These Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs are ideal for busy weeknights. They’re easy to prepare, require only 2 ingredients, and are easy on the budget.

$6.60 is all it costs to make this recipe. It makes six servings for just $1.10 per serving. 

I love how versatile chicken thighs are. Some of my favorite recipes include these Easy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs, my Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs, Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs, and these Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Thighs.

A close up picture of the finished Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs on a white serving platter.

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs

If you need an easy dinner without the grill, this is the recipe for you! First, the bone-in chicken thighs are smothered in BBQ sauce and cooked on low and slow in the crockpot, allowing the sauce to soak into the chicken, creating juicy, tender chicken. Then they’re slathered with more BBQ sauce and crisped up under the broiler for a few minutes. 

The result is sticky, sweet, and savory BBQ Chicken thighs that require minimal effort to make. The recipe only calls for two ingredients, and the crockpot does all the work for you!

It is the perfect hands-off meal for those busy weeknights or after a long day at work. You will love the crispy outer layer followed by the flavorful, juicy bites of chicken meat.

Your family will beg for seconds! These Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs will quickly find their way into your weekly menu plan rotation as they did on mine. 

An overhead picture of the finished Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs on a plate with salad and cornbread.

INGREDIENTS AND COST

Per Serving Cost: $1.10

Recipe Cost: $6.60

  • 8 bone-in chicken thighs – $4.80
  • 1 ½ cups BBQ sauce – $1.80

NOTE: The recipe prices are calculated by using grocery store websites. The actual cost of the recipe will vary depending on what ingredients you already have.

An overhead picture of all of the ingredients needed to make this recipe.

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. First, spray the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. 
  2. Then set the chicken in the slow cooker.
  3. Evenly cover the chicken with ¾ cup of BBQ sauce. 
  4. Cook the chicken on low for about four to five hours. 
  5. Next, preheat the oven broiler and line a baking sheet with foil. Set a wire rack on top of the foil and spray it with nonstick cooking spray. 
  6. Set the cooked chicken on the wire rack. 
  7. Then, brush both sides with the remaining BBQ sauce.
  8. Broil the chicken until browned, flipping the chicken halfway through, to broil both sides. 
  9. Finally, garnish with parsley and serve.

A picture collage showing how to make this recipe.

RECIPE VARIATIONS

  • Use your favorite BBQ sauce for this recipe. I like to use Sweet Baby Rays.

STORAGE TIPS

SERVE: You can keep the crockpot BBQ chicken thighs at room temperature for up to two hours before they will need to be covered and refrigerated.

STORE: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

FREEZE: Once the chicken is cool, place it in a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag. Freeze for 4-5 months.

DEFROST: Defrost the chicken in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for about 4 hours.

REHEAT: Once defrosted warm the chicken in a 350 degree F oven for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.

An overhead picture of the finished BBQ Chicken thigh on a wire rack after it comes out of the oven under the broiler.

COOK’S TOOLS

  • Slow cooker
  • Liquid measuring cup
  • Pastry brush
  • Baking sheet
  • Wire rack

RECIPE FAQs

Can you just put raw chicken in a slow cooker?

Yes! This is the beauty of a slow cooker. The raw chicken will cook to the appropriate internal temperature of 180 degrees F after cooking in the slow cooker on low for about four to five hours.

Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in the crockpot?

I prefer to cook chicken on low in the slow cooker. I believe it results in a juicier piece of meat, as the chicken has more time to soak up all the sauce or liquid it’s cooked with.

Do you have to sear chicken before slow cooking?

While you can sear chicken before adding it to a slow cooker, it is not necessary for this recipe. After the chicken is done cooking in the slow cooker, you will place it under the oven broiler for a few minutes on both sides to crisp up the outer skin layer. Therefore, you do not need to sear it beforehand.

Al close up picture of the finished Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thigh being cut into.

MORE CHICKEN RECIPES

The finished Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs stacked on each other on a white platter.
5 from 6 votes

Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs

Author Jillian – a Food Folks and Fun original!
Recipe Cost $ $6.60
Serving Cost $ $1.10
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes
6 people
These Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs are ideal for busy weeknights. They’re easy to prepare, require only 2 ingredients, and are easy on the budget.

Equipment

  • Crockpot
  • liquid measuring cup
  • pastry brush
  • baking sheet
  • wire rack

Ingredients
 
 

  • 8 bone-in chicken thighs
  • 1 ½ cup your favorite BBQ sauce divided (I used Sweet Baby Rays)
  • Nonstick cooking spray

FOR SERVING:

  • Chopped fresh parsley optional

Instructions

PREP SLOW COOKER:

  • Lightly grease the crockpot with nonstick cooking spray.

PREP CHICKEN:

  • Place chicken in the crockpot.
  • Pour ¾ cup of BBQ sauce over the top.
  • Turn the chicken in the BBQ sauce to coat the chicken evenly in the sauce.

SLOW COOK:

  • Cover and cook until the chicken is tender and reaches 180 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 4 to 5 hours on LOW or 3 ½ hours on HIGH.

PREP PAN AND BROILER:

  • Adjust the oven rack 6 inches from the broiler, and preheat your broiler. If your broiler has a low or high setting, heat it to high.
  • Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and then place a wire rack on top. Spray the wire rack with nonstick cooking spray.

BROIL CHICKEN:

  • Place the cooked chicken on the prepared baking sheet and wire rack.
  • Brush the chicken on both sides with the remaining ¾ cup of BBQ sauce.
  • Broil the chicken until browned, about 4-5 minutes per side minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through broiling.

SERVE:

  • Garnish with chopped parsley if desired and serve immediately.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.25chicken thighs | Calories: 545kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 189mg | Sodium: 883mg | Potassium: 561mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 310IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 2mg

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I’m Jillian, the creator behind Food Folks and Fun. I have over 30 years of experience cooking for others. There’s nothing I love more than cooking for my family. Food is love, and cooking isn’t just putting a meal on a plate: It’s putting a little part of myself into that meal.

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5 Comments

  1. Easily make these tasty BBQ chicken thighs in the crockpot but don’t miss out on the crispy skin by broiling them. So good!

    Reply
  2. Hayley Dhanecha says:

    These crockpot BBQ chicken wings look so tasty and surprisingly easy to make! Beautiful colour.

    Reply

  3. Loved how easy and delicious this was! The perfect weekday meal.

    Reply

  4. My husband loves chicken thighs but as a vegetarian, I never know what to do to prepare them. This crockpot recipe is easy enough for someone like me to make! Thank you!!

    Reply

  5. This is a super easy weeknight meal! It’s inexpensive, flavorful, and it cooks itself in the crockpot! Perfect for busy families!

    Reply