Crockpot BBQ Chicken Drumsticks are an easy, hands-off dinner: chicken drumsticks rubbed with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and chili powder, slow cooked between two layers of BBQ sauce until they reach 165°F, then finished with a fresh coat of sauce. It serves 5, and the prep takes about 5 minutes.
How to make it: Pat the drumsticks dry and toss them in the spice rub. Spread BBQ sauce in the slow cooker, add the drumsticks and spoon more sauce on top. Cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or HIGH for 4 hours, let them sit uncovered for 10 minutes, then brush with the rest of the sauce.
Why You’ll Love It
- Five minutes of prep: rub, layer and walk away.
- Smoky homemade rub: pantry spices give the chicken flavor under the sauce.
- Saucy, not watery: sauce goes under, over and on top at the end.
- LOW or HIGH: 6 to 7 hours on LOW or 4 hours on HIGH, whichever fits your day.
Ingredient Notes
Chicken drumsticks: Three pounds, about 8 to 10 pieces. Use fresh or fully thawed chicken; frozen chicken should not go into a slow cooker.
The rub: Two teaspoons each of kosher salt and smoked paprika, a teaspoon each of black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder, and half a teaspoon of chili powder.
BBQ sauce: Three cups of your favorite BBQ sauce, used in three parts: one cup under the chicken, one cup over it, and one cup to brush on before serving.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds chicken drumsticks (about 8 to 10, fresh or thawed)
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 3 cups BBQ sauce, divided
How to Make Crockpot BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
1. Prep the slow cooker. Spray the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Season the drumsticks. Pat the drumsticks dry with paper towels and put them in a large bowl. Whisk the salt, smoked paprika, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and chili powder together, add them to the chicken and turn the drumsticks until every side is coated.
3. Layer with sauce. Spread 1 cup of BBQ sauce over the bottom of the slow cooker. Set the drumsticks on top in an even layer and spoon 1 cup of BBQ sauce over them.
4. Slow cook. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours, until the thickest part of the drumsticks reaches 165°F.
5. Thicken the sauce. Take off the lid and let the drumsticks sit uncovered in the warm slow cooker for 10 minutes so the sauce thickens slightly.
6. Sauce and serve. Move the drumsticks to a platter and spoon or brush the remaining 1 cup of BBQ sauce over them.
How to Keep Slow Cooker Drumsticks Saucy, Not Watery
A few small steps keep these drumsticks sticky and saucy instead of sitting in thin sauce.
Pat the chicken dry. Blot the drumsticks with paper towels before the rub goes on.
Sauce under and over. A cup of sauce in the bottom of the cooker and a cup on top coats the chicken from both sides while it cooks.
Finish uncovered. When the drumsticks are done, take the lid off and give them 10 minutes in the warm cooker. The sauce thickens slightly.
Fresh sauce at the end. Brush on the last cup of BBQ sauce right before serving for a glossy coat.
Broil for crisp edges (optional). Set the drumsticks in a single layer on a sheet pan sprayed with cooking spray, brush with sauce and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, until the edges start to brown and crisp. Watch them closely.
Tips for Success
How long do drumsticks take in the slow cooker?
About 6 to 7 hours on LOW or 4 hours on HIGH. Check the thickest part with a food thermometer: they are done at 165°F.
Can I overcook drumsticks in a crockpot?
Yes. Cooked far too long, the bones can turn brittle and some may break. Check the temperature at the start of the time range.
Do I need to broil them?
No. Broiling is optional, but it adds crisp, caramelized edges and extra flavor.
Can I use frozen chicken legs?
Thaw them first. Food safety guidance is to always thaw meat and poultry before it goes into a slow cooker.
Variations
- Store-bought rub: Swap the homemade rub for 2 tablespoons of your favorite BBQ spice rub.
- Faster on HIGH: Cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, checking for 165°F.
- Change the sauce: Use a sweet, smoky or spicy BBQ sauce to change the whole dish.
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerate: Put leftovers in shallow covered containers in the refrigerator within 2 hours and eat them within 3 to 4 days.
Freeze: Freeze cooked drumsticks for 3 to 4 months and thaw them in the refrigerator.
Reheat: Cover and reheat in the oven or microwave until they reach 165°F. Do not reheat them in the slow cooker.
What to Serve With It
Serve the drumsticks with coleslaw, corn on the cob, baked beans, a side salad or mashed potatoes.
For more chicken leg dinners, try baked BBQ chicken legs from the oven or caramelized baked chicken legs or wings. More slow cooker chicken: slow cooker 4-ingredient chicken and baked beans and slow cooker cream cheese crack chicken. Have extra drumsticks? Make chicken soup with drumsticks, or try baked honey mustard chicken tenderloins.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many drumsticks are in 3 pounds?
About 8 to 10 drumsticks, enough for 5 servings.
Can I stack drumsticks in the slow cooker?
Yes. Layer them in as evenly as you can, with sauce under and over, and check that the thickest drumstick reaches 165°F.
Should I cook them on LOW or HIGH?
Either works: 6 to 7 hours on LOW or about 4 hours on HIGH.
What sides go with BBQ drumsticks?
Coleslaw, corn on the cob, baked beans, mashed potatoes or a side salad.
Final Notes
Pat the chicken dry, sauce it under and over, and give it 10 minutes uncovered at the end. If you make these crockpot BBQ chicken drumsticks, tell me how they turned out in the comments.
Crockpot BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
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Ingredients
- 3 pounds chicken drumsticks about 8 to 10, fresh or thawed
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 3 cups BBQ sauce divided
Instructions
- Spray the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- Pat the drumsticks dry with paper towels and put them in a large bowl. Whisk the salt, smoked paprika, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and chili powder together, add them to the chicken and turn the drumsticks until every side is coated.
- Spread 1 cup of BBQ sauce over the bottom of the slow cooker. Set the drumsticks on top in an even layer and spoon 1 cup of BBQ sauce over them.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or on HIGH for 4 hours, until the thickest part of the drumsticks reaches 165°F.
- Take off the lid and let the drumsticks sit uncovered in the warm slow cooker for 10 minutes so the sauce thickens slightly.
- Move the drumsticks to a platter and spoon or brush the remaining 1 cup of BBQ sauce over them.
Notes
Nutrition
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