  • Chicken. For this recipe, I smoked 3 lbs of boneless and skinless chicken breast and chicken thighs. I enjoy a mix of both in my sandwiches, but if your personal preference is one over the other, you can do all of the same cut of chicken.
  • Seasoning. Spin your spice rack and grab 1 tsp of chicken bouillon powder and 2 tbsp of BBQ dry rub to season the chicken.
  • Sauces. For that added bold and irresistible flavor, you are going to need ¾ cup of BBQ sauce and ¼ cup of chicken broth which will be used to flavor the chicken halfway through the cook.
  • Additional Ingredients. Grab 1 tbsp of avocado oil; this will be used for cooking.
smoked pulled chicken bbq in a pan with sauce

How to Make BBQ Smoked Pulled Chicken

  1. Prepare the chicken. Trim the chicken breasts and thighs removing any excess fat on bone fragments.
  2. Season the chicken. Once the chicken has been trimmed, combine the bouillon powder and the bbq dry rub, then season the chicken on both sides.
  3. Smoke the chicken. Heat the smoker to 275 degrees F. and place the chicken directly on the pellet grill (or any smoker/grill). Cook the chicken for about 90 minutes.
  4. Transfer and continue smoking. Transfer the chicken to an aluminum foil pan, pour in bbq sauce and chicken broth, and continue to smoke uncovered for another hour until the thighs reach an internal temperature of about 185 degrees F.
  5. Shred the chicken. Once the chicken is cooked use tongs, forks, or your hands with heat-protective gloves to shred the chicken and combine it with the sauce. You can also use a hand mixer to shred the chicken quickly.
  6. Enjoy. Plate and serve with rolls, cole slaw, and extra sauce!
Carolina Smoked Pulled chicken sandwich with a neon light in the background

Recipe Tips, Tricks, and Variations

Extra juicy chicken. Looking for extra juicy chicken? Consider mixing apple cider and melted butter and inject it into the chicken.

Sweetness. If you are looking to add some sweetness to your chicken, consider using light or dark brown sugar.

Cooking Oil. If you don't have or don't enjoy avocado oil, you can substitute it with olive oil.

Different Flavor. If you are looking to season your chicken with other spices, consider fan favorites like garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.

Helpful Kitchen Tools. Great items to have handy include aluminum foil, an instant read thermometer or digital thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken at the thickest part of the breast or thigh, paper towel, and a cutting board.

Aluminum Cooking Pan. Use an aluminum pan to keep your pellet smoker clean, plus you can serve the smoked pulled chicken right in the pan

High Fat or Low Fat. If you want to reduce the fat, you can smoke just chicken breast. The final product will be a little less moist but still quite tasty. Inverse, if you want the moistest smoked pulled chicken, you can use all chicken thighs

smoked pulled chicken topped with creamy coleslaw

What to Serve with Pulled Chicken

Make this a complete family meal and serve up your pulled chicken with coleslaw. You don't need a lot but the creamy crunchy cabbage adds texture to the sandwich.

Add delicious side dishes like Pellet Grill Smoked Baked Potatoes, Sheet Pan Green Beans Almondine with Bacon, Corn Casserole Recipe with Bacon and Smoked Gouda, and Smoked Mac and Cheese!

bbq pulled chicken on a wood block platter on a sesame seed roll with Cole slaw

Why is my Skin Not Crispy?

Since this recipe uses skinless chicken, you won't have crispy skin with this chicken. However, if you are looking to have crispy chicken skin and then pull the chicken from the bone, you can smoke an entire chicken or make a spatchcock chicken, cook it, and then shred it.

Making Pulled Chicken In a Crockpot

I know not everyone has a smoker but rest assured you can still make pulled chicken.

Just season the chicken as you would and place it in your crockpot. pour in the chicken broth off to the side so you don't rinse off the seasoning.

Pour in the BBQ sauce of your choice and cook on high for about 4-6 hours. If you want to add that wood flavor, add 2 tsp of Liquid Smoke.

Once the chicken is tender, you can shred it and save it right in the crockpot for amazing almost smoked, pulled chicken bbq.

Pulled chicken sandwich with a vintage sandwich board in the backdrop

More Recipes to Try

  • Cooking Smoked Turkey Wings
  • Macaroni and Cheese with Velveeta
  • Southwest Ranch Dressing Recipe
  • Grilling Baby Back Ribs
  • Smoking Brisket on Pellet Grill
  • Smoked Stuffed Jalapenos
  • How to Smoke a Beef Tenderloin
  • Chopped Beef Recipe
  • Chicken Thighs Pellet Grill

bbq pulled chicken on a wood block platter on a sesame seed roll with Cole slaw
Print Pin
4 from 1 vote

BBQ Smoked Pulled Chicken

This will be the easiest Smoked Pulled Chicken recipe you will ever make! Juicy smoked chicken is perfect for making sandwiches, tacos, and more
Course Main Course, Sandwich
Cuisine American, BBQ
Keyword BBQ Chicken, Smoked pulled chicken
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 3 hours hours
Servings 12
Calories 287kcal

Equipment

  • Pellet grill or Crockpot
  • 1 Aluminum Foil Pan

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs Chicken Thighs Boneless, Skinless
  • 1 tbsp Avocado Oil
  • 1 tsp Chicken Bouillon Powder optional
  • 2 tbsp BBQ Dry Rub
  • ¾ cup BBQ Sauce
  • ¼ cup Chicken Broth

Instructions

  • Trim the thighs removing any excess fat on bone fragments. Combine the bouillon powder and the bbq dry rub, then season the chicken on both sides.
  • Heat the smoker to 275 degrees F. and place the chicken thighs directly on the pellet grill (or any smoker/grill). Cook for about 90 minutes.
  • transfer the Chicken to an aluminum foil pan, pour in bbq sauce and chicken broth, and continue to smoke uncovered for another hour until the thighs reach an internal temperature of about 185 degrees F.
  • Once the chicken is cooked use tongs, forks, or your hands with heat-protective gloves to shred the chicken and combine it with the sauce. You can also use a hand mixer to shred the chicken quickly.
  • Serve with rolls, cole slaw, and extra sauce.

Notes

Serving size, 6oz Pulled Chicken w/ Sauce.
If preparing in a crockpot, set it on high and cook the seasoned chicken for about 4 hours along with the broth and sauce. Shred once the chicken is tender and serve.
You can also prepare pulled chicken in a Dutch oven at 325 degrees F. Cook covered for about 2-3 hours until tender and shred.

Nutrition

Serving: 6oz | Calories: 287kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 123mg | Sodium: 501mg | Potassium: 498mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition Facts
BBQ Smoked Pulled Chicken
Amount Per Serving (6 oz)
Calories 287 Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 4g25%
Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol 123mg41%
Sodium 501mg22%
Potassium 498mg14%
Carbohydrates 8g3%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 29g58%
Vitamin A 140IU3%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 24mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

bbq chicken sandwich on a toasted bun

Sharing is caring!

  • Facebook5
  • Twitter
  • Email

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cara

    May 15, 2022 at 7:17 pm

    Did you cover it while cooking or leave it open

    Reply
    • Frank Campanella

      May 19, 2022 at 3:16 pm

      uncovered once its in the pan

      Reply
  2. Chris

    May 27, 2022 at 1:30 am

    What kind of wood chips did you use

    Reply
    • Frank Campanella

      June 01, 2022 at 10:23 pm

      I normally use a blend but hickory is a solid choice with chicken

      Reply
  3. Mary

    June 19, 2022 at 1:27 am

    4 stars
    Just a question about the time . The recipe states 2 hours for cook time however if you follow the instructions it’s 3 hours. Is one of them a typo?

    Reply
    • Robin

      September 24, 2022 at 10:42 pm

      I followed the recipe and did 90 min with rub and another 90 min with BBQ and chicken broth. Turned out dry, jerky like, and not good. I used my Traeger at 325 as instructed. If I do this again, will do 60 min with rub and 60 min with BBQ sauce and Chicken broth.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. My Site says:
    August 22, 2022 at 12:56 am

    My Site

    Check my blog

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Frank Campanella

If you love grilling, smoking and searing then you have come to the right place. Grilling 24x7 is your home for everything BBQ, Grilling and more. 

You'll find unique grilling recipes as well as a collection of bbq sides and sauces to make your next backyard cookout or tailgate a success.

Read More →

The Complete Guide to Grilling Steak - by Frank Campanella - Available wherever books are sold

Most Popular Recipes

  • Smoked Eye round on a sesame seed roll with bbq sauce
    Smoked Eye of Round Roast
  • cast Iron skillet cuban casserole
    Cuban Casserole Using Leftover Pulled Pork
  • Baby back ribs gas grill recipe
    Smoked Pork Ribs For Beginners
  • Smoked Bacon Wrapped Onion Ring Recipe w/ Spicy Sriracha Mayo Dipping Sauce- Grilling24x7.com
    Smoked Bacon Wrapped Onion Rings with Spicy Sriracha Onion Rings

Sign Up For The Best BBQ Recipes



Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2021 Grilling 24x7