Crockpot Cherry Cola Pulled Chicken
Say hello to your new favorite way to use the crockpot: juicy pulled chicken with a sweet and smoky cherry cola twist! It’s slow-cooked until the chicken is fall-apart tender, then shredded and soaked in a sweet, smoky sauce with just the right hint of BBQ.
I know—using cherry cola might sound a little out there. But trust me, it just works. The soda brings a subtle sweetness and depth that makes the whole dish ridiculously good.
Pile it high on buns for a simple dinner, or get creative—tuck it into tacos, spoon it over rice, or stuff it into baked potatoes. However you serve it, this is one of those recipes that’ll have you wondering why you didn’t make a double batch. I absolutely LOVE trying out new crockpot recipes, and I knew straightaway that this one was going to be a total winner!
Ingredients
- Chicken breasts
- Garlic salt
- Onion powder
- Smoked paprika
- Honey bbq sauce
- Cherry cola
- Maraschino cherry juice
How To Make Crockpot Cherry Cola Pulled Chicken
Please note that I’ve included a printable recipe card for you at the bottom of this post!
-
Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker.
-
Sprinkle the garlic salt, onion powder, and smoked paprika evenly over the top.
-
In a small bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, cherry cola, and maraschino cherry juice.
-
Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken.
-
Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours, until the chicken is tender and easy to shred.
-
Once it’s done, remove about half of the cooking liquid from the slow cooker.
-
Shred the chicken directly in the pot using two forks and stir to coat it in the remaining sauce.
-
Pile it onto buns (or whatever you’re serving it with) and dig in!
Recipe Notes
-
Store leftovers – Keep any extra pulled chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It reheats really well for easy lunches.
-
Add some heat – If you like a little kick, stir in a pinch of red pepper flakes with the sauce.
-
Cola swaps – You can use any kind of cola you have on hand, but cherry cola gives it that extra sweet, fruity flavor that makes this recipe pop.
-
Try chicken thighs – If you prefer, you can swap the chicken breasts for boneless, skinless thighs. They stay super juicy and shred like a dream.
Serving Ideas
I love piling this cherry cola pulled chicken into soft buns for a quick, no-fuss dinner—it’s simple, satisfying, and totally hits the spot. But if you want to switch things up, here are a few other ways to serve it:
-
Sliders – Perfect for parties or game day. Spoon the pulled chicken onto mini buns and top with a little coleslaw for some crunch.
-
Taco-style – Fill warm tortillas with the shredded chicken, add shredded lettuce, a drizzle of ranch or BBQ sauce, and a sprinkle of cheese.
-
Rice bowls – Serve it over white rice, brown rice, or even cauliflower rice with your favorite veggies on the side.
-
Stuffed sweet potatoes – Load baked sweet potatoes with the pulled chicken for a sweet-and-savory dinner option.
-
Salad topper – Toss it on top of a big salad with avocado, tomatoes, and ranch dressing for a lighter (but still super flavorful) meal.
Crockpot Cherry Cola Pulled Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 cup honey bbq sauce
- 1 cup cherry cola
- 2 tablespoons maraschino cherry juice
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker.
- Sprinkle the garlic salt, onion powder, and smoked paprika evenly over the top.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, cherry cola, and maraschino cherry juice.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours, until the chicken is tender and easy to shred.
- Once it’s done, remove about half of the cooking liquid from the slow cooker.
- Shred the chicken directly in the pot using two forks and stir to coat it in the remaining sauce.
- Pile it onto buns (or whatever you're serving it with) and dig in!
No oven, no stress, just tender, saucy pulled chicken with a cherry cola twist. Whether you’re piling it onto buns, loading up tacos, or tucking leftovers into lunchboxes, this one’s as easy as it is delicious. Don’t be surprised if it becomes a regular in your slow cooker rotation. When you make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me in your photos on Instagram @slimmingviolet! I really love seeing your creations.
