Cook up a flavorful storm with our Deliciously Easy Crock Pot Dr Pepper Chicken recipe! Tender, tangy, and fuss-free, dinner has never been this delightful. A can of Dr Pepper offers a bubbly cola cherry accent to this incredibly delicious, slow cooked meal. Marinated in a flavorful homemade sauce, this crowd pleasing, BBQ chicken is excellent in sandwiches, and is perfect for tailgating and parties.
This fun and delicious crockpot recipe yields a ton of tender chicken that's juicy, tangy, and sweet. When the chicken slow cooks all day in its special homemade sauce, it practically melts in your mouth when ready to enjoy.
I prefer making my own BBQ marinade for this meal (which is a thin sauce), because I can control the spices and flavor to our liking. It's a matter of adding a few extra ingredients to the slow cooker (no extra stovetop step required), but if you're looking for total simplicity, simply add a bottle of your favorite sauce.
Then there's the Dr Pepper, which makes this recipe extra special and so fun! I use diet soda to save on carbs and calories (making your own BBQ sauce helps with this too), but using full calorie is absolutely fine. The cherry accent that the soda provides makes the pulled chicken extra delicious and moist, and a winner with both kids and adults.
Enjoy Dr Pepper chicken over a buttery bed of mashed potatoes, in a bun topped with Carrot Slaw or Zucchini Slaw, or simply all on its own--it's that finger licking good!
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🥘Ingredients
- chicken breasts- my preferred choice because its lower in fat than other cuts
- fresh garlic- minced for best flavor
- ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, cayenne, onion powder, sea salt- these are the ingredients for the homemade BBQ sauce; if using bottled, simply swap this list for 2 cups of your desired sauce
- Dr Pepper- one can is all you need; I use Diet or Zero to cut the carbs and calories
See recipe card for quantities.
🔪Instructions
- Step 1: Place chicken breasts in the bottom of a well greased crockpot. Press minced garlic into chicken.
- Step 2: Mix the sauce ingredients in a small bowl, then pour over chicken.
- Step 3: Next, add the Dr Pepper. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.
- Step 4: Using two long forks, pull the cooked chicken apart; stir. Cover and cook on low for an additional 30 minutes. Keep warm until ready to serve.
Hint: While this recipe can be cooked on high for 3-4 hours, cooking it on low for 6-7 creates much more tender, flavorful chicken.
🥣Substitutions
- Meat - for a dark meat option, use chicken or turkey thighs instead of chicken breasts; this recipe is also good with pork and turkey tenderloins
- Sauce - use a bottle of your favorite sauce (see recipe card for which ingredients to omit from this recipe)
- Soda- the fun doesn't end with Dr Pepper; you can use cola, cherry cola, and even root beer for different flavor profiles
📖Variations
This recipe makes a lot. Here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy it:
- Dr Pepper Pulled Chicken Sandwich - add the meat, along with a slice of cheddar cheese, pickles, and your fav slaw to a Brioche bun
- Dr Pepper Chicken Mashed Potato Bowl- whip up a batch of mashed potatoes; fill individual serving bowls with meat, mashed potatoes, and corn; top with shredded cheddar and crispy onions
- Dr Pepper Chicken Sliders- Get the mouthwatering recipe by clicking HERE
See Mississippi Chicken and Chicken Enchilada Casserole for two other slow cooker recipes featuring pulled chicken!
🍽Equipment
- 6 quart slow cooker/crockpot
- measuring cups & measuring spoons
- small bowl & whisk
- stirring spoon
- large forks or prongs
🍶Storage
Once cooled, store Crockpot Dr Pepper Chicken in an airtight container. Keep refrigerated and enjoy within 3-4 days.
This recipe freezes well. Store in freezer safe packaging and keep it in the back of the freezer for up to 3 months; defrost overnight in the fridge.
💭Top tip
To shred the chicken, it isn't necessary to remove it from the crockpot. Simply use 2 big forks or prongs to pull pieces apart. After several hours of slow cooking, this process is actually quite easy, and there's no need to dirty another cutting board or dish.
🗨️FAQ
You don't have to, but since it naturally separates anyway when you try to remove it from the crockpot, it's easier to just shred it before removing. It's also easier to eat and serve that way.
Yes, but add it during the final hour of slow cooking. This is also the best way to use leftover chicken in this recipe. Keep in mind though that this meal tastes best when raw chicken is added from the start, as the recipe suggests.
Yes, you absolutely can (this is how I usually make it). Using a sugar-free version is a great way to cut down on calories without losing that signature cherry-vanilla essence. While some worry about the sweeteners breaking down, in a slow cooker, the flavor remains consistent and the chicken stays tender.
Not exactly! The Dr Pepper acts more like a tenderizer and a flavor enhancer. It provides a subtle, sweet, and tangy background note that mimics a complex BBQ sauce rather than a fizzy drink.
If you’re out of Dr Pepper, Root Beer, Coca-Cola, or Cherry Coke are excellent alternatives that provide a similar caramelized sweetness.
While it's best to thaw chicken first for even cooking, if you use frozen breasts, you should add an extra 1-2 hours on the "Low" setting to ensure the center reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F. Please note your sauce will be watery with this option.
For the most tender, "melt-in-your-mouth" texture, Low for 6-7 hours is superior. High heat can sometimes cause the lean breast meat to seize up and become tough before it's ready to shred.
Definitely. Chicken thighs are more forgiving and remain juicier due to their higher fat content. Use the same cooking times, but note the texture will be slightly richer.
It pairs beautifully with Carrot Slaw, Seasoned Oven Roasted Potatoes, or served over a creamy bed of mashed potatoes. For a BBQ feel, try it with Macaroni Salad.
If the sauce is thinner than you'd like after shredding, you can leave the lid off and cook on "High" for the final 30 minutes to allow some liquid to evaporate, or stir in a small cornstarch slurry.
🥄Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
🍴Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Crockpot Dr Pepper Chicken:
📋Recipe with step-by-step instructions
Crockpot Dr Pepper Chicken
Equipment
- 6 quart slow cooker/crockpot (well greased or lined)
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- small mixing bowl
- whisk
- stirring spoon
- large forks or prongs
Ingredients
- 3 lbs raw chicken breasts reduce this amount to 2 lbs if using bottled BBQ sauce
- 2 cloves fresh garlic minced
- 1 & ½ cups ketchup* I like Heinz because it is thick; do not use store brand
- ⅔ cup apple cider vinegar*
- ½ cup brown sugar*
- 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce*
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika*
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper*
- 2 teaspoon onion powder*
- 1 teaspoon sea salt*
- 1 (12 oz) can Dr Pepper I use Diet or Zero to cut the carbs and calories; this is what was used for the calories calculation
- *please note that all ingredients marked with an asterisks should be omitted if you're using 2 cups bottled BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts in the bottom of a well greased crockpot. Press minced garlic into chicken.
- Whisk the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder, and sea salt in a small bowl; then pour over chicken. (If you're using bottled sauce, pour it in now.)
- Pour soda into the crockpot.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours.
- Uncover; using two forks, pull apart the chicken; stir. Cover and cook on low for an additional 30 minutes.
- Keep warm until ready to serve.
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