These slow cooker chicken drumsticks are coated in a spice rub and barbecue sauce, then cooked to tender perfection in the crock pot. A super easy 3 ingredient dinner option that takes just minutes to assemble.
I’m all about my slow cooker these days. I’m constantly making slow cooker chicken thighs, crockpot BBQ chicken, slow cooker teriyaki chicken and slow cooker beef stroganoff. This chicken drumstick recipe is so simple, yet so very satisfying and it’s kid friendly too!
In my opinion, chicken drumsticks are an underutilized cut of meat. They’re inexpensive, widely available, flavorful and super kid friendly. It doesn’t get any easier than these slow cooker chicken drumsticks – 3 ingredients in a crock pot and you’re ready to go!
Table of Contents
- Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks Ingredients
- How Do You Make Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks?
- Tips For The Perfect Dish
- Quick Tip
- Recipe FAQs
- Slow Cooker Chicken Drumstick Variations
- More Slow Cooker Recipes
- Love This Recipe?
- Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks Recipe
Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need chicken drumsticks, BBQ rub and your favorite BBQ sauce.
How Do You Make Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks?
Start by coating your chicken in BBQ rub. Place the drumsticks in a slow cooker and add BBQ sauce. Gently toss everything together, then cover the slow cooker and let the chicken cook. When the chicken is tender, remove it from the pot and transfer to a baking sheet. Broil the chicken in the oven for a few minutes until it’s starting to get crispy and brown, then serve and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Dish
- I like to use my homemade BBQ rub in this recipe, but your favorite store bought spice rub will also work fine.
- I also have an amazing recipe for homemade BBQ sauce! Don’t have time to make your own? Use your favorite store bought sauce instead.
- Watch your chicken carefully under the oven broiler! You want to crisp up the edges a bit, but you don’t want your drumsticks to burn.
- You can also make this recipe with whole chicken legs, boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts for a shredded BBQ chicken alternative.
- Serve your finished dish with a variety of sides. I like to offer a potato dish such as baked french fries, cauliflower mashed potatoes, roasted red potatoes or Instant Pot mashed potatoes. Homemade Rice-A-Roni is also a great choice. I also do a colorful veggie like broccoli casserole, roasted cherry tomatoes, collard greens, parmesan roasted broccoli, garlic mushrooms or candied carrots.
Quick Tip
Leave the skin on your drumsticks, the skin helps to keep the meat from drying out.
Recipe FAQs
Can you put frozen drumsticks in a crock pot?
Yes, you can use frozen chicken drumsticks in this recipe. Just be aware that the spice rub won’t stick as well to frozen meat! If you’re using frozen chicken, you’ll want to cook it on low for 8-9 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.
How long does it take to cook chicken drumsticks in a slow cooker?
You’ll want to cook your chicken drumsticks on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours. You’ll know when the chicken is done because it will be so tender that it will practically fall off the bone!
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Slow Cooker Chicken Drumstick Variations
This is a simple recipe with a simple ingredient list. However, you can add other flavorings into the mix to make this recipe your own!
- Spicy: Stir 1 chopped chipotle pepper in adobo sauce into the barbecue sauce before you pour it into the slow cooker.
- Garlic Lovers: Add 2 teaspoons minced fresh garlic to the crock pot.
- Sweet and Tangy: Add 2 tablespoons brown sugar or honey to the barbecue sauce before you pour it into the slow cooker.
- Add-Ins: Feel free to stir in some other flavorings such as soy sauce, onion powder or even ketchup.
Once you try these drumsticks, you’ll find yourself making them all the time! It’s so easy to keep the ingredients on hand for when you need to assemble dinner in a hurry. There’s only 5 minutes of prep time and the crock pot does the rest of the work!
