Made with only a few ingredients and minimal effort, Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs is a simple family meal that is full of incredible flavor.
Serve these barbecue chicken thighs with Homemade Baked Beans, Oven Fries, or a BLT Pasta Salad for a meal that your family or friends will beg you to make again and again!
Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs is one of the easiest, tastiest slow cooker recipes!
Just like my recipe for Crockpot Chicken Legs, this simple recipe has become a staple at my house, and I am willing to be you will fall in love with this easy chicken thigh recipe as well.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Economical. Chicken thighs are extremely affordable and easy to find.
- Flavorful. Not only is dark meat known to be more flavorful and juicy than white meat, but the dry rub and barbecue sauce that coat these chicken thighs also make them absolutely irresistible.
- Easy. This is a set-it-and-forget-it kind of meal! Which is the best kind of recipe to rely on for busy days. You simply mix everything together in the slow cooker and let the chicken cook while you do whatever else it is you need to do.
- Allergy-Friendly. Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs are dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, and gluten-free.
Notes on Ingredients
- Chicken Thighs: I recommend using bone-in chicken thighs, for the richest flavor and for the cooking time to be accurate. Either skin-on or skinless chicken thighs work for this recipe.
- Homemade Dry Rub: The key to the unforgettably good flavor in this simple recipe is the seasonings used to flavor the chicken thighs. This sweet and savory spice rub is made with brown sugar, salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. No smoked paprika? Use regular paprika.
- Onion: Use a sliced white or yellow onion to set the chicken thighs on in the slow cooker. As the chicken cooks, the fat will render off the chicken and the onion helps to elevate the chicken thighs so they don't sit in the rendered fat and become soggy.
- BBQ Sauce: Use your favorite store-bought or homemade barbecue sauce.
How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
Step One: Season the Chicken Thighs. To give the chicken thighs an incredible sweet and savory flavor, use your hands to massage the dry rub into the chicken thighs so that they are liberally coated with the spice blend.
Step Two: Layer Chicken & Onions in Crockpot. In order for the fat to render properly and the chicken to cook evenly, it is best to lay the seasoned chicken thighs on top of sliced onion.
Step Three: Slow Cook. Cook the chicken thighs on low or high until the chicken reaches 162 to 165 degrees F.
Step Four: Broil. While it is completely optional, I do love finishing crockpot chicken thighs by brushing them with BBQ sauce and broiling them. Broiling the chicken will help the sauce get sticky and gooey, and the skin get a bit crispy.
Step Five: Serve. These BBQ Chicken Thighs make a finger-licking good meal that even the pickiest of eaters enjoy. Serve them with a side of oven fries or air fryer fries for the ultimate kid-friendly dinner.
How Long Do Chicken Thighs Take to Cook?
Slow cookers, just like ovens, can vary in temperature. A traditional crockpot with a ceramic base takes about 2 hours on high to cook chicken thighs to 165 degrees F. All-Clad models typically cook a bit faster, so I would recommend checking the internal temperature after cooking for 1-½ hours.
The best way to ensure your chicken is fully cooked, but not overcooked is to use a digital thermometer. Once the center of the chicken thighs reaches between 162 to 165 degrees F they are perfectly cooked.
More Delicious BBQ Chicken Recipes
- BBQ Chicken Salad
- Crockpot BBQ Chicken Legs
- Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts
- Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
- BBQ Chicken Burger
Need more inspiration for planning meals that your family will love? Sign up for my FREE Meal Plans and each week you will get a meal plan with a shopping list.
If you enjoyed this recipe for BBQ Crockpot Chicken Thighs, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.
Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika or regular paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2-3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs (either with or without skin) about 8 chicken thighs
- 1 large yellow onion thinly sliced
- 1-½ cups BBQ sauce
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder together.
- Trim off excess skin or gristle if needed and pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Rub the spice mixture evenly over the chicken thighs, on both sides.
- Place the onion slices in the slow cooker in an even layer. Lay the seasoned chicken thighs on top of the onion slices.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours or until the chicken thighs reach 162-165℉.
- After the chicken has cooked, remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place it on a sheet pan lined with foil. Brush the top of the chicken with BBQ sauce. Broil for 2-3 minutes or until crispy. Remove the chicken from the broiler, flip, brush the other side with BBQ sauce, and return to the broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until crispy.
- Serve with additional BBQ sauce.
Nicole
Recipe looks amazing. I love the suggestion of putting the chicken on the onions so they don’t get soggy. I have an instant pot that can be used as a slow cooker with a glass top that I bought separately for slow cooking. Have you ever tried your instant pot as a slow cooker? Thank you so much
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Nicole! Unfortunately, using your Instant Pot as a slow cooker is not as straightforward as you may think. I have a full tutorial on it here. You will want to cook on the high setting and increase the time by 15 minutes per every hour the recipe calls for cooking on high.
Nicole
You’re amazing thank you
Sharon
What is grizzle ??
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Sharon. Gristle is a type of connective tissue that's mainly found in ligaments and doesn't break down when it's cooked. It is typically white.
Kristyn
My kids love everything bbq!! I love that this is made in the slow cooker. It makes my life easier & the whole family loves it!
Kristen Chidsey
I love easy meals that the family loves myself! So happy to hear your family enjoyed these, Kristyn!
stella
Nice! Thank you Kristen! Hope you're well! These BBQ chicken thighs are amazing. I've been a dummy when it comes to the Crock-Pot. I always add a bunch of liquid, then everything ends up being boiled. Ugh. And broiling the sauce at the end; GENIUS! 😭❤️ Soooo good! 😭❤️
Kristen Chidsey
I am thrilled to hear you enjoyed this recipe! And you aren't a dummy--just had room to learn something new, as we all do!
Sharina
These BBQ chicken thighs are perfectly cooked cooked! Thanks to the crockpot! Highly recommended. So delicious and addicting!
Jessica
I love a good crockpot recipe and these chicken thighs were absolutely divine! Thank you so much for sharing.
Christina
Would these reheat well? I'm looking to cook closer to 9 lbs but only have 1 crockpot. Do you have suggestions for oven or instant pot cooking for this recipe? Looking forward to trying this for an Easter potluck!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Christina! I would suggest cooking in 2 batches and then broiling before serving to reheat and crisp up the skin. I do have Instant Pot Chicken Thigh directions as well. I would rub them with a spice rub and then pressure cook and broil with your favorite BBQ sauce.
Christina
Your suggestion worked great. Thank you! I was able to cook 5 lbs in the instant pot and then crisped them in the broiler, topping it with the bbq sauce you suggested in this slow cooker recipe. Your recipes and instructions really help lower stress levels. I appreciate you!
La'Tina
This sounds so easy!
So if we use store bought barbecue sauce, how much of it should we include?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi La'Tina! You will want to use 1 cup store bought barbecue sauce and add 1/2 cup additional liquid to the barbecue sauce (either water, apple juice, chicken stock, or beer.) I hope you enjoy!
Amanda
Such a delicious way to make chicken thighs for a weeknight dinner!
Kristen Chidsey
I am so glad you enjoyed Amanda!
Suzy
I love how quick and easy this recipe was to make! Perfect for Sunday supper!
Nate
Maple syrup is not Whole30 compliant. The recipe looks delicious for those not eating Whole30, but the post is misleading.
Kristen Chidsey
I am so sorry you were led to believe this is whole30--I read and reread my post and never saw mention of it being whole30 complaint. I apologize if a social post let you to believe it was.