Crock Pot Chicken Thighs with BBQ Sauce is a delicious, easy, low carb dinner without the grill. These bone-in thighs are the perfect slow cooker recipe that will have your whole family asking for seconds! Serve this recipe with Keto Mashed Potatoes for a complete meal.
This is probably the easiest and tastiest crock pot chicken thighs recipe you will ever make. Only requiring a few simple spices, BBQ sauce, and chicken thighs!
HOW TO MAKE CROCK POT BBQ CHICKEN THIGHS
First thing you need to do is mix all the spices in a small bowl. I use onion powder, mustard powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, and cumin.
Next just take your thighs and place them in the crockpot. I use bone in chicken thighs and if you want, you can remove the skin. This is easy to do if you don't want the skin.
Take all of your spice mixture and rub generously all over your thighs.
For your next step to this easy recipe, just pour 1 cup BBQ sauce on the thighs and spread with basting brush. I like to use sugar free but you can use any BBQ sauce you like.
Place the lid of the crockpot and let cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours.
This is the perfect recipe to put on in the morning before work or before a ball practice!
Now this step is optional, but you can put your thighs on a cookie sheet and place them into the oven under the broiler for the perfect caramelized flavor!
Into BBQ recipes? Check out my recipes for The Best BBQ Rib Rub, Instant Pot Chicken Legs or Crockpot Pot Pork Lion-BBQ Pulled Pork.
Crock pot BBQ Chicken Thighs
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Tip: Hitting your 20–30g protein per meal goal helps you stay full and supports muscle.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 8 bone-In chicken thighs
- 1.5 cups BBQ Sauce, Divided
Instructions
- Mix the salt and pepper along with the other spices in a small bowl.
- Place the chicken thighs in the crockpot and pour the spices over top.
- Pour 1 cup of bbq sauce on the thighs and spread with a basting brush.
- Place the lid of the crockpot and cook on high for 2 hours or low for 4 hours.
- Pre-heat the broiler of your oven.
- Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.
- Carefully place the chicken thighs on the foil in a single layer.
- Use a basting brush to spread the remaining bbq sauce on the chicken.
- Place the chicken thighs on the center rack in the oven.
- Broil until the sauce starts to bubble and caramelize. Should take about 5 minutes. Serve!
Notes
- I like to make these with either the skin off or on the chicken thighs. This is definitely your preference. The chicken thighs skin is really easy to pull off.
- I like to use G Hughes Sugar free BBQ sauce but you can use whichever one is your favorite.
- The broiler instructions for this crock pot chicken thighs recipe is definitely optional if you are pressed for time.
- The maximum I ever cook chicken in the crock pot is 4 hours on low. Any longer and the chicken becomes dry.
Walt Keast says
This is easy and delicious. Hughes Sugar Free Barbecue Sauce works perfect. I was wondering if this recipe freezeds well.
Walt Keast says
This is very good. I prepared it exactly as written.
Mike Hebert says
Made recipe exactly as written. It came out great. Everyone thought it was very good. Thanks.
Linda says
Made it tonight, came out awesome. Meat was juicy and delicious.
Rose says
The best BBQ chicken ever! My children all wanted seconds. Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe!!
Sara says
I made this last night and couldn't believe how delicious it was. I omitted the mustard because I didn't have any. Also put sliced onion on the bottom of the pot. It gave it extra flavor and the onions were delish also. I have used many of the G Hughes products since they showed up on the shelves in Phoenix. His BBQ sauce is outstanding. Useed my Ninja Foodi 11 in on the slow cook setting for 2 hours. I thinking of using the same seasonings and BBQ with pork chops.
Joe says
I am giving this a try - Thanks
Jeanean says
I am making meals ahead and freezing, So that my 86 year old mom has ready made meals to thaw, heat and eat. Have you even frozen this receipe and if yes how dod it turn out?
jenniferbanz says
I haven't, sorry
Michael J Vorndran says
The spices were really very great. 4 hours on low in my crock pot was way too long, but I will adjust the recipe next time I make these.
Jerri Bowden says
This sounds great! Can I use frozen or partially frozen chicken thighs with an adjusted amount of crock pot time?
jenniferbanz says
Yes, just make sure the internal temp gets up to 165F
Shanta says
If I double the recipe, how long should I cook the the thighs in the crockpot for? Excited to try this.
jenniferbanz says
It would still be the same time
Shawna says
Can you do this with boneless thighs?
jenniferbanz says
Yes but they will be done in about 2 hours on low
Becky says
This was very easy and a huge hit with my family!
Dawn Grant says
This was the first time making this dish and it was absolutely delicious! I will be making this again for certain.
NBC says
Can you layer the chicken thighs or do they need to be in a single layer on the bottom of the crockpot..? Please advise. Thanks!
jenniferbanz says
You can layer them if you need to
S. Chan says
Has anyone ever made this while the thighs were still frozen? Could I just leave them in the pot a little longer to adjust?
Brandi says
What do you set the broiler to?
Leslie DeNoue says
Hi Jennifer,
I plan on making this for a large party and want to make it ahead. Can I make this,
refrigerate and reheat? I don't want the chicken to overcook on the reheat. Should
I cook it a little shorter the first time? Thank you! Leslie
jenniferbanz says
Thus will re-heat nicely. Since it is chicken thighs, they are less likely to dry out. You can cook them a little shorter on the first cook.
Tanya says
This recipe was absolutely amazing! All the spices and the BBQ sauce mixed wonderfully together. I unintentionally left it in the crockpot for 3 hours on high. The chicken was so tender and fall off the bone delicious. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Ana T says
This was amazing! I’m on a low carb diet but I loved it! Thank you for this amazing recipe. I used boneless range free chicken thighs. I will be following your. Posts. ??
Amanda says
In the Crock-Pot now. Can't wait!
ac4evr says
Great recipe. Has anyone tried this with chicken wings
wilhelmina says
So easy, so yummy! This turned out delicious!
Katherine says
All the best spices together! I love how easy the slow cooker makes it.
Ana T says
It was so good ????
Ryan says
Holy barbecue those look great! Going to have to try this for sure! When I was getting started I found this helpful, maybe others will too. Thanks!