Description
This 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs recipe features tender, juicy chicken thighs seasoned with smoked paprika, garlic powder, and kosher salt, slowly cooked to perfection in a simple BBQ sauce. Finished under the broiler for a caramelized glaze, this easy-to-make dish is a flavorful and convenient meal that takes just minutes to prep and requires minimal ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
Seasonings
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons granulated garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Sauce
- ⅔ cup BBQ sauce (divided, ⅓ cup for cooking, ⅓ cup for glazing)
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker: Spray a 6-quart slow cooker with cooking spray to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Season the chicken: Place the chicken thighs into the slow cooker and sprinkle the smoked paprika, granulated garlic powder, and kosher salt evenly over all sides of the chicken.
- Add BBQ sauce: Pour ⅓ cup of BBQ sauce over the chicken thighs and spread to evenly coat them for flavor infusion during cooking.
- Slow cook the chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 2 to 3 hours or on low for 4 to 5 hours, until the chicken is very tender and cooked through.
- Broil for glazing: Preheat your oven’s broiler to high. Carefully transfer the cooked chicken thighs onto a foil-lined, broiler-safe pan. Thinly brush each thigh with the remaining ⅓ cup BBQ sauce, then broil for 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce on the chicken is browned and caramelized. Watch closely to prevent burning.
Notes
- This slow cooker BBQ chicken thigh recipe yields succulent, melt-in-your-mouth chicken with minimal effort and just five main ingredients.
- Preparation time is under 5 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights.
- Using boneless, skinless thighs ensures faster cooking and easier eating without compromising on juiciness.
- Broiling at the end adds a delicious caramelized finish to complement the slow-cooked tenderness.
- Feel free to use your favorite BBQ sauce to customize flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh (approximately 150 g)
- Calories: 330 kcal
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 518 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.04 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 44 g
- Cholesterol: 215 mg
