Crockpot Cherry Cola Pulled Chicken Recipe
This Crockpot Cherry Cola Pulled Chicken recipe combines tender chicken breasts with a sweet and tangy cherry cola-infused BBQ sauce. Slow-cooked to perfection, the chicken absorbs rich flavors from garlic, smoked paprika, and maraschino cherry juice, resulting in a deliciously moist, easy-to-make pulled chicken perfect for sandwiches or sliders.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours (high) or 6 hours (low)
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes (high) or 6 hours 10 minutes (low)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Sauce
- 1 cup honey BBQ sauce
- 1 cup cherry cola
- 2 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Place the boneless skinless chicken breasts into the bottom of your slow cooker, ensuring they are evenly spread out for even cooking.
- Season the Chicken: Sprinkle the garlic salt, onion powder, and smoked paprika evenly over the chicken breasts to infuse them with savory flavor.
- Mix the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the honey BBQ sauce, cherry cola, and maraschino cherry juice until well combined to create a sweet and tangy sauce.
- Combine and Cook: Pour the sauce mixture over the seasoned chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Cover with the lid and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- Remove Excess Liquid: Carefully remove about half of the cooking liquid from the slow cooker to avoid soggy chicken and to intensify the pulled chicken texture.
- Shred the Chicken: Using two forks, shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, mixing it with the remaining sauce for maximum flavor infusion.
- Serve: Pile the pulled chicken onto buns or sliders and serve immediately while warm for a delicious sandwich experience.
Notes
- For extra flavor, toast the buns before serving.
- If you prefer a spicier version, add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the seasonings.
- Cherry cola can be substituted with regular cola if maraschino cherry juice is unavailable, though flavor will differ slightly.
- Leftover pulled chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- This recipe pairs well with coleslaw or pickles for a classic BBQ sandwich experience.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1 chicken breast with sauce)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: pulled chicken, cherry cola chicken, slow cooker chicken, crockpot pulled chicken, BBQ chicken sandwiches, sweet and tangy chicken, easy chicken dinner
