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Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs are fall-off-the-bone tender, coated in a smoky dry rub, and finished with a glossy layer of sweet and tangy BBQ sauce. The perfect easy dinner or game day crowd-pleaser!
If you prefer an oven baked version of BBQ chicken legs then try making my Best Oven Baked BBQ Chicken Drumsticks.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks Recipe
These slow cooker chicken legs is the perfect easy meal that the whole family will LOVE! With only a few minutes of prep time and with simple, budget-friendly ingredients, this is a great way to get dinner on the table on those busy weeknights.
I love using chicken drumsticks because they are budget-friendly and naturally juicy, which means it doesn’t take a lot of effort to have them turn out amazing. With a simple dry rub and bbq sauce, you’ll be left with juicy chicken drumsticks that are perfectly seasoned.
Simple Ingredients Needed
- Chicken Drumsticks : You need 3 pounds of fresh, not frozen chicken drumsticks (or called chicken legs), which is about 8-10 drumstick pieces.
- Kosher Salt : Chicken needs salt to enhance its flavor, and it also helps distribute the flavor more evenly. If using table salt only use 1.5 teaspoons instead of 2 teaspoons.
- Black Pepper
- Smoked Paprika : Adds smoky depth, like it came off the grill.
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Chili Powder
- BBQ Sauce : Make it really simple and use your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce, or you can prepare your favorite homemade bbq sauce if wanted. This is the flavor driver so make sure you are using a bbq sauce that you love the taste of. Sweet bbq sauces will caramelize more while tangy or smoky bbq sauces will highlight the dry rub spices more.
How To Make Crockpot Chicken Drumsticks (Printable Recipe Card)
Spray the insert of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels and place them in a large bowl.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the dried seasonings until blended well. Add the seasoning mixture to the bowl of chicken drumsticks, turning and stirring to make sure all sides of each chicken drumstick are well coated in seasoning rub.
Evenly spread 1 cup of BBQ sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker. Place the seasoned drumsticks on top of the bbq sauce in an even layer. Spoon the remaining 1 cup bbq sauce over top the drumsticks.
Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on LOW heat for 6-7 hours or HIGH heat for 4 hours. Make sure the internal temperature of the chicken drumsticks is 165 degrees F and the meat is tender but not falling apart.
Remove the lid and let them sit uncovered in the warm slow cooker for 10 minutes to let the sauce thicken slightly.
Transfer the chicken drumsticks to a serving plate or platter, and spoon or brush the remaining 1 cup bbq sauce over top. Enjoy!
How To Store Leftover Chicken Drumsticks
Store leftover cooked drumsticks in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days. Be sure and add some extra sauce in with the leftovers. Reheat in the oven at 325 degrees F until warmed through.
Freeze cooked and cooled drumsticks, with some extra sauce, in freezer-safe bags for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Recipe Tips For Success
- Always spray the slow cooker first to prevent the sticky bbq sauce from clinging to the sides.
- Adding fresh BBQ sauce at the end gives the chicken that glossy, finger-licking finish that the slow cooker sauce alone doesn’t achieve.
- For some added spice and heat, add 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper into the dry rub mixture. You can also use a spicy BBQ sauce as well.
- These BBQ chicken legs are best enjoyed immediately; don’t leave them out for longer than 2 hours. If you want to keep them warm for serving, like for a game day or gathering, leave them in the slow cooker on the warm setting for up to 2 hours.
- The BBQ sauce flavor really is the star of the show – so make sure you use your favorite one! You can go sweeter with a brown sugar bbq sauce or honey, or go more classic, or use a smokey bbq sauce or a spicy one. Just pick your favorite one. I love the Sweet Baby Ray’s brand of barbecue sauces.
More Must Try Slow Cooker Recipes
- Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice
- Slow Cooker Creamy Fiesta Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti
- Slow Cooker Mississippi Steak Bites
- Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole Recipe
- Easy Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pork Chops
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs
Ingredients
- 3 pounds fresh chicken drumsticks (about 8-10 pieces)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 3 cups BBQ sauce (divided)
Instructions
- Spray the insert of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels and place them in a large bowl.3 pounds fresh chicken drumsticks
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the dried seasonings until blended well. Add the seasoning mixture to the bowl of chicken drumsticks, turning and stirring to make sure all sides of each chicken drumstick are well coated in seasoning rub.2 teaspoons kosher salt, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon chili powder
- Evenly spread 1 cup of BBQ sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker. Place the seasoned drumsticks on top of the bbq sauce in an even layer. Spoon 1 cup bbq sauce over top the drumsticks.3 cups BBQ sauce
- Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on LOW heat for 6-7 hours or HIGH heat for 4 hours.*Make sure the internal temperature of the chicken drumsticks is 165℉.
- Remove the lid and let them sit uncovered in the warm slow cooker for 10 minutes to let the sauce thicken slightly.
- Transfer the chicken drumsticks to a serving plate or platter, and spoon or brush the remaining 1 cup bbq sauce over top. Enjoy!
Notes
- Always spray the slow cooker first to prevent the sticky bbq sauce from clinging to the sides.
- Adding fresh BBQ sauce at the end gives the chicken that glossy, finger-licking finish that the slow cooker sauce alone doesn’t achieve.
- For some added spice and heat, add 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper into the dry rub mixture. You can also use a spicy BBQ sauce as well.
- These BBQ chicken legs are best enjoyed immediately; don’t leave them out for longer than 2 hours. If you want to keep them warm for serving, like for a game day or gathering, leave them in the slow cooker on the warm setting for up to 2 hours.
- The BBQ sauce flavor really is the star of the show – so make sure you use your favorite one! You can go sweeter with a brown sugar bbq sauce or honey, or go more classic, or use a smokey bbq sauce or a spicy one. Just pick your favorite one. I love the Sweet Baby Ray’s brand of barbecue sauces.
- The serving size is based on this recipe feeding 5 people with each person having 2 chicken drumsticks.
Nutrition
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