With 10 minutes of prep time, this tender and juicy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs recipe will quickly become one of your go-to meals your family loves! It's an inexpensive dinner idea as well.
There is nothing quite as simple, delicious, and melt-in-your-mouth good as a slow-cooked BBQ chicken dinner. You just place all the ingredients in the crock pot, let it work its magic, and come home to succulent chicken. No need to heat up the grill!
Another easy dinner recipe with bbq flavors is Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Chops. It's one of our top recipes for good reason.
And don’t forget the mashed potatoes!
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Why We Love This Easy Recipe
- Quick AND easy prep—it takes less than 10 minutes to get this recipe in your slow cooker!
- The end result is tender, incredibly juicy chicken thighs.
- This a delicious, low-carb recipe that requires minimal effort, and the whole family loves it!
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
- Skinless, boneless chicken thighs - we like chicken thighs for this recipe because they create a tender and juicy result. However you can use chicken breast, but you will need to make sure they don’t overcook and become dry, so adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- BBQ sauce - You can use your favorite bbq sauce—sweet, smokey, or tangy all work. Many readers like Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce, but it’s up to you.
- Brown Sugar - not only does this help tenderize the chicken, but it helps caramelize the sauce. You can use a brown sugar substitute if needed.
- Apple cider vinegar - this brings out the flavor of the meat and helps keep it tender.
- Worcestershire sauce - this condiment deepens the BBQ flavor of the dish.
- Garlic and onion powder - these two kitchen staples round out the recipe's flavor profile.
You can find the full recipe and instructions in the printable recipe card below.
Variations
- To punch up the spice factor, add ¼ - ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper, black pepper, and 1 tablespoon of chili powder.
- Another way to amp up the heat is 1 - 2 teaspoons of hot sauce like Tabasco.
- Add a ½ of a small chopped onion to the chicken and sauce while it cooks.
- Tex Mex flavor - add a can of rinsed and drained black beans and a can of corn to the crock and cook as instructed.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Mix BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder together in the slow cooker insert.
Step 2: Add the chicken thighs in a single layer to the slow cooker and cover them with the sauce.
Step 3: Cover with the lid and cook on LOW for 4 - 5 hours or HIGH for 3 hours.
Step 4: As an option, you can take the chicken thighs out of the crock pot and place them on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Use a basting brush, coat them with sauce from the crock pot, and broil for 3-4 minutes. We recommend this step only if you eat the chicken right away. Otherwise, it will become too dry.
PRO TIP: Shredding the chicken is an option if you want to make sandwiches or top a salad with the meat.
Erin
Serve these fantastic Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs up for dinner tonight for a truly satisfying supper you'll want to make again soon.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Cooking Time - All slow cookers tend to cook differently. That’s why there’s a range in cooking time in the recipe. To cook the chicken properly (to the correct temp), we recommend checking it with a digital meat thermometer and cooking it to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- Thickening the Sauce - If you like a lot of sauce with your chicken and want to thicken it up, pour the liquid from the crock pot into a small saucepan. Then add a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water), and cook it over medium-high heat until it simmers and thickens to the desired consistency.
- If you have leftover chicken, use the shredded, pulled chicken to make BBQ chicken sandwiches or use the meat to top pizza or salads.
What to Serve with BBQ Chicken
BBQ chicken is a perfect match for mashed potatoes, baby potatoes, brown rice, or quinoa. A green salad and roasted vegetables are also good.
Storing & Freezing
REFRIGERATOR: You can store your cooled chicken in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge. To reheat, place it in a microwave-safe dish and heat it at 30-second intervals until it reaches the desired temperature. It's incredible the next day on sandwiches or salads.
There are two options for freezing.
- Place the cooked and cooled crockpot bbq chicken thighs in a freezer-safe, airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to three months. PRO TOP: You may want to shred it beforehand to make defrosting easier.
- To make a freezer meal, place all the ingredients in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag, and freeze for up to three months. PRO TIP: Write the recipe name, date, and cooking instructions on the container.
Recipe FAQs
You can make Crock pot BBQ chicken with chicken breasts, bone-in chicken thighs, chicken legs, or chicken wings. You just need to check the chicken while cooking, so it doesn’t overcook. We don’t recommend cooking breasts on HIGH because they tend to dry out.
Liquid is needed to create steam in a crockpot. In this case, BBQ sauce helps create steam as well as helps the chicken stay moist and delicious while slow cooking.
BBQ chicken thighs usually cook for about 3 hours on HIGH or 4 - 5 hours on LOW. However, all crockpot models cook differently, so you’ll need to test the recipe to see the optimal cooking time in your slow cooker. Note that we don't recommend cooking chicken breasts on HIGH.
More Slow-Cooker Chicken Recipes
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Recipe
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- 6-quart Slow Cooker
- Spatula or cooking spoon
Ingredients
- 3 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs (approx. 6-8 thighs. You can also use bone-in thighs)
- 2 cups BBQ sauce ( use any variety you like)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (packed)
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Mix BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder together in the slow cooker insert.
- Add the chicken thighs in a single layer to the slow cooker and coat them with the sauce.
- Cover with the lid and cook on LOW for 4 - 5 hours or HIGH for 3 hours.
- As an option, you can take the chicken thighs out of the crock pot and place them on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Use a basting brush, coat them with sauce from the crock pot, and broil for 3-4 minutes. We recommend this step only if you eat the chicken right away. Otherwise, the chicken will become too dry.
Notes
- Types of Chicken - We like chicken thighs for this recipe because they create a tender and juicy result. However you can use chicken breast, but you will need to make sure they don’t overcook and become dry, so adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Cooking Time - All slow cookers tend to cook differently. That’s why there’s a range in cooking time in the recipe. To cook the chicken properly (to the correct temp), we recommend checking it with a digital meat thermometer and cooking it to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
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Amy K says
It doesn't get much easier than this! I served it with brioche rolls and lettuce wraps. Delicious!
Erin Henry says
Mmmm, those brioche rolls sound delicious with the BBQ chicken. Good call. Thanks for giving the recipe a try.
Sam says
I often make BBQ chicken breasts in the crockpot but this version was so much better. The extra ingredients in addition to the barbecue sauce and the dark thigh meat put this recipe over the top!
Erin Henry says
We totally agree, Sam. The extra ingredients make it something special. Chicken thighs remain moist and delish in the crock pot!
Jamielyn says
These chicken thighs are delicious!! Love the BBQ on top!
Erin Henry says
Yes, one delicious recipe that requires minimal prep. Such a great recipe to have on your meal plan.