Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs

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Tender and juicy, these Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs are perfect for any occasion! They're so flavorful and effortless to make! You will love these boneless chicken thighs coated in a tangy and sticky BBQ sauce.

Honestly, barbeque sauce is one of my go-to sauces whenever I'm in need of a quick and easy dinner. It's so easy to throw it into a slow cooker with some meat, and just like that, you've got a flavorful dinner. I've had a ton of boneless chicken thighs lately, so this slow cooker bbq chicken thighs recipe has been on repeat.

A pair of tongs placing a slow cooker bbq chicken thigh onto a platter.

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Why You'll Love This Crockpot Chicken Recipe
Ingredients You'll Need
How To Make Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs
Recipes Variations
Tips and Notes
Serving Suggestions
Frequently Asked Questions
Recipe
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Why You'll Love This Crockpot Chicken Recipe

It's so easy to customize this slow cooker bbq chicken thighs recipe. You can use a smoky bbq sauce, a sweet bbq sauce, a spicy bbq sauce, or whichever is your current favorite!
I love broiling these chicken thighs for a few minutes to make the sauce even stickier on the thighs, but that's optional. You can simply skip that step if you're in a rush.
The crockpot bbq chicken thighs come out tender, moist, flavorful, and will practically melt in your mouth!

Ingredients You'll Need

Overhead view of ingredients for slow cooker bbq chicken thighs.

brown sugar — I love the sweetness that brown sugar adds to the bbq sauce. Feel free to use light or dark brown sugar. You can also add more or less, depending on how sweet your bbq sauce is.
seasoning — I season the chicken thighs with paprika (sweet or spicy!), garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, and if you would like some extra heat, add a bit of cayenne pepper. You can also swap out this mix for your own favorite chicken spice rub. Just make sure to season the chicken generously.
chicken thighs — I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. If you only have bone-in, skin-on thighs, you can definitely use that instead.
BBQ sauce — use your favorite barbeque sauce. Some days I crave a tangier sauce, but other days I prefer a sweeter sauce.
cooking spray — just to lightly coat the slow cooker before the ingredients go in.

How To Make Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs

Set of two photos showing seasoning in a bowl and meat coated in the seasoning.

Combine the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. Season chicken all over with the spice mix.

Set of two photos showing chicken thighs added to a slow cooker and topped with bbq sauce.

Coat the inside of a slow cooker with cooking spray. Place the thighs in the slow cooker.
Pour 2 cups of BBQ sauce into the slow cooker.

Set of two photos showing before and after bbq chicken cooked in a crockpot.

Toss to fully coat the chicken thighs with the bbq sauce.
Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours.

Set of two photos showing before and after bbq chicken thighs broiled on a sheet pan.

When done cooking, spray a sheet pan with cooking spray and pre-heat the broiler.
Remove the chicken thighs from the slow cooker and place them on a baking sheet in a single layer. Brush the remaining ½ cup bbq sauce over the thighs.
Broil for 3-5 minutes or until the chicken has browned and crisped up.

A plate of slow cooker bbq chicken thighs with broccoli with a crockpot in the background.

Recipes Variations

You can use your favorite spice rub instead of the seasoning I have listed below.
Add cayenne pepper and red chili flakes for some extra heat.
Swap the chicken thighs for chicken legs, drumsticks, breasts, thighs, or chicken wings.
Add some honey to the chicken thighs for a sweet honey bbq chicken recipe.

Tips and Notes

I love finishing off the chicken thighs with some additional bbq sauce and broiling them for a couple of minutes. It's an extra step that I love to do when I have the time, as it adds even more flavor to the chicken.
When broiling the crockpot bbq chicken thighs, keep a close eye on them as they can quickly go from crispy to burnt.
Make sure to pat dry the chicken thighs before seasoning them as it helps the seasoning stick better to the thighs.
Slow cooker liners help make clean-up easier. Same with parchment paper on the sheet pan.
You can also shred the chicken thighs if you'd like to make tacos or burrito bowls!
If the BBQ sauce is not as thick as you'd like to coat your chicken drumsticks with at the end, you can make a cornstarch slurry with 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp cold water and add it to the BBQ sauce. Stir to combine and let the slow cooker run on HIGH so the slurry can combine with the sauce. Stir until thickened to your liking.
Try my Whole Baked Chicken Wings for another easy chicken recipe.

Overhead view a plate with two pieces of slow cooker bbq chicken thighs with some broccoli.

Serving Suggestions

Here are some sides that go wonderfully with this slow cooker barbeque chicken thighs recipe!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen chicken thighs?

I don't suggest using frozen chicken thighs for this crockpot BBQ chicken recipe. When the chicken thighs are frozen, the spices do not stick as well to the skin. I recommend thawing the chicken ahead of time.

How do I store leftovers?

To store the leftover crockpot BBQ chicken thighs, allow the chicken to cool to room temperature and then transfer them to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave.

How do I freeze this?

To freeze the BBQ chicken, allow the chicken to cool to room temperature and transfer it to a freezer-safe bag and freeze it for up to three months. Thaw fully before reheating.

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