This recipe came straight from a reader request, and I’m so glad it did. They asked for a way to make tender, flavorful chicken legs without standing over the stove, and I knew exactly what to share. These Crock Pot chicken legs are everything I love in a weeknight dinner: easy, comforting, and packed with Southern-style flavor. Just season, set it, and forget it. By the time you’re ready to eat, the chicken is falling-off-the-bone and full of that deep, rich BBQ taste we all crave.
In This Post
How A Simple Recipe Turns Into Something Special
- Melt In Your Mouth Tender: Drumsticks were made for the slow cooker. They stay tender and juicy, and that bone adds a little extra flavor to the pot without you lifting a finger.
- Amazing BBQ Flavor: We’re using my favorite Homemade BBQ Sauce for this recipe. It’s rich, tangy, and coats the chicken perfectly as it cooks.
- Incredibly Simple: Just like my wildly popular Crock Pot Chicken Thighs, I’ve taken simple ingredients and turned them into something super delicious with the help of a slow cooker.
Tips for Perfectly Tender and Juicy Chicken Legs
- Don’t skip the seasoning.
Even though the sauce brings a lot of flavor, I always like to season the chicken legs first. A sprinkle of good salt, and fresh cracked pepper makes a big difference and one you don’t want to skip. - Cook low and slow.
This is one recipe where time works in your favor. Cooking on low keeps the chicken juicy and lets the sauce really soak in. - Want a sticky glaze? Finish under the broiler.
For that saucy, caramelized finish, place the cooked chicken under the broiler for a few minutes. It gives you that BBQ-style texture without firing up the grill.
Everything You Need for These Saucy Drumsticks
The heart of this recipe is its simplicity. You only need a couple of key things to create this wonderful dish. For the full ingredient list with measurements, be sure to scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Chicken Legs: Bone-in chicken drumsticks are perfect for this. They hold up beautifully in the slow cooker and become exceptionally tender.
- Homemade BBQ Sauce: This is what truly makes the recipe shine. Using a quality sauce makes all the difference, and I highly recommend my own Easy and Delicious Homemade BBQ Sauce. It’s simple to whip up and brings so much flavor to the party. You can sub in store-bought if needed.
How To Make BBQ Chicken Legs in the Crock Pot
- First, I like to give the chicken a quick sear in a hot skillet before they go into the slow cooker. This little step only takes a few minutes, but it makes a huge difference in the final result. It helps to lock in the juices and gives the chicken a beautiful golden color.
- Once the chicken is seared, it’s time to let the crockpot take over. Just place the chicken legs inside.
- Pour that wonderful BBQ sauce all over the top. Give them a gentle toss to make sure every piece is coated in that tangy goodness. Then, just put the lid on, set it to cook, and walk away.
- Once the chicken is done, sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Expert Tips and Variations
- Why Searing Your Chicken Before Slow Cooking Makes a Difference: While the slow cooker makes the chicken incredibly tender, the skin won’t be crispy. If you love a bit of texture, you can place the cooked chicken legs on a baking sheet and pop them under the broiler for 2-3 minutes until the sauce is bubbly and slightly caramelized. Just be sure to watch them closely!
- Thickening the Sauce: The sauce in the crock pot will be thin from the chicken juices. For a thicker sauce to spoon over the top, you can pour the liquid from the crock pot into a small saucepan and let it simmer on the stove for 5-10 minutes until it reduces and thickens to your liking.
- A Touch of Spice: If you enjoy a little heat, feel free to add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of your favorite hot sauce to the BBQ sauce.
Questions Folks Often Ask Me
You can skip the searing step if you’re short on time, but I highly recommend it. Searing the chicken adds a deeper layer of flavor and improves the texture of the final dish. It’s a small step that yields a big reward!
For the best and safest results, I always recommend using thawed chicken in the slow cooker. Cooking from frozen can sometimes prevent the chicken from cooking evenly and can keep it in an unsafe temperature zone for too long.
The most reliable way to check for doneness is with a meat thermometer. Chicken is considered safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. For dark meat like drumsticks, the texture is often even better when cooked to about 175°F.
Perfect Side Dishes to Serve with BBQ Chicken Legs
These saucy slow cooker chicken legs are fantastic on their own, but for a family dinner on busy weeknights, I love serving them with creamy coleslaw, stuffed baked potatoes and cornbread muffins with some pickled red onions for extra measure.
If you want to go Southern cookout style, add in a side of crock pot baked beans, green bean salad and a slice of lemon pound cake for dessert!
Slow Cooker Recipes I Make Again and Again
If you tried this Crock Pot Chicken Legs Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken legs
- 2 ½ cups homemade Southern Soul BBQ Sauce
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- Make the homemade BBQ Sauce.
- While the sauce is simmering, season the chicken on all sides with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet. Sear the chicken on all sides until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the skillet and place in the crock pot.
- Pour the BBQ sauce over the chcken. Turn the chicken so that it's coated with the sauce. Place lid on the crock pot. Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
- Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and sprinkle with fresh parsley.
Notes
Nutrition
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