Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Recipe

Juicy and tender, sweet and tangy, there’s just no beating this Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken. Your family will crave this dinner every week, and the result is impressive enough to serve at a potluck or holiday gathering.

Chicken legs with barbecue sauce in a crockpot.

Slow cooker dinners are some of our favorite meals, when seasoned correctly. Our slow cooker carnitas are a reader favorite, easpecially when paired with our homemade guacamole.

Why Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Is The Best

This Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken is packed with flavor. You’d never guess it’s this easy to make.

Since this recipe comes together in a crockpot, it’s a set-it-and-forget-it kind of dinner. As a result, you’ll have more time to pick up the kids from sports, party prep, or snag a few hours of much-needed peace and quiet.
We’ll doctor up store-bought BBQ sauce for a unique home-cooked flavor without the fuss.
Depending on your preference, you can spice up this chicken or keep it mild.

Don’t forget dessert! Our peanut butter balls can be frozen and ready in a moment’s notice. Or whip up a slow cooker chocolate cake to enjoy tonight.

Ingredient Notes

Chicken – I like drumsticks since dark meat stays moist and flavorful during long cooking times. However, you could use chicken breast instead to create Shredded BBQ Chicken sandwiches.
BBQ Sauce – My favorite brand is Sweet Baby Ray’s Original, but you can use whatever store-bought BBQ sauce is your favorite.
Honey – Honey will add sweetness to counteract the smoky and spicy flavors in the sauce. Plus, it creates a thick and glossy coating on the chicken, making them seriously irresistible.
Yellow Mustard – I like to use it in this recipe because it’s not an overpowering flavor, just a supporting vinegary tang. However, you could use dijon mustard instead for a spicier, more complex flavored sauce.
Worcestershire Sauce – This sauce is a fermented umami bomb, making this BBQ chicken a standout.
Tabasco Sauce – Tabasco is optional if you want to add heat to this chicken. Leave it out or double up, depending on how spicy you like your food.
Salt & Pepper

Easy Instructions

Broil Seasoned Chicken & Transfer to Crockpot – Generously season all sides of the chicken with salt and pepper. Then, broil for 12 minutes on each side until you have tasty, crispy brown bits and the chicken is fully cooked. Transfer it into the crockpot.

Mix Together Sauce Ingredients – Whisk together the BBQ sauce, honey, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. If you’re a fan of spicy food, now is the time to add a few shakes of Tabasco. Stir until the sauce is thoroughly combined.

Pour Sauce Over Chicken & Cook – Pour the sauce over the chicken. Cover the crockpot and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours. Once the time has elapsed, you’re ready to serve the chicken straight from the slow cooker.

Tips and Tricks

Keep the chicken 4-5 inches away from the heat when broiling it. This way, it’ll cook through without burning or scorching.
There isn’t a precise measurement for how much Tabasco sauce you should use in the recipe. The best practice is to add a couple of shakes, then taste the sauce, and continue that process until it reaches your perfect spice level.
Leftovers- shred up the leftovers to use in our bbq chicken pizza soup recipe!

Serving Suggestions

It’s no secret that this Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken is delectable. It’s the perfect thing to bring to a potluck spread. However, if you’re serving this recipe for dinner, you’ll probably want a side dish or two to round out the meal.

Classic cookout staples like coleslaw or macaroni salad are perfect pairings for this sweet and tangy chicken. These recipes are served cold and can be prepared ahead of time to make day-of preparations a breeze.

If you’re looking for hot sides that your family will love, try the Best Homemade Mac and Cheese Ever or Baked French Fries. Sweet potato casserole is the true comfort food that pairs beautifully with today’s chicken.

If you added a lot of Tabasco to the recipe, you could whip up your own cooling homemade dipping sauces to put the fire out. Homemade Blue Cheese or Ranch is so delicious that you’ll always want some on hand.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use boneless chicken?

You can absolutely use boneless, skinless chicken breasts in place of drumsticks. However, you’ll want to skip the broiling step and go straight to the crockpot. Follow the steps as usual, then cook on low for 6-8 hours. Of course, you could cook it on high for 4 hours, but you’ll miss out on the tender, juicy, and fall-apart texture.

Do I need to cook the drumsticks on low?

The drumsticks are already fully cooked when they go into the crockpot. The long slow cooking process is to ensure the chicken is fall-off-the-bone tender. Drumsticks are packed with moist, dark meat, so the 2 hours on high should do the trick. However, if you have the time for the chicken to cook on low for 4 hours, the texture will only get better over time.

How should I store the BBQ chicken?

Transfer the BBQ chicken and leftover sauce to an airtight container. It’ll keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.

What’s the best way to reheat leftovers?

The best way to heat the leftover bbq chicken is to slather it in leftover sauce and pop it into the oven or toaster oven until it’s heated through. This way, it won’t dry out or become rubbery. Instead, it’ll be just as delicious as the day you cooked it.

More Dinner Recipes:

Chicken Enchilada Chili is a great healthy way to get your kids to eat vegetables and beans!
Try out this incredible Chicken Curry! Your kids will absolutely love it, I promise!
These Meatball Subs are delicious! Try this Instant Pot French Dip after!
Make this fresh and flavorful Cilantro Lime Chicken for dinner for your family this week!

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