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This Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs recipe is an easy way to get saucy bone-in chicken thighs without starting up the grill. You can use any hickory or Kansas-city BBQ sauce (including my sugar-free BBQ sauce recipe). Keep reading to learn how to make 3-ingredient slow cooker bbq chicken thighs using my DIY bbq sauce and the best bbq seasoning.
Why Make This?
- Low-carb: Like my air fryer bbq chicken thighs, this slow cooker bbq chicken thighs recipe offers a low-carb version of the regular dish. If you wish, you can cut carbs and sugar (while keeping the flavor) using simple swaps like my keto brown sugar bbq dry rub and your favorite low carb bbq sauce.
- Easy: You need only 3 main ingredients to make these sumptuous chicken thighs, and the process is mostly dump-and-go.
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken thighs: I used raw, skin-on and bone-in chicken thighs.
- BBQ seasoning: You can use my homemade bbq seasoning or your favorite BBQ seasoning from the market.
- Hickory or Kansas City style BBQ sauce like my keto bbq sauce recipe.
How To Make BBQ Chicken Thighs in the Crockpot
Make the most delicious crockpot bbq chicken thighs in 4 simple steps:
- Add the chicken thighs to the crockpot skin side up. Sprinkle with the bbq seasoning and use tongs to mix to coat.
- Add bbq sauce and toss the chicken thighs to coat — cook on high for 3 hours.
- Prepare to brown the chicken: Remove the chicken thighs from the crockpot and add to a foil-lined, broiler-safe baking sheet (skin side up). Brush with ⅓ cup bbq sauce.
- Broil on high for 2-3 minutes to char the chicken thighs and crisp the skin. Brush with more sauce before serving.
Recipe Tips & FAQs
- Reduce cook time to 2.5 hours for boneless and skinless chicken thighs to avoid overcooking.
- After slow-cooking for 2.5 – 3 hours, broil to crisp up the skin.
- Use my DIY keto bbq sauce and sugar-free bbq dry rub for low-carb and keto options
- Use the Crock Pot or Ninja Foodi: I’ve made this recipe in both. If you’re using the Ninja Foodi, simply use the air fryer setting to brown and crisp the skin instead of broiling. You can air fry the chicken thighs at 400 degrees for 5-10 minutes.
Separate the meat from the bone (it’ll fall off), then shred it with a fork.
Grilling takes 20-25 minutes until the thickest parts of the thighs register 165 degrees.
Chicken thighs are more suitable for slow cooking because dark meat is harder overcook if you forget. Chicken breasts will need occasional checking to avoid overcooking.
BBQ chicken thighs go with most side dishes. You can have my crockpot bbq chicken thighs with almost anything. Popular bbq side dishes include Patti LaBelle Potato Salad and macaroni and cheese. For keto or low-carb, you can try my top keto sides for bbq, like Instant Pot collard greens, keto coleslaw, and keto cornbread.
Recipes to Enjoy This With
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Crockpot BBQ Chicken Thighs
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Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 2.25 lbs Chicken thighs, raw, skin-on and bone-in (about 4-6 chicken thighs)
- 3 tbsp BBQ Seasoning
- 1 cup BBQ Sauce, I use my keto bbq sauce, but any Hickory or Kansas City style bbq sauce
Instructions
- Add the chicken thighs to the crockpot skin side up.
- Sprinkle with the bbq seasoning and use tongs to mix to coat.
- Add ⅓ cup bbq sauce and toss the chicken thighs to coat.
- Cook on high for 3 hours.
- Remove the chicken thighs from the crockpot and add to a foil-lined broiler-safe baking sheet (skin-side up). Brush with ⅓ cup bbq sauce.
- Broil for 2-3 minutes on high to char the chicken thighs and crisp the skin.
- Brush with more sauce before serving.
Recipe Notes
- Reduce cook time to 2.5 hours for boneless and skinless chicken thighs to avoid overcooking.
- After slow-cooking for 2.5 – 3 hours, broil to crisp up the skin.
- Use my DIY keto bbq sauce and sugar-free bbq dry rub for low-carb and keto options
- Use the Crock Pot or Ninja Foodi: I’ve made this recipe in both. If you’re using the Ninja Foodi, simply use the air fryer setting to brown and crisp the skin instead of broiling. You can air fry the chicken thighs at 400 degrees for 5-10 minutes.
Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used. The keto sweeteners I use have 0g net carbs & are not included because sugar alcohols do not impact most people. This is provided as a courtesy, but you can do your own calculations if you wish!
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