These Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks are made with just 3 simple ingredients for a dinner that practically cooks itself. They're a budget-friendly dinner that results in ultra-juicy meat that even kids enjoy.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 6 hrs 5 mins
- 👪Serves: 8
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 269 kcals and 16 grams of protein
- 📋Main Ingredients: Chicken legs, BBQ sauce, Rotisserie seasoning, and water.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, and can be made paleo and Whole30-approved.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Juicy, fall-off-the-bone chicken with bold BBQ flavor made with just a few ingredients and almost no prep time.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
Pull those chicken legs from the freezer and get this dairy-free crockpot recipe started; it’s about as easy as dinner gets. With just 3 ingredients and minimal prep, this hands-off slow cooker meal lets you truly set it and forget it (hello, busy weeknight win).
This recipe is one of my favorite budget-friendly protein recipes for ways to eat more protein without extra effort. It comes together fast, uses simple ingredients, and chicken legs are often easy to grab on sale, making it perfect for a low-key dinner. If you're working on eating more protein, be sure to check out the benefits of a high protein diet.
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💭Why You'll Love This Recipe
Minimal ingredients: You only need 3 ingredients plus water for the crockpot chicken legs to come together.
Juicy chicken: Since the drumsticks are soaked in sauce all day long, they end up unbelievably juicy, just like slow cooker boneless skinless chicken thighs.
Versatile: BBQ chicken legs work to feed a crowd at a potluck or tailgate or as a quick and easy dinner recipe on busy nights.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Chicken legs: The thing I love most about BBQ chicken legs in a crockpot is that drumsticks are constantly on sale, making this a budget-friendly dinner.
- BBQ: Double-check that your sauce is gluten-free, as it's a common hidden source of gluten.
- Make it paleo: To make this recipe paleo, you’ll want to use Primal Kitchen BBQ Sauce and Paleo all-purpose seasoning.
- Make it Whole30: If you need the recipe to be Whole30-approved, you’ll want to use the Primal Kitchen BBQ sauce and probably make your own dry rub chicken seasoning like in these slow cooker dry rub drumsticks.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Flavor Variations
The easiest way to change the flavor of these BBQ chicken legs is to switch up the sauce and seasoning that you use, or make your own, like in this slow cooker BBQ chicken thighs recipe.
Outside of that, you could mix in any of the following ideas, too.
- Spicy: Add some cayenne pepper to the dry rub seasoning or slice a jalapeno and pop it into the crockpot to cook.
- Sweet: Mix your BBQ sauce with some extra honey or maple syrup for a sweet, candied flavor.
- Thai: Add some Thai chili sauce to the BBQ sauce for a punch of flavor.
How To Make Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Step 1: Layer the chicken legs in your crockpot.
Step 2: Sprinkle on the dry rub seasoning.
Step 3: Pour on the BBQ sauce and use tongs to ensure they’re fully coated.
Step 4: Add water to the slow cooker, trying to get it on the bottom (not poured over each leg). Cook on low for 6 hours.
Expert Tips
To maximize flavor, pat the drumsticks dry before laying them in the slow cooker.
If you want a more even seasoning for each bite, season the chicken legs with the all-purpose seasoning before adding the legs to the slow cooker and coating them.
Make sure to leave space between some of the chicken legs and the slow cooker as you place them in, so that everything cooks evenly in the sauce.
This recipe doesn't result in chicken legs with crispy skin, as they're steam/pressure-cooked. If you really love a crisp chicken leg, broil them for 1-2 minutes in the oven after it's cooked through.
What To Serve Them With
Slow cooker BBQ drumsticks work with just about everything from other easy appetizers like keto devilled eggs and gluten-free chicken wings to any of the side dishes below.
They also work beautifully when brought to a potluck as they can pair well with other classic side dishes. Or, just use them as gluten-free meal prep recipes for lunch to amp up your protein.
How To Store Them
Once cooked and cooled, store the BBQ chicken legs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the microwave or in the oven with a splash of water, broth, or sauce, on low until warmed through. This can be done in the slow cooker, too!
Of course, you can also gut the legs and use the chicken for easy meals like a soba noodle bowl recipe or healthy chicken fajita bowl.
You can also freeze these chicken legs once cooled in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. When you need them, let them thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating them in the oven or slow cooker.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks FAQ’s
Leave the skin on to slow-cook your chicken legs. The skin helps to trap moisture and keep the meat nice and juicy.
Though you technically can, it's not recommended as they don't cook quickly enough to stay out of the "danger zone". Also know that the spice rub and sauce won’t stick to them well as they thaw and cook. You’d also need to cook them longer (for about 9 hours) to ensure they’re last 165F. Lastly, know that much more liquid will come off the chicken, and they’d taste almost boiled.
No, cooking the drumsticks in a slow cooker will not make them soggy. Instead, the sauce gets an almost sticky texture that's pretty delicious.
More Dairy and Gluten-Free Chicken Recipes
If you tried this Crockpot BBQ Chicken Legs Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Shelby S says
These are such a money saver! I often get deals on chicken legs and my kids devour them from the slow cooker because they're so juicy.