This Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Thighs recipe is made with just a few ingredients. It’s a flavorful meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights!
Tender, smoky, saucy perfection—this slow cooker barbecue chicken thigh recipe is everything you crave in a weeknight dinner or fuss-free weekend meal.
I love to make this on days I know are going to be so busy come dinner time. It takes just a few minutes to prep in the morning. Then the juicy chicken thighs simmer low and slow during the day in a bold, rich, slightly sweet barbecue sauce that soaks into every bite.
The result? Fall-apart, tender meat dripping in flavor and begging to be served with your favorite sides.
This is the kind of meal that fills your kitchen with the mouthwatering scent of smoked spices and sweet-savory sauce all day long. It’s practically effortless, wildly delicious, and will have everyone coming back for seconds (or thirds).
Table of Contents
🌟 Why this recipe works
Why you’ll love this family favorite recipe!
- Uses simple, affordable pantry ingredients
- Requires just 10 minutes of hands-on prep
- Cooks low and slow while you relax
- Packed with bold, smoky-sweet flavor
- Super versatile—serve in sandwiches, tacos, or bowls
- Kid-approved, freezer-friendly, and great for leftovers
- A go-to comfort food that tastes like summer BBQ all year long
🛒 Ingredient notes
You just need a few simple ingredients to make this delicious dish.
- Chicken thighs: Use boneless, skinless thighs for the juiciest, most tender texture.
- Barbecue sauce: Choose a thick, tangy-sweet sauce you love—smoky or spicy work great too.
- Paprika: Adds subtle heat and color. Smoked paprika will deepen the flavor even more.
- Garlic powder: A simple way to bring savory depth. I often prefer to use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic when cooking food in the slow cooker.
- Brown sugar: Sweetens and caramelizes the sauce beautifully as it cooks.
- Liquid smoke: Adds that irresistible “grilled all day” flavor—just a splash goes a long way.
- Salt and pepper: Essential to balance and enhance all the other flavors.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
Here are some step-by-step photos to show you how to make this recipe. You’ll find the full ingredients list with measurements, and more detailed instructions, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Mix the sauce ingredients together. Set aside 1/4 to use to baste the chicken later.
- & 3. Season the chicken on all sides.
4. Place the chicken into the slow cooker pot.
5. Pour the sauce over the chicken.
6. Set the slow cooker to cook on HIGH from 2-4 hours or on LOW for 6-8 hours.
7. Cook chicken until a thermometer reads 160-165°F. It will continue to cook in the broiler.
8. Preheat the oven to broil. Brush chicken with the remaining sauce.
9. Broil for 3-4 minutes.
Marlynn’s Tip
Time-Saving Tip
You can simply use your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce on its own, without the additional spices, if you prefer!
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
Yes, but thighs stay juicier in the slow cooker. If using breasts, check for doneness a bit earlier to avoid drying them out.
This recipe gives you a mild yet flavorful sauce. To add heat, add cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, or a splash of hot sauce to the barbecue mixture before cooking.
Yes! Just make sure your slow cooker is large enough and increase cook time by 30–60 minutes as needed.
Absolutely! Let the chicken cool, then freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet or microwave until warm.
🍽 Serving ideas
We love serving this barbecue chicken for family dinners and when company comes over. It’s cozy, casual, and completely crave-worthy.
Some ideas for what to serve it with:
- Charred corn salad
- Creamy dairy-free mac and cheese
- Pesto beans
- Air fryer smashed potatoes
- Pesto orzo pasta salad
🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
🍷 🥂 Wine pairings
You can pair this dish with either a red wine or a white wine!
Zinfandel: A bold, fruit-forward red that balances sweet barbecue sauce with juicy berry and spice notes.
Chenin Blanc: A crisp white with just enough acidity and light sweetness to cut through the smoky richness of the dish.
🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
Ready to make this recipe? The main thing you will need is a slow cooker.
I love my Crockpot slow cooker. It is easy to set manually, although it does come with some presets. And it comes with a clear heatproof glass lid so you can see the food as it cooks!
More recipes
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Thighs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¾ cup BBQ sauce, divided
- 1 Tablespon light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
Instructions
- Make the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together ½ cup BBQ sauce (set aside ¼ of the sauce for later), the liquid smoke and light brown sugar.
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Then in a large bowl, season the chicken with the paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Pour the BBQ sauce mixture over the chicken and coat all sides.
- Spray the inside of the slow cooker with cooking spray. Place the chicken into the slow cooker pot.
- Cover and slow cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-5 hours.
- Prepare a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil.
- Once the chicken is done cooking, preheat the oven to broil.
- Transfer the chicken from the slow cooker to the covered baking sheet. Baste with the remaining ¼ cup BBQ sauce.
- Broil for 3-4 minutes, watching it carefully to make sure the chicken doesn't burn.
- Remove and rest for 5 minutes, then slice and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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