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Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken is the easy, hands-off dinner that gives you sticky, fall-apart tender barbecue chicken without ever touching the grill. I toss seasoned chicken in the crockpot before a busy afternoon, then a quick broil with sauce at the end makes it caramelized and irresistible. The girls fight over the crispy edges every time. If you love our slow cooker ribs, this saucy chicken is your next weeknight staple.
A simple brown sugar spice rub seasons the chicken as it cooks, then a sticky BBQ glaze finishes it under the broiler.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 6 hours
- ⏳ Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 4 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 143kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Sweet, smoky, and savory with sticky caramelized BBQ edges
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, a dump and go slow cooker meal like our award-winning chili
Quick Answer
Place chicken pieces in the slow cooker and toss them with a simple rub of brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, until the chicken reaches at least 165 degrees. Brush the pieces with BBQ sauce and broil for a few minutes per side until sticky, caramelized, and bubbly, then serve.
Jump to:
- Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken FAQs
- Other Recommended BBQ and Slow Cooker Recipes
- The BEST Sticky Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Recipe
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- The slow cooker keeps it juicy. Low, slow cooking gently breaks the chicken down so it is fall-apart tender and never dry.
- A dry rub builds flavor first. Seasoning the chicken before it cooks layers in flavor from the start, so the BBQ sauce is not doing all the work.
- Broiling at the end is the magic. A few minutes under the broiler with BBQ sauce gives you that sticky, caramelized, grilled finish indoors.
- It is almost completely hands off. Toss everything in the slow cooker and walk away; the only active step is the final broil.
- Works with any chicken pieces. Thighs, drumsticks, breasts, or a whole cut-up chicken all work beautifully in this recipe.
- No grill required. You get all that sticky barbecue flavor any time of year, rain or shine, right from your kitchen.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Sticky, saucy BBQ chicken without ever firing up the grill.
- A true dump-and-go meal: just season, slow cook, and broil.
- Fall-apart tender chicken with caramelized, finger-licking edges.
Key Ingredients
This BBQ chicken keeps the ingredient list short and the flavor big. Here is what each one does:
- Chicken pieces: use a whole cut-up chicken or your favorite parts; bone-in pieces stay especially juicy.
- Brown sugar: the base of the rub, adding sweetness and helping the chicken caramelize under the broiler.
- Smoked paprika: brings a deep, smoky flavor that mimics a real barbecue.
- Garlic and onion powder: savory backbone spices that round out the rub.
- BBQ sauce: brushed on at the end for that sticky, glossy, finger-licking finish.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
Make this slow cooker BBQ chicken your own with a few easy tweaks:
- Pick your pieces: use all thighs, all drumsticks, or boneless breasts; just adjust the time so they do not dry out.
- Shred it: use boneless chicken and shred it in the sauce for pulled BBQ chicken sandwiches.
- Add heat: stir cayenne or chipotle powder into the rub, or reach for a spicy BBQ sauce.
- Homemade sauce: swap the bottled sauce for your favorite homemade BBQ sauce.
- Skip the broil: in a pinch, serve the chicken straight from the slow cooker, though you will miss the sticky edges.
How to Make Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
- Place the chicken pieces in the slow cooker, sprinkle the seasoning over the top, and toss to coat. Cover and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or high for 2 to 3 hours.
- Cook until the chicken reaches at least 165 degrees, or up to 180 degrees for extra tender meat.
- Place the chicken on a foil-lined sheet tray, brush all over with BBQ sauce, and broil until golden, sticky, and caramelized, flipping and saucing once or twice.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Season generously before cooking so the chicken is flavorful even under all that sauce.
- Do not skip the broil; it is what gives the chicken its sticky, caramelized BBQ finish.
- Watch the broiler closely; the sugar in the sauce can go from caramelized to burnt fast.
- Sauce in layers, brushing on more BBQ sauce between broils for the stickiest, glossiest chicken.
- Use a meat thermometer; pull the chicken at 165 degrees, or 180 for fall-off-the-bone tender.
- Line your sheet tray with foil for easy cleanup, since the sugary sauce can stick.
- Pick bone-in pieces if you can; they stay the juiciest through the long cook.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
This BBQ chicken is a backyard cookout on a plate. Serve it with all the classic sides: creamy coleslaw, baked beans, cornbread, and corn on the cob. Set out extra BBQ sauce for dipping.
Round out the meal with crowd favorites like a scoop of classic potato salad or a basket of homemade french fries. Add a cold drink and dinner is done.
This slow cooker BBQ chicken is perfect for busy weeknights, game day, and feeding a crowd. Shred any leftovers for sandwiches, tacos, or loaded baked potatoes the next day.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken FAQs
Yes, it is perfectly safe to cook raw chicken in the slow cooker. As long as it cooks to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees, your slow cooker BBQ chicken will be safe and delicious.
Use your favorite bottled or homemade BBQ sauce. A sweet and smoky sauce caramelizes beautifully under the broiler, but any style you love will work well.
You can use a whole cut-up chicken or any pieces you like, such as thighs, drumsticks, or breasts. Bone-in pieces stay the juiciest, but boneless works too with a shorter cook time.
You can, but you will miss the sticky, caramelized finish. If you skip the broiler, simply stir the cooked chicken in the BBQ sauce, though broiling gives the best texture and flavor.
Cook chicken pieces on low for 4 to 6 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until they reach at least 165 degrees. Bone-in pieces and a fuller slow cooker may take a little longer.
Store leftover BBQ chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat gently in the oven or microwave, brushing with a little extra sauce to keep it moist.
Craving more easy BBQ? Try our slow cooker ribs next.
Feeding a crowd? Our chicken noodle casserole makes a big, comforting 9×13 pan.
Serve this BBQ chicken with our smoky black eyed peas recipe for a true comfort food dinner.
Want something cozier than barbecue? Our crock pot chicken marsala is a restaurant dinner on autopilot.
The BEST Sticky Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 pieces of chicken 1 whole chicken cut up or pieces
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1-2 cups bbq sauce
Instructions
- Spray the slow cooker with cooking spray. Place the chicken pieces into the slow cooker.8 pieces of chicken
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.1 tablespoon light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken and toss to combine. Once the chicken is fully coated, place the lid on the slow cooker and cook for 4-6 hours on low, or 2-3 hours on high.
- The chicken is ready when an internal temperature reaches 165°F. I like to keep the chicken cooking for a little longer and pull it around 180°F as I feel it is more tender.
- Preheat the broiler to high. Line a sheet tray with foil. Place the chicken pieces on the foil not touching. Brush with the bbq sauce all over the top of the chicken.1-2 cups bbq sauce
- Broil until lightly golden and caramelized, and bubbly; keep watching as this will only take a few minutes. Turn the pieces over, and brush with extra barbecue sauce. Broil again. Repeat one more time until the chicken is caramelized and sticky. The amount of sauce you use depends on your personal preference how saucy you like your chicken, and serve.
Notes
- You can use your favorite rub or my homemade rub I have provided.
- Any pieces of chicken will work for this recipe.
- Use your favorite BBQ sauce or make homemade.
- You can double this recipe, just use a large slow cooker but cooking times may vary so check with a kitchen thermometer.
- This can be cooked on low for 4-6 hours or high 2-3 hours.
- Broiling is involved in this so you are able to get the BBQ sauce nice and sticky on that chicken.
- If you don’t want to broil, just drain juices from slow cooker and stir in BBQ sauce and toss to coat.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
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The meat was very tender and well seasoned. Will definitely make it again 😋
OMG this was so so so good! My family devoured this. I chose just drumsticks, didn’t change anything in the recipe. I was very excited that I could use my 10 in 1 ninja oven so I didn’t have to wait for the Big oven to heat up and that speed up the cooking. Served with country green beans and fried potatoes. Literally, finger licking good! This is going into the dinner rotation!!!
I was confused on if I should add the BBQ sauce to the slow cooker too. At least half of it? *shrug* Well I did. I checked other slow cooker BBQ drumstick recipes and it appears everyone adds the BBQ sauce to the slow cooker. Once they came out of the slow cooker, I put them in the broiler per your instructions and they came out perfect. Thank you!
I tried your sticky BBQ chicken recipe in my crockpot today and it turned out delicious! It was so easy to make. Thank you for the recipe.
Pinned! Featuring this at Family Fun Friday!
Monica
http://happyandblessedhome.com/category/family-fun/
Miss Dana this chicken looks absolutely fabulous! It would disappear in a hurry 🙂 You had the most viewed post this week @ Great Idea Thursday’s! Congratulations 🙂 You are being featured. Krista @ A Handful of Everything
Oh heavens! This looks amazing! Pinning!
Thanks for linking up at the Wondering Brain Weekend Show Off Party! I am co-hosting this week. I hope you will hop over to my place http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/ for a visit. Enter to win $500 in my Blogiversary Giveaway! Hope you are having a terrific week!
Cathy
Thanks for sharing this at Gingerly Made’s Show & Tell. You’ve been featured! http://www.gingerlymade.com/2013/09/show-tell-features_10.html
Oh my goodness, this looks amazing! I have a thing for slow cooker chicken. Definitely trying this!
So glas I found this on the Monday Linky party. I’ve been looking for crockpot recipes for this fall/winter. Pinning this one.