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, and it is so easy.
Scott
My Slow Cooker Secret for Juicy Chicken Thighs
These slow cooker chicken thighs are the kind of weeknight dinner I love because the crock pot does the work while the sauce keeps every bite tender.
Over the years, I’ve tested this recipe for Crock Pot Chicken Thighs more times than I can count, tweaking the seasonings and adjusting the heat so the chicken comes out tender, juicy, and ready for anything from meal prep bowls to a comforting Sunday supper.
This is one of the most-visited recipes on A Southern Soul, and for good reason: it’s reliable. No guessing. No complicated steps. Crock Pot chicken thighs are one of my favorite easy slow cooker dinners because they turn out tender, juicy, and full of flavor with very little prep. My recipe uses bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and a sweet-savory honey soy sauce that cooks down into a rich glaze for serving over rice, mashed potatoes, or vegetables.
Enjoy!
Donya’s Tips and Things To Know
- Layer wisely. Place the thighs evenly in the slow cooker so they cook consistently.
- Avoid overcooking. Even though thighs are forgiving, 4–6 hours on LOW is the sweet spot.
- Don’t throw out the juices. The broth at the bottom is liquid gold — spoon it over rice, save it for soups, or whisk in a little butter for a quick pan sauce.
- Bone-in or boneless? Both work! Bone-in offers more flavor, while boneless are great for shredding.
Quick Reference: Cook Times by Cut
| Cut | Sear First? | Cook on HIGH | Cook on LOW | Best Finish |
| Bone-in, skin-on | Yes — recommended | 3 hours | 4 to 6 hours | Spoon glaze over top |
| Boneless, skinless | Optional | 2 to 2.5 hours | 2.5 to 3.5 hours | Shred back into the sauce |
| Chicken breasts (boneless) | Optional | 2 to 2.5 hours | 2 to 3 hours | Check at 165°F early |
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 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
Variations and Substitutions
- Swap the seasoning: Use taco seasoning, Greek seasoning, Cajun spice, BBQ rub, or a smoky paprika blend.
- Add veggies: Toss in sliced onions, carrots, potatoes, or mushrooms for a full one-pot meal.
- Make it creamy: Stir in a splash of heavy cream or a spoonful of sour cream at the end.
- Turn it into shredded chicken: Perfect for tacos, bowls, sandwiches, and meal prep.
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.
That said, I want to be real with you. If you are short on time or simply do not feel like getting out a skillet, this recipe will still work without the sear. The sauce is rich enough to carry the dish. You just will not get that gorgeous golden crust or the deeper caramelized flavor. I always sear. But you do not have to.
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
- Sear the seasoned chicken thighs in a hot skillet until the skin turns golden and crisp. Transfer the thighs to your crock pot, placing them skin-side up.
- Whisk together the sauce ingredients — a mix of ketchup, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and dried herbs. Pour the sauce over the chicken, cover, and cook on HIGH or LOW until tender and the sauce thickens.
- Move the chicken to a serving dish and spoon the warm sauce from the bottom of the crock pot over the top. Garnish with fresh parsley and enjoy.
How Do I Thicken The Sauce After Cooking?
Pour the cooking juices into a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk one tablespoon of cornstarch with two tablespoons of cold water until smooth. Whisk the slurry into the juices and simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce is glossy and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
More From My Kitchen, Made for Your Table
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
FAQ: Quick Answers for Stress-Free Cooking
Bone-in, skin-on thighs are my first choice every time. The bone keeps the meat juicy during the long cook and adds richness to the sauce that boneless thighs cannot match. Boneless thighs work beautifully too — they cook faster and are easier to shred for tacos, bowls, and sandwiches. Start checking boneless thighs at 2.5 hours on LOW.
No. I do not recommend it and neither does the USDA. Frozen chicken spends too long in the temperature danger zone before the slow cooker heats it through. Always thaw completely in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.
Yes! They keep beautifully. Store in an airtight container with the cooking juices to keep them tender.
Warm them in a covered skillet over low heat with a splash of broth or the cooking juices.
Absolutely. Freeze them with their liquid for up to 3 months.
Pop the cooked thighs under the broiler for 3–4 minutes.
This recipe is even easier with the right equipment! Discover my top slow cooker recommendations and make your cooking effortless.
What To Serve With Crock Pot Chicken Thighs
I love serving these chicken thighs over rice so they can soak up that delicious sauce, but sweet potatoes or pasta work just as well. Add something fresh on the side like a simple green salad or roasted veggies, and you’ve got a complete meal. If you’re in the mood for something heartier, roasted potatoes, sautéed green beans, and cornbread make an easy yet delicious family meal.
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!
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This was so good. I followed the recipe exactly and it turned out great. The chicken was tender and flavorful. I did three hours on high and it was perfect. Thanks!
Hey there Sandy!
My goodness, I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe! It makes for an easy weeknight meal, but you can also dress it up if you’re hosting friends or family. If you liked this Crock Pot recipe, you should check out my Busy Day Slow Cooker Pot Roast, it’s tender, flavorful and super easy to make. Thank you so much for your kind words and your phenomenal rating, if you ever have any questions about a recipe please don’t hesitate to ask!
~Donya
To quote my husband, “Extremely delicious chicken!” Have to agree, and so easy! With a glass of Malbec and Antonio Carlos Jobim playing on Pandora, we had one classy evening meal tonight. I did the same sides that you show in the picture above-rice and garlic butter green beans. Better than going out. Thank you, Donya 🌸
Hey there Jackie!
Wow! I am so happy to hear that you and your husband enjoyed this recipe, it sounds like y’all had an absolutely delicious meal! Thank you so much for your kind words of support and your fantastic rating, if you ever have any questions about a dish please don’t hesitate to ask!
~Donya
I make this recipe all the time and it’s always a huge hit! I never comment on recipes but I had to this time because I make it so much and I wanted to say THANK YOU. My whole family loves it. Just divine!
Hey there Elizabeth!
Well I am absolutely honored to receive this comment! Thank you so much for your kind words, I am thrilled to hear that you and your family have been enjoying this recipe! If you like these Chicken Thighs then you should check out my Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken recipe, it’s just as easy to make and it’s terrific for taco Tuesday! Thank you for your support, if you ever have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out!
~Donya
One of our favorite recipes I’ve found online!! Has become a regular in our house!! I do add onions which are so goodin that sauce!! And usually make jasmine rice with it. Yummy!!
Hey there Amanda!
Wow! I am thrilled to hear that you and your family have been enjoying this recipe. It’s a favorite in my house as well, I just love how stress-free making dinner is with this recipe. Adding onions is always a good idea, sometimes I’ll also throw in some chunks of apple too, I don’t serve the apples but it gives a terrific flavor to the sauce. If you liked this recipe you should check out my Crock Pot Lemon Chicken recipe, it’s just as easy to make with bright, lemony flavors. Thank you so much for your kind words and this wonderful rating, I appreciate your support!
~Donya
This recipe was very easy and came out very tasty. There was more liquid in the crockpot than I expected. I followed the recipe so wonder why so much liquid?
Hey there Sandy!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe and for your phenomenal rating, I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed these Crock Pot Chicken Thighs! I’m not quite sure why the sauce didn’t cook down, I haven’t had that problem in the past. I would recommend transferring the sauce from the Crock Pot to a sauce pan and allowing it to simmer and thicken if you want to drizzle it over your chicken thighs next time. Thank you so much for your support, if you ever have any other questions please don’t hesitate to ask!
~Donya
Blessed Day Donya,
So I cooked my chicken in my Electric Roasting Pan on 200F and it’s coming out Beautifully!!! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes. Wish I could send you a pic.
Hey there!
Yay! Oh my goodness I am so happy to hear that it worked out and that you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you so very much for your support, if you ever have any questions about a recipe please feel free to reach out!
~Donya
Hi Donya, I have a question, I will be fixing this on Sunday for my mom, children, grands and husband, my question is can I use my Electric Roasting Pan on the lowest setting as my Slow Cooker is to small for this dinner. Thank you
Hey there Reese!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe, I am sure your family will absolutely love this dish! That’s a really good question, and honestly I’m not exactly sure what the solution would be. I’ve never personally tried this recipe in an electric roasting pan, I’ve only ever used a Crock Pot, so I can’t speak to how it might change the recipe. If you’re worried about your Crock Pot being too small, you can always cook it in batches on HIGH and then throw it all together before you serve, I think that’s likely what I would do. I hope this helps, let me know how everything turns out!
~Donya
I have made this once before and my family and I loved it. I am making it again right now. My house smells heavenly! Cant wait to eat…only 2 hours to go. I think I will serve white rice (sauce will be yummy on top) and California mix veggies (broccoli, cauliflower & carrots) Thank you for this yummy recipe! I think I might try the lemon chicken crock pot recipe next.
Hey there Kathy!
Thank you so very much for your kind words, I am so happy to hear that you’ve enjoyed this recipe! I completely agree with you, the way this recipes makes your house smell is the BEST! I think adding lemon would be a great addition. Thank you so much for your support and for this fantastic rating, let me know if you ever have any questions about a recipe!
~Donya
Do ya this looks absolutely amazing. I have all of the ingredients except for ketchup. Would this work if I use bbq sauce instead?
Hey there Drihanna!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe! You can absolutely substitute BBQ Sauce, I’ve done that on multiple occasions and it works well. The flavors of the dish will be a little different obviously but it won’t change the texture of the sauce at all. I hope this helps, let me know how it turns out!
~Donya
This was so good and my husband loved it! My thighs looked exactly like your photo. I used my cast iron skillet. I didn’t use all the spice so I have more for another time. Thank you.
Hey there Cathy!
Wow! I am so glad to hear that y’all enjoyed this recipe! If you liked this dish, you should try my Crock Pot Lemon Chicken recipe, it turns out perfectly every time and it’s just as easy to make as this recipe. Thank you so much for your phenomenal rating and your kind words, I appreciate your support!
~Donya