Name: Best Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 15 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 2 lbs chicken legs and thighs; 1 tbsp chili powder; 1 tbsp ground black pepper; 1 tbsp cumin; 1 tbsp onion powder; 1 tbsp garlic powder; 1 tsp kosher salt; 2 tbsp brown sugar; Barbecue sauce (enough to drizzle over the chicken)

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This slow-cooker BBQ chicken recipe is a delicious and easy dish for no-fuss dinners, potlucks, or picnics. The dry rub used in the recipe gives the chicken a wonderful combination of flavors that are sweet, spicy, and very tasty.

Chicken legs and thighs are used because they tend to stay moister when cooking than chicken breasts, and the barbecue sauce used in the recipe makes it super easy and seriously the best crockpot barbecue chicken recipe.

Ingredients:

Chicken legs and thighs

Chili powder
Ground black pepper
Cumin

Onion powder
Garlic powder
Kosher salt

Brown sugar
Barbecue sauce (enough to drizzle over the chicken)

The recipe calls for two pounds of chicken legs and thighs dusted with a dry rub and then layered with barbecue sauce.

Sweet Baby Ray’s is used in this recipe, making it super easy and seriously the best crockpot barbecue chicken recipe. It all starts with a dry rub that’s quick to put together and gives the chicken a wonderful combination of flavors. The rub is a little sweet, a little spicy, and very tasty.

Dry Barbecue Rub

To make the dry barbecue rub, mix one tablespoon of chili powder, one tablespoon of ground black pepper, one tablespoon of cumin, one tablespoon of onion powder, one tablespoon of garlic powder, one teaspoon of kosher salt, and two tablespoons of brown sugar. Taste the rub and adjust the seasoning to your taste.

Making The BBQ Chicken In The Slow Cooker

Dust the chicken with the dry rub on all sides and layer it into the slow cooker. Chicken legs and thighs are used because they tend to stay moist when cooking, unlike chicken breasts, which are very lean and can easily dry out.

Drizzle barbecue sauce over the chicken and spread it with a brush or the back of a spoon.

As the chicken cooks, it will release some juice, so there’s no need to add liquid to the slow cooker. Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for two and a half to three hours until the chicken is cooked through or reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

After the chicken is cooked in the slow cooker, it can be popped under the broiler or onto the grill for a few minutes to crisp up the skin. Add more barbecue sauce on top and spread it with a brush or the back of a spoon.

Serve barbecue chicken with coleslaw, mac and cheese, or a berry cheesecake salad. It’s also great shredded and used for barbecue chicken sandwiches, salad, and pizza.

Tools Used:

Can I use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs?

Yes, you can use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs for this recipe. However, chicken breasts tend to be leaner and drier than chicken thighs, so you may need to adjust the cooking time and sauce amount accordingly. You can also cut the chicken breasts into smaller pieces to help them cook faster and more evenly.

How do I make my own barbecue sauce?

Making your barbecue sauce is easy and fun. You can customize it to your taste and preference. There are many recipes online for homemade barbecue sauce, but a basic one usually consists of ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic, onion, salt, pepper, and spices. For extra flavor, you can also add other ingredients like honey, molasses, bourbon, or hot sauce. Whisk all the ingredients together in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and simmer until thickened.

What can I serve with the barbecue chicken?

There are many options for side dishes that go well with the barbecue chicken. Some popular ones are coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, corn on the cob, macaroni and cheese, green salad, biscuits, or cornbread. You can also serve the barbecue chicken on buns or rolls with your favorite toppings like cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, or more barbecue sauce.

Best Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Recipe

Yield: 8 Servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes

Slow cooker barbecue chicken is perfect for no-fuss dinners, and it's a delicious, easy dish to take to your next potluck or picnic. In less than three hours, you'll have delicious, moist, and tender barbecue chicken.

Ingredients

2 lbs chicken legs and thighs
1 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp ground black pepper
1 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp onion powder

1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tsp kosher salt
2 tbsp brown sugar

Barbecue sauce (enough to drizzle over the chicken)

Instructions

Mix together the chili powder, black pepper, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and brown sugar to make the dry rub.
Dust the chicken with the dry rub on all sides and layer it into the slow cooker.

Drizzle barbecue sauce over the chicken and spread it around with a brush or the back of a spoon.
Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 2.5 to 3 hours or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Optional: Broil or grill the chicken for a few minutes to crisp up the skin and add more barbecue sauce on top.