Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

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Made with kitchen staples, this slow cooker chicken drumsticks recipe features perfectly seasoned chicken drumsticks coated in barbeque sauce slow cooked to perfection in a crockpot. It's quick, easy, and perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. You'll get tender, juicy chicken drumsticks every single time!

If you need an easy weeknight dinner, this crockpot chicken drumsticks recipe is just what you need! Tender and flavorful, this recipe comes together so freaking easily! You won't be able to get enough of these slow cooker bbq chicken drumsticks as they go with everything!

A plate of multiple slow cooker chicken drumsticks with a crockpot in the background.

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

Why You'll Love This Crockpot Chicken Recipe

It only takes minutes to assemble. Simply season the chicken, add it to the slow cooker, add the bbq sauce, and you're good to go!
It's a budget-friendly recipe that your whole family will love. Who doesn't love tender, fall-apart chicken coated in a sticky bbq sauce?!
Most of the ingredients are probably already in your kitchen! It's my go-to recipe when I'm not sure what to make for dinner.

Ingredients You'll Need

Ingredients needed to make slow cooker chicken drumsticks.

brown sugar — I love the sweetness that brown sugar adds. Feel free to use light or dark brown sugar.
seasoning — I season the chicken drumsticks with paprika (sweet or spicy!), chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and for a bit of heat, cayenne pepper. Feel free to skip this and use your own favorite chicken spice rub. Just make sure to season the chicken generously.
chicken drumsticks — keep the skin on! Keep the recipe prep time down.
BBQ sauce — use your favorite barbeque sauce. Some days I'm craving 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 This Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks Recipe

Set of two photos showing spices whisked together and added to the chicken.

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

Set of two photos showing seasoned drumsticks added to the slow cooker and then sauce poured on top.

Coat the inside of a slow cooker with cooking spray. Place the drumsticks in the slow cooker.
Pour 2 cups of BBQ sauce into the slow cooker and toss to coat. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 5-6 hours.

Set of two photos showing the slow cooker chicken drumsticks after cooking and transferred to a sheet pan to broil.

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

Overhead view of a rectangular dish full of slow cooker chicken drumsticks.

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 drumsticks for chicken legs, breasts, thighs, or chicken wings.
Add some honey to the drumsticks for a sweet honey bbq drumstick recipe.

Overhead view of a plate with two slow cooker chicken drumsticks with a fork.

Tips and Notes

I love finishing off the chicken drumsticks 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.
Do not remove the skin of the chicken drumsticks, as it helps keep them from drying out.
When broiling the crockpot bbq chicken drumsticks, keep a close eye on them as they can quickly go from crispy to burnt.
Make sure all of the chicken drumsticks are covered in the BBQ sauce before slow cooking.
Slow cooker liners help make clean up easier. Same with parchment paper on the sheet pan.
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.

A baking dish with multiple slow cooker BBQ chicken drumsticks.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this crockpot chicken drumstick recipe with my go-to recipes:

A slow cooker chicken drumstick torn open with a fork.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen chicken?

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

How do I store leftovers?

To store the leftover crockpot BBQ chicken drumsticks, 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 slow cooker chicken drumsticks?

To freeze the BBQ chicken, allow the chicken drumsticks 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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