This recipe for Crockpot BBQ Chicken Legs is a simple family-favorite recipe that delivers juicy, tender chicken drumsticks with minimal effort.
Make it a meal by pairing Slow Cooker Chicken Legs with Air Fryer Corn on the Cob and Baked Fries.
If you are looking for an easy, crowd-pleasing, picky-eater-approved, affordable dinner recipe, look no further than this recipe for Crockpot Chicken Drumsticks.
Seasoned with a homemade dry rub and finished with BBQ sauce, Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs are one of the easiest, tastiest recipes for chicken legs ever. You are going to love this simple chicken recipe.
why you will love this recipe
- Flavorful. These chicken drumsticks are perfectly seasoned, perfectly tender, smoky, juicy, and absolutely delicious.
- Economical. Chicken Legs are super affordable and easy to find at just about any grocery store.
- Easy. Crockpot meals are the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it dinner recipes! This recipe for chicken legs comes together with very little effort, making it perfect for busy nights.
- Allergy-Friendly. Crockpot BBQ Chicken Legs are dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, and gluten-free.
- Weather-Proof. Because this recipe is made in the slow cooker unlike Grilled BBQ Chicken, it is the perfect way to enjoy the taste of barbecue year-long, even on rainy days.
What You Need For This Recipe
- Chicken Legs: Use fresh or defrosted frozen chicken legs, sometimes called drumsticks.
- Spice Rub: This simple dry rub is made with brown sugar, kosher salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic, and onion powder. You could also use homemade seasoned salt if you would like to season the chicken without added sugar.
- BBQ Sauce: Finish the chicken legs with Homemade BBQ Sauce or your favorite store-bought sauce for additional flavor.
How to Make BBQ Chicken Legs in the Crockpot
Step One: Season the Chicken Legs. Be sure to really rub the chicken legs with the spice blend. This will ensure each bite is well flavored.
Step Two: Slow Cook Chicken Legs. Cook the seasoned drumsticks until the chicken reaches 162 to 165 degrees F, which can be anywhere from 2-5 hours depending on your model of the slow cooker and if you cook your chicken on low or high.
Step Three: Broil. In order to finish the chicken legs with a crispy, sticky exterior that is coated with BBQ sauce, it is best to broil the chicken legs after they are slow-cooked.
Serving Suggestions
Crockpot Chicken Drumsticks is a family-favorite chicken recipe. Picky eaters are won over by the sticky sweet finish and parents love how easy this recipe is to prepare.
BBQ Chicken Legs pair well with endless side dishes, just don't forget the napkins!
Recipe FAQs
Slow cookers, just like ovens, can vary in temperature. A traditional crockpot with a ceramic base takes about 2 hours on high or 4 hours on low to cook chicken legs. All-Clad models typically cook a bit faster, so I would recommend checking the internal temperature 30 minute prior to the suggested cooking time.
The best way to ensure your chicken is fully cooked, but not overcooked is to use a digital thermometer. Once the center of a chicken leg reaches between 162 to 165 degrees F the drumsticks are perfectly cooked.
If you don't like chicken skin, peel off the skin and discard it. Rub with the spice blend and cook as directed. I still like to broil or grill the chicken legs for a few minutes on each side to help the BBQ Sauce get a nice sticky finish.
Absolutely! Feel free to replace the dry rub with 2 tablespoons of Homemade Ranch Seasoning, Jerk Seasoning, Homemade Seasoned Salt, or Homemade Taco Seasoning.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
- Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Chicken Legs
- Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts
- Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken
- Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
If you enjoyed this recipe for Crockpot Chicken Legs, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
Crockpot BBQ Chicken Legs
Ingredients
- 12 chicken drumsticks skin on or off
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
For the Rub
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar optional
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper together.
- Pat the chicken legs dry with a paper towel and liberally rub the chicken legs with the spice rub, coating to cover.
- Place the chicken legs into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours.
- Once the chicken legs have reached an internal temperature of 162-165℉, remove them from the slow cooker and place them onto a sheet pan or broiler pan. Brush the chicken legs with barbeque sauce and broil until crispy, about 3-5 minutes per side.
- Serve with extra BBQ sauce on the side.
Allyssa
This is so perfect and and very flavorful! Thanks a lot for sharing this amazing recipe! Will surely make this again! Well done!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so happy to hear you enjoyed! Thanks for sharing Allyssa!
Betsy
Wonderfully tender and so full of incredible flavor! And this was so easy! I could easily do this anyday! Kids love it and want it again soon!
Kristen Chidsey
When the kids love it--you know it is a keeper! Thanks for sharing!
Andrea Thueson
I love a good crockpot recipe, and this recipe did not disappoint! Everyone loved them!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks for sharing Andrea!
KetoRico
Awesome recipe. Very simple and easy to make. My question is can tomato sauce or glass jar tomato sauce because I think it makes a difference?
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed!! Yes, I am referring to canned tomato sauce..jarred tomato sauce is often flavored with Italian spices and sugar.
Carmen
These look delicious! I'm wanting to get rid of my crock pot and just keep the instant pot for doing slow cooking. I read your other post on the differences between regular show cookers and the IP. How would you convert this recipe? Add liquid? What time and temp? Thanks!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Carmen! I need to create this recipe FOR the instant pot. But in the meantime, I would try it on high slow cooker function as recipe is written (pressure won't build so you don't need excess liquid) and cook for 2.5 hours on high. Let me know how they turn out. Using the Instant Pot as as a slow cooker is not my favorite function.
Carmen
That's so sad! I originally got the IP because I wanted a rice cooker without a non-stick coating. Then I got really excited thinking that I could get rid of other bulky equipment. I'll try it, though and report back!
Kristen Chidsey
Sorry Carmen! I just want to be 100% honest with you! I love my Instant Pot and use it so much more than my slow cooker (so I have a lot of recipes that have been converted for Instant Pot that were originally for the slow cooker--check out my recipes here: https://amindfullmom.com/easy-healthy-instant-pot-recipes/).
Carmen
No worries! I appreciate the honesty 😉 I made the chicken twice this week, once on high for 2 1/2 hours and once on low for 4 1/2 (the second time I did 16 legs, so increased the time a little). Both times the chicken came out great. My one complaint is that the legs didn't cook very evenly, the ones on the top are cooked through to a safe temp, but not as tender as the bottom ones, which might have been a tad overcooked. I think this was because I had to layer the legs because the IP is taller and skinnier than my crock pot is. Next time I'll try cooking only one layer and see how that works. Thanks for the great recipe!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed the chicken legs. And yes, layering and using as a slow cooker may cause the issues of under and over cooked meat. Thank you for letting us know your results 🙂
Lana
I made this dish tonight for dinner and it was a success!! No left overs at all:)
Thank you for this delicious and easy recipe.
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks for sharing Lana! I am so glad your family enjoyed this! It is such an easy meal!
Jane Saunders
These look worth getting messy for, the flavours sound fantastic. But I'll do my best not to get quite as messy as your kids can manage.
Kristen Chidsey
HA Jane, that cracks me up! I guarantee you will NOT get as messy as my kids--it is impossible.
Tisha
Never thought of making drumsticks in the slow cooker!!! These look absolutely amazing!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Tisha! They are a family favorite. I hope you enjoy!
Pauline
Could I just cook the chicken in the slow cooker and then just cover them with the sauce for the last few minutes?
Thanks Pauline😊
Kristen Chidsey
Absolutely!!! That is a great idea. And if you want to crisp up the skin, cook in slow cooker then brush with sauce and broil quickly. Whichever way works 😉
Leah
Smells amazing!! Cooking it as we speak! Just wondering does the sauce thicken up or is more of a thin, runny sauce?
Thank you for the recipe!
Kristen Chidsey
Oh yay!! Enjoy!! The sauce will thicken up as it cooks, but never quite as much as one with additives.
Renee
You should have seen my grandson after eating a plate of BBQ'd ribs last night. Talking about a mess!!!
Kristen Chidsey
LOL!!! I can imagine. My son is ALWAYS a mess after anything BBQ too!
Lmf
I want to make these for my sons first birthday party. Can you suggest how many I could put in a 6 quart crockpot and should I increase cooking time? I'm cooking for 20 people.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi! I am honored you choose this recipe for your party! I would plan to make 2 chicken legs per person (40 total) or about 10-12 pounds of meat. I am not sure if you would be able to fit that all in one batch of cooking.
Personally, I would times my recipe by 3 and cook each batch seperately on high for the 2 hours. After finishing cooking in slow cooker, I would remove to a baking sheet and store in fridge (up to 24 hours in advance). Before serving, I would bring chicken out of fridge for 30-60 minutes and then warm through with a glaze of sauce on the grill or under the broiler. That way you can get most of your cooking done in advance.
Best of luck! And happy birthday to your baby!
Irene
So what do I put in the crock pot with the chicken since it says to put the BBQ sauce on after? I got the rub on the chicken and. It sure what to do now.
Kristen Chidsey
Irene--all you need is the rub on the chicken in the slow cooker. Pretty impressive, huh? Just rub, cook and then slather with sauce. It is the simplest recipe ever.
Ginny
can you do this with boneless chicken? I'm not a fan of chicken on the bone.
Kristen Chidsey
YES!!! Ginny, for sure. I do this frequently with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. And it is so tasty!! Just cut your cooking time back by 1 hour in slow cooker before grilling, so the chicken stays in tact.
laura@motherwouldknow
What a great weeknight dinner! I'm at least as messy as your kids - hope the sauce on these drumsticks comes out in the wash:)
Kristen Chidsey
Oxiclean gets it all out 🙂
Marye
These drumsticks look amazing, I love how easy they are!
Kristen Chidsey
I love easy meals!