Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks Recipe

Enjoy our Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks for an easy busy weeknight dinner recipe. It has simple ingredients and can be made in about 4-5 hours depending on how you choose to cook the juicy chicken drumsticks.

Top view of a bowl of Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

I love serving this chicken drumstick recipe as an option on family game day since our entire family loves and is a great option for a simple recipe to serve.

You can even swap the chicken drumsticks with chicken wings, chicken breasts, or even chicken thighs and have dinner ready in a few simple steps and serve with easy side dishes.

Ingredients used to make Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks:

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks separated on a baking sheet

Chicken drumsticks, skin removed
Brown sugar
Salt
Ground black pepper
Smoked paprika
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Favorite BBQ sauce, (or homemade bbq sauce) divided

How to make Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks:

A bowl of Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Spray the slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
Place drumsticks in the bottom of the slow cooker.
In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Sprinkle on top of the chicken creating a nice spice rub.
Pour 1 cup of barbeque sauce on top of the chicken.
Place the lid on top of the slow cooker and cook on LOW heat for 5-6 hours or HIGH heat for 2-3 hours making sure they reach the internal temperature of 165 degrees F which you can check with a meat thermometer.
Remove the drumsticks and place them on a large rimmed baking sheet (line it with aluminum foil for easy clean up) in a single layer. Preheat the broiler on your oven.

A brush with BBQ sauce basting chicken drumsticks on a baking sheet

Brush the drumsticks with the remaining BBQ sauce and broil the chicken until lightly browned (about 2-3 minutes – watch carefully so that it doesn’t burn while broiling!).

If you don’t have time for slow cooking, try using the pressure cooker with our Instant Pot Smoky BBQ

The best way to store our slow cooker chicken drumsticks recipe:

A great way to store the leftover chicken drumsticks is in an airtight container and place them in the fridge for up to 3-4 days for the next time when you are ready to enjoy another delicious meal made of leftovers.

What easy recipes to serve with crock pot chicken drumsticks:

More slow cooker recipes:

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Serves: 6

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks Recipe

Enjoy our Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks for an easy busy weeknight dinner recipe.

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 5 hrs 3 mins

Total Time 5 hrs 13 mins

Ingredients

3 pounds chicken drumsticks skin removed
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
1½ cups BBQ Sauce divided

Instructions

Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
Place drumsticks in the bottom of the slow cooker.
In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Sprinkle on top of chicken. Pour 1 cup of BBQ sauce on top of the chicken.
Place the lid on top of the slow cooker and cook on LOW heat for 5-6 hours or HIGH heat for 2-3 hours.
Remove the drumsticks and place on a large rimmed baking sheet (line it with aluminum foil for easy clean up) in a single layer.
Preheat the broiler on your oven.
Brush the drumsticks with the remaining BBQ sauce and broil the chicken until lightly browned (about 2-3 minutes – watch carefully so that it doesn’t burn while broiling!).

Notes

Keep a close eye on the chicken when broiling, they crisp up quickly!

Nutrition

Calories: 285 kcal · Carbohydrates: 32 g · Protein: 25 g · Fat: 6 g · Saturated Fat: 1 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g · Trans Fat: 0.02 g · Cholesterol: 118 mg · Sodium: 1272 mg · Potassium: 499 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 26 g · Vitamin A: 354 IU · Vitamin C: 0.5 mg · Calcium: 41 mg · Iron: 1 mg