Juicy BBQ Chicken Thighs: A Fuss-Free Slow Cooker Recipe
When summer barbecue cravings hit, these slow cooker bbq chicken thighs offer the perfect solution for delicious, melt-in-your-mouth comfort.
Packed with rich, smoky flavors, this recipe brings restaurant-quality meals straight to your kitchen.
The slow cooking method ensures each piece of chicken remains incredibly juicy and infused with tangy sauce.
Minimal prep work means you can set the cooker and walk away while magic happens.
Succulent chicken thighs absorb every drop of sweet and savory barbecue goodness during their leisurely cooking process.
No need to hover over a hot grill or stress about precise timing.
These chicken thighs will become your new go-to weeknight dinner that impresses everyone at the table.
Dig into this easy, crowd-pleasing dish that promises flavor in every single bite.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
Calories: 350 kcal
Servings: 5
BBQ Chicken Thighs in the Slow Cooker Start Here
For Sauce Base:For Seasoning Blend:For Protein and Finishing:Slow Cooker Tools That Make BBQ Chicken Thighs Simple
Cooking Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs Until Tender
Whip up a mouthwatering BBQ sauce by blending tangy and sweet ingredients into a flavor-packed mixture that’ll make your taste buds dance.
Gently lay chicken thighs in the slow cooker, creating a cozy single layer that’ll soak up all the delicious sauce goodness.
Pour the vibrant BBQ sauce over the chicken, ensuring every inch gets a luxurious coating of flavor-packed deliciousness.
Cover and let the slow cooker transform your chicken into tender, fall-apart delights. On low heat, cook for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the meat becomes irresistibly soft.
Want a more luxurious sauce? Quickly stir in a cornstarch slurry during the final 15 minutes of cooking to create a rich, clingy sauce that’ll make your meal even more spectacular.
Spoon extra sauce over the succulent chicken and pair with your favorite accompaniments for a meal that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.
Sauce and Spice Tweaks for Bold BBQ Flavor
Serving Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs with Sides
Storing BBQ Chicken Thighs from the Slow Cooker
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Tender Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe
- Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 5 1x
Description
Savor mouthwatering slow cooker BBQ chicken thighs that melt with rich, smoky flavors perfect for family dinners. Tender meat glazed in tangy sauce promises a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs (bone-in, skinless or boneless)
- 1 cup (240 ml) BBQ sauce (favorite brand)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) honey or brown sugar
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) cornstarch + 2 tbsps (30 ml) water (for thickening, optional)
Instructions
- Sauce Crafting: Whisk together BBQ sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes in a mixing bowl until smooth and well-integrated.
- Chicken Placement: Layer chicken thighs methodically in the slow cooker, ensuring they are spread evenly without overcrowding.
- Sauce Application: Lavishly drench chicken thighs with the prepared sauce, meticulously coating each piece to guarantee maximum flavor absorption.
- Slow Cooking Transformation: Seal the slow cooker and allow chicken to simmer on low temperature for 6-7 hours or high temperature for 3-4 hours, monitoring until meat becomes supremely tender and easily separates.
- Sauce Refinement (Optional): For enhanced sauce consistency, create a cornstarch slurry by blending cornstarch with water, then gently incorporate into the cooking liquid during the final quarter-hour of preparation.
- Culinary Presentation: Transfer chicken to serving platter, generously drizzle remaining sauce over the meat, and complement with preferred accompaniments for a delectable dining experience.
Notes
- Choose bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for maximum moisture and flavor, as they stay juicier during slow cooking compared to boneless cuts.
- Add cornstarch slurry gradually and stir carefully to avoid lumps, checking sauce thickness incrementally for perfect texture without over-thickening.
- Toast spices like smoked paprika and garlic powder briefly before mixing into sauce to enhance their aromatic compounds and intensify overall taste profile.
- Swap traditional BBQ sauce with sugar-free or low-sodium versions for diabetic or heart-healthy diets, and use coconut aminos instead of Worcestershire sauce for gluten-free variations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
Michael Thompson
Founder & Culinary Director
Expertise
Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine
Education
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care.
After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.
Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.