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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.
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 recipe creation that’s been on repeat in my kitchen for the past 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:
- Bone-in, skin on chicken thighs
- Ketchup
- Soy Sauce
- Honey
- Onion Powder
- Dried Mustard
- Dried Thyme
- Dried Parsley
- Salt and Pepper
Do You Need To Sear The Chicken First?
For this recipe, it’s really best to get a good sear on the chicken. It helps impart extra flavor. I use a cast iron skillet (get it screaming hot) to brown the chicken. Work in 2 batches so that the chicken does not touch while you’re searing the skin.
Substitutions For This Recipe
- If you can’t find bone-in, skin-on thighs at the store, you can use boneless, skinless thighs. I recommend still searing to impart extra flavor before adding the chicken to the crock pot.
- Change up the flavors if you want. Add-in some extra spice with red pepper flakes or chopped jalapeƱpos. 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
The cooked chicken and any leftover sauce store well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Store in a resealable container then reheat before serving.
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!
What To Serve With Crock Pot Chicken Thighs
- Instant Pot Herb Rice
- Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits Casserole
- Instant Pot Parmesan Noodles
- Skillet Green Beans
- Tomato Cucumber Salad
More Chicken Recipes You’ll Love!
- Skillet Chicken Spaghetti
- Balsamic Chicken Thighs
- Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- Creamy White Chicken Chili
- Crock Pot Mississippi Chicken Sliders
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!
Ingredients
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper
- Ā¾ cup ketchup
- ā cup soy sauce
- ā cup honey
- 3 tablespoon minced garlic
- Ā½ teaspoon onion powder
- Ā¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- Ā¼ 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.
Whatās For Dinner?
5 Easy Delicious Meal Plans + Secrets To Getting Dinner On The Table!
I never comment on these things ! BUT Honestly I suck at cooking, I am actually a doctor and I managed to make this. It turned out amazing !!!!! Thank you
Thanks so much for the great comment and the terrific rating!
~Donya
I only had 5 thighs but I did the entire recipe as though I had 8. I set time to low and came back after 3 hours and they were done perfectly. I think, had I left them in longer, 5 hours on low would have been too much. I did sear them – the crock pot was not preheated when I put everything in so I have to question the time. But they were delicious and family gobbled them up.
Awesome and thanks for the terrific rating!
~Donya
Made this for the first time tonight! The whole family loved it! Definitely worth the extra time to seat the chicken before putting in crock pot. Glad I didnāt skip this step.
Will definitely be making this again. This recipes will be added to the āfamily favouritesā, section!
Thanks again! Looking forward to trying more of your recipes!
Awesome and thanks for the terrific rating! I am so glad you found me, Jenny! 2023 is going to be a great year cooking together.
~Donya
The sauce is delicious… I am wondering if anyone has ever tried to cook them in an Instapot. I just went for it tonight and I am kind of wishing I had seared the skin first. I totally forgot about that. Just wondering cooking times and helpful tips for next time, if any one knows.
We love this recipe! I repeat it every two weeks. We turn the leftovers into tacos and they are magnific!!! It’s very versatile
WOW! Sally, you’ve made my day. What great ideas and thank you for the outstanding rating.
~Donya
My chicken came out great! Thank you for the recipe. I am fairly new to crock pot cooking. I will definitely be cooking in it more often because I have an electric stove. I used a little low-salt soy sauce, molasses instead of honey, a little barbecue sauce, little ketchup, and caramelized onions and put them in my small pot. Then I layered the sauce over the chicken. Thank you so much!
Sounds great! Thanks for the outstanding rating.
~Donya
Loved this recipe. I cooked on low for 4 hours not 5 and it was perfectly cooked. I cooked 4 thighs so that might be why it cooked faster.
Thanks for the outstanding rating!
~Donya
Could this be make in an Instant Pot. If yes what changed would I make.
I’m sure it would work great in the instant pot but I’ve not tested it. Let me know how it turns out.
~Donya
Love this recipe. I make it for my family 3-4 times a month. I like two grated cloves of fresh garlic, and a big chunk of fresh ginger grated also. A bit of fresh lime for some zest. Smoked paprika, and lots of chilli flakes.
Awesome!
Thanks, Alan. Great ideas. Thank you so much for the excellent rating.
Merry Christmas,
~Donya
Amazing!
Thanks, Jennifer for the excellent rating!
~Donya
I made this today and it is fabulous! Very easy and delicious!
Thanks so much, Scott. And, thank you for the outstanding rating!
~Donya
One word fabulous
Thank you for that and the fantastic rating! You’ve made my day.
~Donya
Fork tender and delicious! I added some dried onions and doubled the dry mustard. My family raved about the tenderness and taste,
Hey there Linda!
Wow! I am so happy to hear that everyone enjoyed this recipe, adding dried onion and a little extra mustard is a great idea if you love those strong flavors, it sounds like you made a wonderful meal! Thank you so much for your kind words of support and your fabulous rating, let me know if you ever have any questions about a recipe I’m always happy to help!
~Donya
This looks wonderful and yesterday I just bought a heap of chicken thighs (on sale, of course!) and I already have the rest of the ingredients! I was salivating while just looking at the recipe and picture. I’ve gotten away from using my crock pot since buying a Foodie but I am going to haul it out, dust it off and make it earn its keep (in my pantry, where space is always at a premium!). My paternal grandma was born in Indiana (Huntertown) too and she taught me how to cook starting at age 12, in 1966. She was the best cook ever and I learned so much from her (born in 1882). She made the best fried chicken I ever had and I continue to use her recipe to this day. It was all done by guess and I’ve never been able to tell any of my family members how to replicate it. My children and siblings showed no interest in learning how to do it anyways but they will certainly clear off a large platter when I serve a homemade chicken dinner! Thanks so much for posting this recipe as I’m going to give it a go and husband loves leftovers, especially meat! Thanks Donya and have a fantastic Thanksgiving. …Mertie
Hey there Mertie!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe and for sharing your story, I always love to hear how different people fell in love with cooking, my grandma was also very influential for me in that department! I am so glad to hear that you’re giving this recipe a try, it’s one my personal favorites, I think you and your husband are really going to love it. Please let me know how everything turns out, I’d love to hear what y’all think about this recipe, I hope you enjoy! Have a Happy Thanksgiving, and a Happy Holiday season!
~Donya
I am trying your recipe today but I can already tell it will be delicious. Iām looking for more recipes for my slow cooker. Iām very tired of cooking but since Iāve gotten new ideas Iām excited to try new recipes.
Hey there Linda!
I am so happy to hear that you’re giving this recipe a try and getting inspired! These Crock Pot Chicken Thighs are one of my absolute favorite meals, it’s simple to make thanks to the slow cooker and it’s crazy delicious. If you’re interested in other Crock Pot recipes, you should check out my guide for How To Get Started With Slow Cooking, it has tons of great recipes, tips and tricks. Thank you so much for your kind words of support and your amazing rating, let me know if you ever have any questions about a recipe, I’d be happy to help!
https://www.asouthernsoul.com/amazing-crock-pot-recipes/
~Donya
OTT
Hey there Steve!
I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you so much for your fantastic rating and your support, let me know if you ever have any questions about a recipe, I’d be happy to help!
~Donya
It was delicious
Hey there Kevin!
Thank you so much for your kind words of support and your fantastic rating, I’m so glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! Let me know if you ever have any questions about a dish, I’m always happy to help!
~Donya
Made this recipe today and although the chicken was tender and falling off the bone it was a bit too salty for my taste. I would definitely cut the amount of soy sauce, salt and garlic back. I added brown sugar to the mixture just to cut the saltiness. Will try it again but will make changes.
I always encourage making a recipe your own.
Thanks for following,
~Donya
Finally, a recipe I already have all the ingredients for in my kitchen! I have it going in the crockpot now and it smells amazing! Thank you for sharing. š
Hey there Kara!
I am so glad to hear that you gave this recipe a try, it’s a favorite in my house for the same reason, I pretty much always have the ingredients on hand! Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, for your kind words and your fantastic rating, I’d love to hear how everything turned out, I hope you enjoyed! Let me know if you ever have any questions about a recipe, I’m always happy to help!
~Donya
Made it exactly to the recipe. It was crazy good. I reduced the sauce in a pan and poured it over the chicken and a bed of rice.
Hey there John!
Wow! I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, it sounds like you made a fantastic meal! Since you liked this Crock Pot recipe, you should check out my Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan, it’s just as simple to prepare and the flavors are incredible! Thank you so much for your kind words of support, if you ever have any questions about a recipe, please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask!
~Donya