Chicken Thighs cooked in the Crock Pot make a mouthwatering recipe that’s perfect for a busy weeknight or lazy weekends! Juicy chicken coated in a thick, rich sauce flavored with garlic, honey, and soy sauce is a slow cooker hit.
Serve this amazing chicken with Stuffed Baked Potatoes, Southern Style Green Beans, and warm Garlic Rolls, and you’ve got a comfort food meal that your family and friends will love.
In This Post
5 Star Reader Comment
I saved this recipe awhile ago and decided to make it. It is fantastic. I made it exactly as the recipe stated. I have a large cast iron skillet and browned the chicken as you stated. My wife loved it. Definitely going to make this again, amd it is so easy. I wouldn’t change a thing with this recipe…..Thank you!
Scott
Are you ready for one of the easiest and most delicious chicken recipes you’ll ever make in the slow cooker? Well, here it is!
Crock Pot Chicken Thighs is a main dish recipe creation that’s been on repeat in my kitchen for several weeks. It’s uncomplicated yet has a combination of flavors that go perfectly together. As the chicken cooks low and slow, the simple 8-ingredient sauce infuses the perfect amount of sweet and savory flavors, making this a recipe you will love.
Ingredients For This Recipe
- Chicken Thighs – I use bone-in, skin-on for the best flavor and texture.. You can use boneless, skinless chicken if you prefer.
- For The Sauce – Ketchup, Soy Sauce, Honey
- Seasonings – Onion Powder, Dried Mustard, Dried Thyme, Dried Parsley, Salt and Pepper
Do I Need To Sear The Chicken First?
For this recipe, getting a good sear on the chicken is best. It helps impart extra flavor. I use a cast iron skillet (get it screaming hot) to brown the chicken. Work in 2 batches so the chicken does not touch while searing the skin.
Can I Use Boneless Chicken Thighs?
Yes, you can. You can use boneless, skinless thighs if you can’t find bone-in, skin-on thighs at the store. I recommend still searing to impart extra flavor before adding the chicken to the crock pot.
How Do I Thicken The Sauce?
Pour the slow cooker’s juices into a medium saucepan. Mix one tablespoon of cornstarch with two tablespoons of water and whisk into the chicken thigh juices. Simmer on low heat, whisking until the sauce has thickened.
Pin This Recipe
Substitutions For This Recipe
- You can change up the flavors if you want. Add some extra spice with red pepper flakes or chopped jalapeñpos. Mix in grated fresh ginger and sprinkle on sesame seeds for an Asian flair.
- Replace the ketchup with your favorite BBQ sauce and add in smoked paprika.
How To Store Leftovers
Crock Pot chicken recipes are great for meal prep and can be made ahead of time. The cooked chicken and any leftover sauce keep well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Store in a resealable container, then reheat before serving.
What To Serve With Crock Pot Chicken Thighs
These chicken thighs coated with all that yummy rich sauce go really well with any side dish that can soak up all the juicy goodness in the bottom of the slow cooker. Add in a fresh veggie or salad, and dinner is served!
- Instant Pot Herb Rice
- BEST Stuffed Baked Potatoes
- Instant Pot Parmesan Noodles
- Skillet Green Beans
- Tomato Cucumber Salad
More Slow Cooker Favorites:
If you tried this Crock Pot Chicken Thighs Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Ingredients
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper
- ¾ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon dried mustard
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley – optional
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a cast-iron skillet or heavy bottom pan. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and sear, skin side down until golden. Remove the chicken from the pan and place skin side up in the crock pot.
- To a medium-size bowl, add ketchup, soy sauce, honey, garlic, onion powder dried thyme, dried parsley, and dried mustard. Whisk together and pour over the chicken. Place lid on the crock pot and cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 5 hours until chicken is done and the sauce has thickened.
- Remove chicken and place on a serving dish. Spoon over the sauce from the bottom of the crock pot, sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Want To Know More About Slow Cooking?
If you are new to cooking with a Crock Pot or just don’t know where to start, I’ve got something to help. I’ve put together a helpful guide with tips and recipes to get you using a slow cooker like a pro!
What I'm Making for Easter!
FREE EMAIL Bonus
Go ahead…steal my menu. This year's feast is going to be amazing!
April
Could you use boneless skinless thighs? My family will not eat any chicken with skin on it.
Donya
Hey there April!
That’s a great question, and the answer is yes absolutely! If your family prefers skinless then that will work just fine, you don’t have to sear the chicken in a cast iron, you can just add it directly to the crock pot. I hope you enjoy, let me know how it turns out!
~Donya
Ms Kymm01
What a Scrumptious & Succulent chicken thigh dish, which I served with Garlic Herb Pilaf & mixed vegetables 🥰
Actually slow cooked in my CrockPot on High for 4 hrs, then an hour in low. The meat was soooooo tender, where pieces fell off, marinating in the Honey-Garlic sauce.
Truthfully I’m not a fan of chicken thighs, due to being too fatty, and the lengthy cleaning process.. However, I’m saving this recipe for future dinners.
Thanks for sharing 👍🏽
Donya
Hey there!
Wow! Thank you so much for this phenomenal rating and your kind words! I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, it sounds like you made a beautiful meal. If you liked this recipe, you should check out my Crock Pot Lemon Chicken recipe, it’s just as easy to make as the Chicken Thighs but it has a nice bright lemony flavor. Thank you so much for your support, if you ever have any questions about a recipe don’t hesitate to ask!
~Donya
Rebecca
Super easy & my family LOVED it !! Put it over jasmine rice & broccoli and everyone wanted seconds !
Donya
Hey there Rebecca!
Wow! Thank you so much for your kind words, I am so happy to hear that y’all enjoyed this dish! These Chicken Thighs became a weeknight staple in my house just because it’s so simple and easy. If you liked this recipe should should check out my Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Beef Recipe, it’s just as easy to make and absolutely delicious. Thank you so much for your support, if you ever have any questions please feel free to reach out!
~Donya
Carole
Can I use frozen thighs or do I need to thaw them first?
Donya
Hey there Carole!
Thank you so much for your interest in tis recipe, that’s a terrific question! I recommend thawing the chicken thighs first, if you cook them frozen it will change the cook time and add more liquid into the sauce. I hope this is helpful, let me know how everything turns out, I’d love to hear what you think! Happy Fourth of July, I hope you have a wonderful day!
~Donya
Haley
Such a hit! I made dinner for us and for a friend who just had a baby. Bit of a gamble to make and bring over a crockpot dish without having made it before, but it worked out beautifully! Friend and her husband said it was the best dinner they’d been brought in the three weeks since their baby came home, and my husband raved about it all night. Will definitely be making again!
Donya
Hey there Haley!
Wow! Thank you SO much for your kind words and this phenomenal rating! I am absolutely thrilled that everyone enjoyed this recipe, it’s definitely a favorite around my house. If you liked this recipe, you should check out my Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Beef recipe, it’s just as easy to make and has a delicious flavor. Thank you for your support, if you ever have any questions about a recipe please feel free to reach out!
~Donya
Jed
I stumbled on your site and this recipe while searching for a slow cooker chicken thigh recipe. This was delicious! I opted to slow bake them in a roasting pan sealed with foil at 190°. Took about four hours. Instead of cooking down the sauce, I drained it into a small pot and boiled it down. I’m not confident that searing the thighs made any difference, though.
Donya
Hey there Jed!
I am so happy you found your way onto my site, happy to have you here! In my experience, searing the thighs in a cast iron before you put them in the Crockpot gives the skin a nice texture, I usually do it stove top instead of in the oven so the skin crisps up. I hope you enjoyed the recipe, thank you so much for your terrific rating and words of support! If you have any questions please feel free to reach out, I hope you have a great day!
~Donya
Diane
Oh my, these were delicious! Made exactly as directed and they came out amazing. I had to let it sit on keep warm for a few hours so tops looked dry but just pored some of the sauce from the bottom and it did not affect the flavor at all. Searing the skins made them that much better so I wouldn’t skip that step. Definitely a keeper!
Donya
Hey there Diane!
Wow! Thank you so much for your kind words, I am happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe. These Chicken Thighs are my go-to Crock Pot dinner, they’re perfect to make on a busy weeknight. If you liked this recipe, you should check out my Chicken Alfredo Bake, it’s not a Crock Pot recipe but it’s great to make ahead of time and refrigerate until you need dinner. Let me know if you ever have any questions about a recipe, thank you so much for your support!
~Donya
Ralph Fiscus
This was amazing. I had to swap out the honey with syrup, simply because I didn’t have any. I am trying to cook off ingredients I already have, at the moment.
I did about 5 hrs on low, while at church this morning.
Thank you so much for the recipe, Donya!
Donya
Hey there Ralph!
Wow! Thank you so much for this phenomenal rating and your kind words, I am so happy you enjoyed this recipe. I do the exact same thing, using ingredients I have on hand, and in this case I am sure the syrup added a beautiful, rich flavor, it sounds delicious. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about a recipe in the future, I really appreciate your support!
~Donya
Jamie
I have everything except honey…do you think it will still work leaving that out and adding some ginger?
Donya
Hey there Jamie!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, that’s a great question! If you don’t have honey, that is completely fine you can still make it, either you can leave out the sweet kick all together or you could try using 1/4 cup of molasses to help thicken the sauce and add some richness. Ginger, either fresh or ground, would be a delicious addition to this recipe, I say go for it! Please let me know how this recipe turns out for you, I think you’re really going to love it. Thank you so much for your support, I hope you have a great rest of your day!
~Donya
Mari Ann
OMG! Best chicken ever! My husband says FANTASTIC!
Made homemade fried rice and stir fried veggies. Great flavor
AMAZING
Next time I’ll make it and put it in the fridge overnight to get the fat off.
Donya
Hey there Mari Ann!
Wow! Thank you so very much for this fantastic rating and your kind words! I’m so happy to hear you and your husband enjoyed this recipe, it sounds like you made a delicious dinner! Thank you for your support, if you ever have any questions about a recipe, please feel free to reach out!
~Donya
RENEE RAPIER
Turned out wonderfully. Family enjoyed it and will be making again! Renee eastern Ky
Donya
Hey there Renee!
Always happy to hear from a southern neighbor! I am so happy to hear everyone enjoyed this dish, I swear this recipe, it’s so simple but so packed with flavor. Thank you so much for this fantastic rating and for your support, I hope you have a great rest of your day!
~Donya