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Crock Pot BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe has all the barbecue flavor you love with the ease of slow cooking.
Chicken thighs are slow cooked to absolute perfection in this amazing Crock Pot BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe. The meat is so tender and the flavor is out of this world. Your entire house will smell amazing as this simmers all day.
This easy slow cooker recipe is a family favorite because of the flavor and how easy it is to make. If you love this recipe, make sure to check out this Crock Pot Hawaiian Chicken Recipe, Grilled Hawaiian BBQ Chicken, Grilled BBQ Chicken Pizza and BBQ Chicken Recipe.
What's in this post: Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs
Why This Recipe Works
This recipe is so easy and versatile. Chicken thighs are so inexpensive. You can also easily substitute chicken breasts if that is what you have.
Just use what you have or can get on sale. I often use what is already in my freezer. This chicken recipe is amazing and loaded with flavor. Crock pot chicken thighs are so tender and really easy to make.
Ingredients
- Bone-in chicken thighs, skin on
- Salt and pepper
- BBQ sauce – Use Homemade BBQ Sauce
- Honey
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Minced Garlic
- Smoked Paprika
- Onion Powder
- Chicken Broth
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.
Variations Ideas
- Change Chicken – If you prefer you can make this recipe with boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken breast. We have even made it with chicken tenders for a delicious variation.
- Seasoning – Feel free to add in tbsp brown sugar for a hint of sweetness. We have even added in a ¼ tsp of red pepper flakes for a hint of spice. Garlic powder and Worcestershire Sauce is also a great addition.
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1 – Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper and place in the slow cooker.
Step 2 – In a bowl, combine barbecue sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, garlic, smoked paprika, and onion powder. Mix in chicken broth to thin the sauce.
Step 3 – Pour the BBQ sauce mixture over the chicken. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6 hours until chicken is tender.
Step 4 – Preheat the oven’s broiler. Transfer cook chicken to a baking sheet, brush with sauce from the Crock Pot, and broil for 5 minutes or until the skin is crispy. Serve hot with extra BBQ sauce if desired.
Recipe Tips
- Combine Sauce – Combine the simple ingredient sauce before pouring over the chicken thighs.
- Cooking Time – Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your chicken and your slow cooker. To make sure your chicken thighs are fully cooked, make sure to use a meat thermometer.
- Broiling Chicken – We love to boil the slow cooker chicken thighs after cooking them. This helps to give the chicken thighs a crispy texture.
Serving Suggestions
This is delicious served as is or you can serve it over white rice. The sauce is really good over the rice so we enjoy it with rice frequently. You can save even more time and learn how to freeze rice and you can make this meal even easier.
I love to grab the rice from the freezer in the morning and when we come home it is all ready to enjoy. We do this for lots of meals and it helps put together a quick meal. Give it a try
It is so easy and helpful for busy weeknights. You can also use brown rice. Learn how to cook brown rice in the microwave for a quick side.
Other delicious side ideas include salad, Roasted Green Beans or learn how to steam broccoli in the microwave for a super easy veggie side dish.
Another idea is to use shredded BBQ chicken leftovers with extra BBQ sauce for BBQ Chicken sandwiches. It is like getting another meal out of the same recipe without anymore work. You can even serve these Crock Pot Little Smokies for an easy appetizer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Yes, you can freeze BBQ Chicken in a freezer safe container for up to 3-4 months.
When you are ready to serve, thaw the chicken in the fridge overnight. Then reheat in the microwave or oven depending on how much you have leftover.
Try these other easy chicken thighs recipes
- Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Thighs Dinner
- Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe
- Crock Pot Chicken Thighs and Rice
- Slow Cooker Chili Lime Chicken Thighs Recipe
- Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken
- Crock Pot Chicken Thighs and Rice
Find more chicken crock pot recipes
- Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing Recipe
- Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken Recipe
- Slow Cooker: Cilantro Lime Chicken Recipe
- Easy Crock pot Chicken Vegetable Soup
We love this BBQ Chicken Crockpot Thighs Recipe. If you try it, make sure to leave us a comment. We love hearing from you.
Crock Pot BBQ Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 6 Bone-In Chicken Thighs (skin on)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1/2 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
- In a bowl, combine BBQ sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, garlic, smoked paprika, and onion powder. Mix in chicken broth to thin the sauce.
- Place chicken thighs in the Crock Pot.
- Pour the BBQ sauce mixture over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 hours until chicken is tender.
- Preheat the oven's broiler. Transfer chicken to a baking sheet, brush with sauce from the Crock Pot, and broil for 5 minutes or until the skin is crispy.
- Serve hot with extra BBQ sauce if desired.
