Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs

We love a good slow cooker meal in our household. Start the crockpot in the morning and by early evening dinner will already be ready. No matter what’s inside, the whole kitchen is permeated with tantalizing smells.

This easy slow cooker chicken recipe starts with bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. The chicken skin is cooked just until slightly crispy and browned. Doctoring up storebought BBQ sauce with vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and garlic powder brings what once was a simply flavored sauce to a whole new level.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• BBQ Sauce – The BBQ sauce for this recipe starts with storebought sauce. Use a thicker and sweeter sauce. *See below for suggestions.
• Apple Cider Vinegar – The vinegar adds tang and acidity to the sweet premade sauce. Apple cider vinegar is the most frequent vinegar you’ll find in BBQ. If you do not have any on hand, good substitutes include red wine vinegar, sherry vinegar, and rice wine vinegar.
• Light Brown Sugar – Most BBQ sauces, if not all, already have sugar added. This small quantity of brown sugar contributes further sweetness with a subtle molasses flavor.
• Garlic Powder – Or minced, fresh garlic. If using fresh, mince two cloves.
• Worcestershire Sauce – The beauty of this kitchen staple is that it brings umami flavor to whatever you add it to, including this sauce.
• Olive Oil – The olive oil is used to brown the skin of the chicken thighs before they are transferred to the slow cooker. The browning process prevents rubbery and soft chicken skin.
• Chicken Thighs (Bone-in, skin-on) – If using boneless, skinless chicken thighs you do not need to be brown them in the pan. Simply place them into the slow cooker raw and smother them in the sauce.
• Cornstarch (plus water) – Otherwise known as a slurry, the cornstarch-water mixture thickens the sauce after cooking.

How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs

In a small bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add the chicken thighs, skin side down, and cook until golden. Flip over and cook for a few minutes more. *If using boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, skip this step. Or if desired, remove the skin from the bone-in thighs.

Carefully transfer the browned chicken thighs to the bottom of a slow cooker. Pour the sauce over the chicken thighs, covering them fully. Cook for 3 hours on high, or on low for 4 to 6 hours.

Once the chicken is cooked, remove the thighs from the slow cooker. Carefully pour the sauce into a small saucepan. Cook the sauce, over medium heat, stirring frequently. Whisk together the cornstarch and water until thickened. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the sauce. Cook the sauce until thickened.

Pour the thickened sauce over the chicken thighs. Serve immediately.

Tips for Success

If cooking from frozen, use boneless skinless chicken. Remember that cooking times will be greater because the chicken is frozen. Conversely, do not cook the bone-in chicken thighs from frozen. The skins will not brown properly from frozen, which is undesirable in the finished product.

Start with a nice thick BBQ sauce like Stubbs Sticky Sweet Bar-B-Q Sauce or Sweet Baby Ray’s.

Cooking times vary when it comes to slow cookers, some run hotter than others.

Other Great Chicken Recipes

• Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken
• Slow Cooker Greek Chicken
• Creamy Chicken Pasta with Spinach
• Cracker Crusted Chicken Nuggets
• Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I store BBQ chicken thighs? How long are they good for? Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Can BBQ chicken thighs be frozen? Yes, BBQ chicken thighs can be frozen. Allow the chicken to cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe airtight container. Freeze the chicken for up to 2 months.

Can this recipe be made with other types of chicken? This recipe is easily adaptable to different types of chicken. Some great options include chicken breast, chicken drumsticks, and boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Skip the browning process on skinless chicken.

What to Serve with this Chicken

When eating BBQ chicken, you cannot forget the sides! This chicken is delicious with rice, potatoes, salads, you name it. If using boneless chicken thighs or breasts, shred the chicken and serve with potato rolls and creamy coleslaw.

Here are a few of my favorite things to pair with crockpot BBQ chicken thighs:

• 20-Minute Pesto Potato Salad
• 5 Ingredient Coleslaw
• Easy Italian Pasta Salad
• Easy Honey Cornbread

Whether you do not feel like grilling or you simply want an easy weeknight meal, this slow cooker chicken thigh recipe is just what you need. This is the easiest and best crockpot BBQ chicken. The sauce is both sweet and tangy which makes it utterly addictive to eat.

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