These crockpot chicken thighs are a simple, budget-friendly dinner that delivers tender, flavorful chicken with minimal effort. It’s an easy set-it-and-forget-it recipe that works perfectly for busy weeknights.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
This is one of those slow cooker chicken recipes I come back to on the busiest days because I know it just works. I’ve made these crockpot chicken thighs when I didn’t have time to stand in the kitchen, and they always turn out tender and full of flavor.
It’s simple ingredients, no complicated steps, and it gives you a reliable crock pot dinner without the stress.
- Set-it-and-forget-it easy – Just season, add to the crockpot, and let it cook while you handle the rest of your day.
- Budget-friendly protein – Chicken thighs are affordable and stay juicy, making this a great option for feeding a family.
- Versatile for leftovers – Serve as-is or shred the chicken for tacos, sandwiches, or quick lunches later in the week.
For even more easy dinners, take a look at our Quick and Easy Chicken Dinners Series.
Ingredients
- Bone-In, Skin-On Chicken Thighs – Budget-friendly and stays juicy during slow cooking.
- Garlic Powder – Adds simple, savory flavor without extra prep.
- Paprika – Gives mild warmth and helps with color.
- Onion Powder – Adds depth of flavor without chopping onions.
- Salt & Pepper – Enhances all the flavors.
- Italian Seasoning – Easy blend that adds herbs without measuring multiple spices.
- Chicken Broth – Keeps the chicken moist and adds extra flavor while cooking.
How to Make Crockpot Chicken Thighs
Step 1 – Mix the seasoning – In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Step 2 – Prep the Chicken – Pat the bone-in chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Rub the seasoning blend evenly over all sides of the chicken skin.
Step 3 – Add to crockpot – Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of the crockpot.
Step 4 – Arrange Chicken – Place the seasoned chicken thighs into the crockpot in a single layer if possible.
Step 5 – Cook chicken thighs – Cook on low for 4½–5½ hours or high for 2–3 hours, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Step 6 – Crisp the skin – Transfer the chicken to a baking sheet, skin side up, and broil for 5–7 minutes until the skin is golden brown.
Step 7 – Rest and Serve – Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Tips for Success
- Dry the chicken well before seasoning. This helps the spices stick better.
- Don’t skip the broil step if you like crispy skin. It makes a big difference in slow cooker chicken thighs texture.
- Avoid overcooking the chicken thighs. They are forgiving, but too long can make them overly soft.
- Cook in a single layer when possible for more even cooking.
- Use a meat thermometer for reliable results every time.
Variations & Substitutions
- Boneless chicken thighs: Use the same cook time but skip the broiling step.
- Chicken breasts: Can be used, but reduce cook time slightly to avoid drying out.
- Add veggies: Toss in carrots, potatoes, or onions for a one-pot meal.
- Change seasoning: Swap Italian seasoning for ranch seasoning or taco seasoning for variety.
Serving Recommendations
- With rice or mashed potatoes – Spoon the extra sauce or make White Gravy to serve over the top for an easy, comforting dinner.
- With roasted or steamed vegetables – Try green beans, carrots, or broccoli for a balanced plate.
- With a side salad – A simple salad adds freshness and keeps the meal light.
- As a sandwich or wrap – Shred the chicken and serve on buns or tortillas for an easy second meal.
- With pasta – Serve alongside buttered noodles or toss shredded chicken into pasta for a quick dinner variation.
Storage, Leftovers & Freezer Instructions
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge when ready to reheat.
- Reheat: Warm in the microwave or oven with a splash of broth to keep it moist.
- Meal prep tip: Shred leftovers for Queso Chicken Tacos, Chicken Caesar Wrap, or the Ultimate Chicken Casserole.
FAQs
They are ready when the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F and the meat is tender.
Yes, this recipe is designed for raw chicken placed directly into the slow cooker.
No, it’s not required. Broiling at the end gives you that browned finish without extra work upfront.
Slow cookers don’t crisp skin, use the broiler step at the end for best results.
These tender chicken thighs are one of those reliable recipes you can count on when life gets busy. With simple ingredients and easy prep, it’s a dinner that works for real life and still tastes great every time.
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below or give the recipe a rating—your feedback helps other families and makes this community even more helpful.
More Easy Chicken Thigh Recipes
Crockpot Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Bone-In Skin-On Chicken Thighs (approximately 4-6 thighs)
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- ½ cup Chicken Broth
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Place the chicken thighs in the crock pot.
- Season with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Pour the barbecue sauce over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on Low for 5–6 hours or High for 2–3 hours, until the chicken is cooked through.
- Serve warm with the sauce from the crock pot spooned over the chicken.
I will be trying this recipe for Sunday lunch.
Tracy – Let me know what you think!
Easy! I need to make this!
I hope you enjoy it. Have a great day.
Wow!!! My go to for fast easy and deliciousness all in 1! My grandkids devour this like it’s no tomorrow. Thank you for sharing.
That’s awesome that the kids loved it! Thanks for letting me know.
Looks delicious
Thank you so much!
Loved the chicken thighs! Will be my go to from now on !
I’m so happy to hear this! Thanks for sharing.
These are great! Everyone loved them and there were no complaints, which always makes me happy. The leftover vers will be chicken soft tacos tomorrow night. Thank ya u!
Thanks so much! I’m so happy to hear this.
Wow, these crock pot chicken thighs look amazing! Can’t wait to try this recipe with my family!
My slo-cooker is working overtime because I love making recipes like this for the week.
Frees up my time
Cindy – We love the slow cooker too. Thanks for sharing!
This was a very easy recipe and sooooo delicious. I actually froze half for a future meal. Thank you for all the delicious recipes you post
I love this recipe, thank you!! So easy and so delicious!
I’m making these today!!
Thank you!
Tess
Thank you, Tess! I appreciate your kind comment!
This looks like a yummy recipe!! I will be trying it soon, but I’ll have to add chicken legs & wings as my husband loves the dark meat! thank you!
Dawn – Thank you! That’s a great idea to add legs and wings!
This recipe was so easy AND delicious. The chicken was so tender and moist. I’ll definitely make this again!!
My kids devoured this when I made it before! They said it was one of the best chickens I made, lol.
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much!
Sounds delicious but we don’t eat thighs. Any hints/tips for using breasts without them drying out too bad?
You can substitute boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Since they cook faster and can dry out more easily, begin checking them early and remove them once they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
These look so delicious. I intend to the recipe this week! Thanks for posting it.
Wendy – You’re so welcome. I’m glad you are going to try it!
Looks delicious, I can’t wait to try it.
Thanks! Hope you enjoy it!
Hope to make these
Looks delicious! I will have to try it.
Cindy – Thank you! Hope you enjoy!
Thighs are my favorite. This sounds delicious. Going to try this one for sure.
Thanks!
Jill – I hope you love it! Let me know if you have any questions.
Wow!!! The picture makes plain chicken thighs look so delicious. I have to down size the recipes to fit in my 2 quart crock pot.
Very simple preparation and have all the ingredients in my pantry. Thanks for sharing.
Vicki – You’re welcome! I’m so happy you are going to try it!
This is a simple and delicious recipe! One of my favorites for chicken thighs.
Jeri – That’s great to hear. Thanks for sharing and leaving a comment.
Transferring to the oven sounds like a delicious tip, thank you.
Thighs are my favorite
Tina – We love them too! Hope you enjoy!
Great tip to put in broiler for the finish. Such a game changer. I will have to remember the technique for other meats that I prep in the crockpot or instant pot.
Thanks.
This recipe is AMAZING!! It is simple, very low-cost, super flavorful and my crockpot is my best friend on any day of the week. I use a crockpot liner for easier cleanup, so other than that, this recipe is perfect for any day of the week and it can go with any veggie or starch.
Thank you so much for your positive feedback! I’m so glad you enjoyed.
Really good and easy to make abused the boneless thighs came out great def a time saver
So glad to hear! Thanks for leaving a comment.
Plan on making this soon, my husband loves chicken thighs bc of dark meat.
Easy and delicious! I bet this seasoning for chicken would also be great on the grill.
Perfect recipe. Few ingredients, quick and tasty! Thanks j
Julie – Thanks so much. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it.
I’m just wondering if I can use chicken breasts instead of the thighs? My husband will only eat the breasts.
Looks yummy I’m going to have to try it
Cindy – Let me know how it turns out!
I need to get a new crockpot to try this. It looks great and I think my family will love it!
I hope your family enjoys it!
There’s nothing like tender thighs to start a family dinner! I’ll definitely try this crockpot recipe…
So glad you posted a recipe like this. It gives a different option to BUYING store rotisserie chicken. Nothing wrong with doing that ,but this is better for the wallet & just as great for make-ahead meal prepping! I do this & shred the chicken, then vacuum seal & freeze. Can also be froze whole. Your recipes are awesome!! Thank YOU!
Sounds delicious and really easy! Plan to try it
I’m so glad! Thanks for leaving a comment.
Good recipe for chicken thighs
OMG!!! So easy and delicious! Truly a set and forget dish. And it is great since we are now empty nesters! I struggle to make meals for two. This was the perfect size!
That’s great. Thank you for leaving a comment.
This recipe must be a keeper; I’d happily have it again. You’ve turned simple ingredients into something exceptional.
Thank you, Sarah! Your kind words made my day!
This recipes sounds delicious and looks so good.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it!
I like to use smoked paprika, so good!
Tami – I’m so glad you enjoyed!
These are amazing!
A very easy and delicious recipe! I made a few modifications but it turned out fantastic!
James – I’m so glad it turned out great! Thanks for leaving a comment.
Sounds delicious, I will try this week.
Hope you enjoy!
Looking forward to trying this meal ideal I’m partial to thighs. Corn on the cob and mashed potatoes will make us happy.
Jim – The sides sound perfect! I’m excited you plan to try it!
Can’t wait to try this one!!
Jean – Let me know what you think!
Great for pot lucks
This recipe looks amazing! I’m always looking for new crockpot recipes. Can’t wait to try this out!
Thanks so much! Let me know what you think!
Sounds great. We love chicken thighs.
I have made this recipe many ,many times always so juicy and delicious, sometimes I would add vegetables or rice to it,depending on what I have,but it’s definitely delicious as is.
Loved this recipe chicken thighs are my favorite part of the chicken I will definitely make this again
Joann – We love chicken thighs too! So glad you liked it!
We just loved this meal; it was so satisfying. Thank you so much for the recipe!
You’re so welcome! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it.
Why didn’t I think of broiling after the crockpot?? I always avoided because the chicken is too soggy for my liking. Such a simple solve.
Katie – So glad you loved that idea! It’s a game changer!
So easy to set up and have it ready when you’re back home.
I love the convenience of these chicken thighs. They taste so good as well.
Barb – I’m so glad you found it easy and tasty! Thanks for leaving a comment!
I will try this out and have used similar recipe In the air fryer. I kept it moist by putting olive oil on chicken I think. I love these recipes. I get my chicken thighs beasts cheap by buying on food hero and on flash food.
Thank you so much! I’m glad you love it!
This recipe sounds delicious. We use chicken thighs alot. Definitely will be trying this.
Rita – I’m glad you plan to try it! Let me know how it turns out.
I made this recipes with one small change. I omitted the salt and used 1 tsp of Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning instead to give it a little spicy flavor. It has now been added to the chicken rotation! Thanks for the recipe.
So glad to hear it is on the rotation! Thanks for leaving a comment.
Wonderful chicken with rice and green beans as side. It’s a winner.
Thanks for recipe.
You’re welcome. I’m so glad you love it!
This looks delicious. I’m going to try this.
Thank you! I’m glad you plan to try it.
My family loves this recipe. I added onions, potatoes, and carrots. The flavor is delicious. It is really easy. I made the skin skin crunchy the second time I made it and my kids loved it more. I would recommend this recipe to everyone.
Thank you so much for your kind comment. I’m thrilled to hear this.
We made this and it turned out amazing. It could not have been easier. Thank you so much for your wonderful site.
Sounds yummy! I would probably use the chicken breast version because I don’t care for dark meat.
Kimberly – Thank you! I hope you enjoy!
Chicken thighs are the best in crockpot! You can’t mess this recipe up. Delicious, affordable , and easy! Thank you eating on dime
looks very tasty !
Thank you so much!
This sounds perfect. I like to cook extra chicken to have for another meal. This will do that for my family of 2.
This is going into my meal rotation. Looks so easy and yummy.
Rebecca – I’m so glad to hear that. Thanks for leaving a comment.
This is my kind of recipe! So easy and looks delicious. I’ll be trying this one on this week’s menu. Thanks for the recipe!
Donna – You’re welcome! I’m so glad to hear this!
Love using chicken thighs, such an inexpensive option and so many flavorful ways to make them. I plan on putting this on my September meal plan calendar.
Julia – Sounds great for September meal plan. I’m so glad you added it!
I will be trying this recipe very soon. Sounds very good and easy to make
Let me know what you think! Have a great day.
I love a good crock pot meal!
We do too! Thanks for leaving a comment.
The thigh is the best part of the chicken in my opinion. I’m going to try this recipe soon! My mom is a care facility that has substandard food that she won’t eat. I’ve been making food and taking it to her. I know that she will love this!
Jay – That is so kind of you to cook for your mom. I hope she enjoys this recipe.
Looks like a great weeknight meal! ?
Thank you! Hope you love it!
I made these last week and it was delicious! This recipe is a keeper.
Steve – Thanks so much for your kind feedback! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks for sharing the simple recipe. The chicken looks moist and delicious.
These thighs came out soo tender. Yum!
Jeri – Thank you! I’m thrilled to hear this!
I love crockpot meals!
Me too! They make dinner so easy, especially on busy evenings.
Can’t wait to cook this one!
Hope you enjoy it!
Saving this recipe for next week.
This looks so good!
Thank you so much. Have a great day!
I can’t wait to try this one! I’ve been printing out a few recipes each week, making them and saving enough in the freezer for busy days I know we will have once school starts. Thank you for making meal planning easier!
I love that idea, Tracy! Having meals ready in the freezer makes busy evenings so much easier. I hope you enjoy this recipe!
This would work for chicken leg quarters too. In the past I have removed the chicken skin then rubbed in the seasoning so its ready when we come in the door after work/school and tired. Cooked potatoes in a second crockpot! Prep at least 2 crockpot meals a week, ready in the fridge, just dump and go to work, set low. I use a couple of frozen items to slow down the recipe time, so we don’t get mushy meals. Love crockpots, game changer for home economy meals!
Those are wonderful meal-prep tips, Julia! Chicken leg quarters would be delicious, and I love your idea of having crockpot meals prepped and ready to go. It really is a game changer!
going try with chicken breasts
Sounds yummy. Can’t wait to try it! Sure wish my vacation condo had a crockpot
Thank you! A crockpot would definitely be handy on vacation. I hope you get a chance to try the recipe!
This recipe sounds delicious, time saving and easy.
Thank you! It is such an easy, time-saving dinner. I hope you enjoy it!
I haven’t made this yet, but it looks great! Simple, too!!! My local ALDI’S has leg quarters for $1.15/lb, so I’ll be using legs too. Can’t wait to try it!!!!
Yum! Great recipe!
Thanks so much! Have a great day!
Our kids are not traditional fans of thighs but I know this one will win them over! Looks phenomenal and so easy! It’s happening, maybe Sunday!
I will be trying these. They look so good.
I’m so glad. Let me know what you think!
sorry left a positive review just forgot to click on the stars!! so may look like zero when in fact it should have been 5
Thanks so much!
Right after I saw this recipe I made it the next day and it was incredible.. Could not believe with so few ingredients that it could be so delicious.. Thanks for sharing
Jason – I’m so pleased to hear this. Thanks for your helpful feedback!
Looks delicious!
Thank you, Susan! Hope you enjoy!
Can’t wait to try this!
Wendy – Hope you love it!
The thighs were so juicy and tender! I love how easy this recipe is to prep and the best part about it is that the crockpot does all of the work!
Very good . 5 star
So simple to make with ingredients I already had on hand. It turned out perfectly!
Delicious, simple, and perfect for a busy weeknight!
I have been looking for a good easy recipe for chicken thighs in the crock pot. This looks like the one. Can’t wait to try it.
This is the best way to make chicken thighs!
Can’t review. Need the recipe sent
Kathy – The full recipe is on this post toward the bottom. If you have trouble finding it, please click on the Jump to Recipe Button at the top of the post and it will take you right to the recipe.
Curious about your white 2 piece crockpot
Nancy – I love it! It’s a Drew Barrymore Beautiful Multi-Cooker. I have had mine a few years now and it is wonderful.
Can I use chicken breasts instead? What changes?
Tried this recipe in the air fryer and marinated the thighs in milk and chicken broth overnight. The best I’ve ever cooked!!!
I really appreciate your sweet feedback—so glad this recipe was a hit for you!