Wondering if it’s possible to get succulent, melt-in-your mouth slow cooker BBQ chicken thighs, made with just 5 ingredients and prepped in under 5 minutes? Well, the answer is a resounding YES. Slow cooked and bathed in a simple BBQ sauce–this is the chicken recipe I can’t get enough of, and I think you’ll love it too.
Succulent Chicken Thighs with The Volume Turned Waaaaay Up
I started making these slow cooker BBQ chicken thighs as a way to big-batch prepare chicken thighs, and oh my goodness, I got hooked!
These tender and juicy chicken thighs have a similar flavor profile to my BBQ pulled chicken breasts and BBQ chicken legs – that classic sweet, spicy, and smokey BBQ flavor – and can either be shredded or quickly glazed whole under the broiler.
This time, I’m leaning on good ‘ole boneless chicken thighs because they are oh-so budget friendly and stay extra juicy compared to chicken breast.
And the best part is that they’re almost too easy to make thanks to the crock pot, which does all the hard work for you.
No browning, chopping, or even babysitting the grill – ah…the perfect low-lift recipe for year-round dinner ease.
Just cover skinless, boneless chicken thighs with a simple 3-ingredient spice blend, douse in your favorite BBQ sauce, and set and forget it.
Stuffed into buns with creamy cabbage slaw or dill pickle slaw, or served alongside a BBQ side dish, this is my ideal low-effort meal, and I think you’re going to love it too.
Visual Guide: How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs
The Big BBQ Sauce Question
You can use literally any BBQ sauce you’d like, just make sure you like the flavor of it since it’s a main character in this recipe. Personally, I love using my chipotle BBQ sauce because it’s so quick and tasty, but any good quality sauce will do.
For Our Prep Ahead Peeps
BBQ chicken thighs are a great meal prep protein to have on hand for super quick meals since they keep so well in the fridge and freezer. The chicken with sauce can be stored covered, in the fridge for 3-4 days, or frozen for up to 3 months.
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅔ cup BBQ sauce plus more for glazing
Instructions
- Spray a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Add the chicken thighs, then sprinkle all sides evenly with the smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt. Pour over ⅓ cup BBQ sauce, spreading to evenly coat the chicken.
- Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours, or low for 4-5, or until the chicken is very tender.
- Preheat the broiler to high. Carefully remove the cooked chicken thighs to a foil lined broiler safe pan. Thinly brush each thigh with an additional ⅓ cup BBQ sauce. Broil 3-4 minutes, until just browned, keeping a close eye to avoid burning.
Notes
- For shredded BBQ chicken thighs, skip step 3 and instead remove the thighs from the slow cooker, shred with two forks, then add back to the slow cooker with the juices and ⅓ cup BBQ sauce.
- For slow cooker BBQ chicken breasts, use this recipe, and for BBQ chicken legs, use this recipe.
- For paleo and refined sugar free version, be sure to look for a barbecue sauce with paleo friendly ingredients.
- For serving suggestions, make ahead instructions, and more, see the full blog post above.
Nutrition
The post 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs appeared first on Real Food Whole Life.