Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs

An easy recipe for slow cooker bbq chicken thighs that makes weeknight dinner a breeze. Slow cooking the meat allows the chicken to be shredded easily for delicious bbq sandwiches. The whole family will love this easy chicken recipe. Try it for dinner tonight!

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You know those days when you just need an easy button? We've all had them.

This is the dinner you plan for those nights: slow cooker bbq chicken thighs.

Dump some chicken thighs, spices, and sauce in the slow cooker and call it good. The crockpot does the cooking for you with minimal effort on your part. Hallelujah!

The best part is that most kids enjoy bbq flavor so they will likely happily eat dinner without complaints. Another win! It's the easiest bbq chicken you can make.

Why Chicken Thighs Over Breasts?

I much prefer thighs over boneless skinless chicken breasts because of the flavor and higher fat content of the dark meat. Breast meat is very easy to over cook in the crockpot which will give it either a dry, rubbery, or even mealy consistency. It's very difficult to over cook a chicken thigh. They are so forgiving and perfect for the slow cooker for that very reason.

You could substitute chicken breasts if you really want to, but I highly recommend boneless skinless thighs instead.

Ingredients Needed

The recipe calls for only a few simple ingredients. They are simple yet produce a yummy result.

boneless skinless chicken thighs: They have the flavor that we love in chicken thighs but the convenience of a boneless skinless chicken breast without the bones and skin. The best of both worlds. I always keep them stocked in my freezer.

barbecue sauce: You can use your favorite bbq sauce from the store or homemade sauce. My homemade bbq sauce recipe is clean and doesn't use any funky oils or high fructose corn syrup.

salt, garlic powder, chili powder: These are just extra flavor boosts to give our chicken a salty smokey flavor.

 

How to Make BBQ Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

The process is so simple and takes very little time. You could even put it on quickly before work. If you are using a homemade sauce, consider mixing that up the night before to save time.

1. Place chicken thighs in slow cooker and sprinkle with salt, garlic powder, and chili powder. Pour over 1 cup bbq sauce.
2. Place on the lid and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 4 hours.
3. Remove chicken and shred with two forks.
4. Place back in sauce, and stir in the remainder of the sauce. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
5. Serve as is or on hamburger buns to eat as sandwiches.

What to serve with BBQ chicken thighs?

Since we are going for a dead simple meal, let's keep the side dishes simple as well. Here are a few options.

• Oven fries
• cut up raw vegetables (carrots, celery, cucumbers)
• fruit
• stovetop frozen green beans
• coleslaw or potato salad from the deli

What to do with leftovers

Store leftover bbq chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

Eat your leftovers for lunch or use them on top of baked potatoes the next day if you are tired of sandwiches.

You could also top a pizza with onions, bbq chicken, and cheese.

I also love leftover bbq chicken nachos.

More Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

Crockpot pinto beans

Easy slow cooker salsa verde chicken

Slow cooker pot roast

Salsa chicken

Slow cooker pork roast

Italian beef in the slow cooker

Slow cooker black bean soup

Slow cooker red beans and rice

 

The next time you have a busy week, put this on your meal plan. If you make it and enjoy it, please leave a rating and review. You can also tag me on Instagram @eatwellspendsmart. I'd love to see what you are making!