Slow cooker chicken thighs are a healthy, flavorful dinner perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep. Moist, juicy chicken with a tangy sauce helps you hit your protein goals.
I love the convenience of my slow cooker, and as much as I love Chicken Shawarma, Salsa Chicken, and even Balsamic Beef Roast, sometimes I want WHOLE pieces of meat instead of shredded meat.
Know what I mean?
And by loading up our plates with plenty of sides, and sticking to a cheaper cut of meat, we can have a meal where meat is the star AND still keep things frugal.
What is the best way to cook chicken thighs?
I like to make slow cooker chicken thighs, because the meat turns out juicy and tender, with a sweet and tangy sauce for serving.
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN THIGHS
These slow cooker chicken thighs have been making it to our menu rotation pretty regularly.
- We get to eat whole pieces of chicken, which my husband LOVES.
- They cook in the slow cooker. Perfect for busy weeknights!
- The tender meat falls off the bone.
- Plus, this particular recipe is SO FLAVORFUL…the simple ingredients turn into a homemade BBQ sauce of sorts.
- And I always have everything I need in the pantry!
- This recipe of chicken thighs also makes it easy to hit my protein goals. One serving is over 35g of protein!
INGREDIENTS FOR RECIPE OF CHICKEN THIGHS IN CROCK POT
The ingredient list for making this slow cooker recipe using chicken thighs is pretty simple and straightforward:
- Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. You can also use boneless chicken thighs or chicken breasts if you don’t like chicken skin, but adjust the cooking time – see notes below. And don’t forget chicken leg quarters. This cut is often quite affordable and easy to cut at home!
- Ketchup. You can also substitute Barbecue Sauce.
- Low-Sodium Soy Sauce. I substitute coconut aminos. Low-sodium versions keep the finished chicken thighs from turning out overly salty. You can always add a pinch of salt before serving.
- Honey. I like honey in this recipe of chicken thighs for a hint of sweetness. Maple syrup will give you a slightly different, but still delicious, flavor.
- Mustard. Any variety will do, but spicy brown mustard is especially yummy!
- Spices: Minced garlic, onion powder, thyme, and parsley.
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CROCKPOT CHICKEN THIGHS RECIPE SUBSTITUTIONS
This recipe is incredibly forgiving if you don’t have a certain ingredient in the pantry. Each variation will change the flavor just a bit, creating a unique-to-you meal!
| Ingredient | Possible Substitutions |
| Bone-In Chicken Thighs | Boneless Chicken Thighs, Chicken Breasts, Chicken Leg Quarters |
| Ketchup | Barbecue Sauce |
| Soy Sauce | Coconut Aminos, Tamari, Hoisin Sauce |
| Honey | Maple Syrup |
| Mustard | Yellow Mustard, Dry Mustard, Spicy Brown Mustard |
| Minced Garlic | Garlic Powder |
| Onion Powder | Minced Onion Flakes |
HOW TO COOK CHICKEN THIGHS CROCK POT METHOD
To cook chicken thighs crock pot style, follow these simple instructions.
Step 1: Place raw chicken thighs in slow cooker in a single layer. It’s okay if the pieces of meat touch, but you don’t want them stacked on top of each other. This recipe calls for 8 chicken thighs, and they fit perfectly in my 6-quart slow cooker.
Step 2: Mix the sauce ingredients together in a large measuring cup or small bowl. I recommend a 2-cup glass Pyrex measuring cup like this one. You can easily measure and mix what you need and clean just one dish, rather than using several measuring cups and a bowl to mix the sauce in.
Step 3: Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and cook on HIGH for 3 hours, or on LOW for 5 hours, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reads 165F with a meat thermometer.
Step 4: Serve the chicken with the sauce. I like to spoon the sauce over the chicken at the table, but the extra sauce is optional.
TIPS FOR SLOW COOKED CHICKEN THIGHS IN SLOW COOKER
If you can’t find bone-in skin-on chicken thighs or simply prefer meat without bones, you can substitute boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts. Boneless meat cooks a bit faster than bone-in, so reduce the cooking time to 4 hours on LOW, or 2 hours on HIGH if you make this substitution.
Make a thicker sauce by mixing in a cornstarch slurry. After the meat is done cooking, remove it from the slow cooker. Whisk 2 Tablespoons of water with 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch and then mix into the remaining juices. Serve the sauce over the chicken.
If you like citrus, or you happen to have an extra orange or lemon on hand, slice it up and place the slices between the crockpot chicken thighs. This adds a subtle, fresh, bright flavor to the chicken and the sauce. Discard the fruit before serving.
Store leftovers in an airtight container with a lid in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH THIS SLOW COOKER CHICKEN THIGHS RECIPE
Enjoy these easy and delicious sides with healthy slow cooker chicken thighs:
- Oven Roasted Potatoes
- Pan-Roasted Broccoli
- Kale Caesar Salad
- Creamy Coleslaw
- Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread
Or shred your slow cooker boneless chicken thighs and pile them onto Dinner Rolls for some delicious BBQ chicken sliders!
HIGH PROTEIN SLOW COOKER CHICKEN THIGHS
At over 35 grams of protein per serving, this slow cooked chicken thighs in slow cooker recipe is perfect for hitting your protein goals!
You can also use the recipe of chicken thighs for meal prep. Cook a batch at the beginning of the week and pair them with plenty of produce and complex carbohydrates for a balanced meal.
For a leaner version with less fat, follow the instructions for slow cooker chicken breast instead.
Looking for more ways to increase your protein? Try one of my favorite high-protein recipes – I always have these on my meal plan and keep them stocked in my fridge. This way, I always have a protein-focused meal to put on my plate! Grab High Protein Recipes on Repeat here.
RECIPE FOR COOKING CHICKEN THIGHS FAQS
Can you put raw chicken in a slow cooker?
Yes! You can put any raw meat in the slow cooker.
Do you need to sear the chicken first?
No! I’ve tested this recipe for cooking chicken thighs both with searing and without, and it makes such a minimal difference that it’s easier and less messy to skip the searing.
If you WANT to sear the chicken, you can do that in a cast iron skillet with about 1 Tablespoon of healthy cooking fat (coconut oil, lard, avocado oil, etc.) before you load the slow cooker with chicken thighs.
How long does it take to cook chicken thighs in crockpot on low?
Chicken thighs take longer to cook than chicken breasts. We’re also using bone-in chicken thighs, which adds a bit more to the cooking time than if you were to use boneless.
This chicken thighs in the slow cooker recipe calls for a cooking time of 5 hours on low, but you can reduce that to 4 hours if you make slow cooker boneless chicken thighs.
Is it better to cook chicken thighs or breast in a slow cooker?
I like to make crock pot chicken thighs because they turn out juicy and delicious every time. Chicken breast can sometimes turn out dry and overcooked in the slow cooker, or mushy if it is cooked with too much liquid. Chicken thighs are more forgiving with just the right tenderness.
If you prefer flavorful chicken breast, adjust the cooking time, or check out this Slow Cooker Chicken Breast recipe for the best results.
MORE YUMMY CROCKPOT CHICKEN RECIPES
- All-Purpose Slow Cooker Chicken
- Slow Cooker Quinoa Chicken Cacciatore
- Chicken Fajitas
- Crock Pot Mississippi Chicken
- Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
- Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
High Protein Recipes on Repeat
Download the top 15+ recipes that are on repeat in my house, making it easy to feed my family AND meet my protein goals!
Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on (1040g)
- ¾ cup ketchup (176g)
- ⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce (83g) (I use coconut aminos) (75g)
- ⅓ cup honey (113g)
- 1 Tbsp mustard any variety (14g)
- 3 Tbsp minced garlic (26g)
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried parsley
Instructions
- Place chicken skin-side up in a 6 qt or larger slow cooker. It’s okay if the chicken pieces are touching.
- In a large measuring cup, stir together the remaining ingredients. Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 3 hours, or on LOW for 5 hours, or until the chicken reads 165F with a meat thermometer.
- Serve warm with the sauce from the slow cooker if desired.
Notes
- If you can’t find bone-in skin-on chicken thighs, or if you simply prefer meat without bones, you can substitute boneless skinless chicken thighs.
- Boneless meat cooks a bit faster than bone-in, so reduce the cook time to 4 hours on LOW, or 2 hours on HIGH if you make this substitution.
- At over 35 grams of protein per serving, this slow cooked chicken thighs in slow cooker recipe is perfect for hitting your protein goals!
- You can also use the recipe of chicken thighs for meal prep. Cook a batch at the beginning of the week and pair them with plenty of produce and complex carbohydrates for a balanced meal.
- For a leaner version with less fat, follow the instructions for Slow Cooker Chicken Breast instead.
This looks delicious! I’m going to make this today. I like the addition of the orange slices – do they serve a purpose or decoration only?