Juicy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs are packed with flavor and the perfect easy weeknight meal. Serve the chicken whole or shredded with your favorite sides, or use it in plenty of meal prep dishes throughout the week. With a premade sauce, the classic barbecue flavor comes together with minimal effort and delicious results!

closeup view of white dinner plate of bbq chicken thighs, broccoli and rice with bowl of bbq sauce and black slow Cooker in background

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What’s To Love About This Recipe

Boneless, skinless thighs are an excellent choice for the slow cooker since they stay juicy and tender every time. You don’t need to complete any precooking steps such as searing or marinating – all the flavor comes together right in the slow cooker!
Chicken thighs also work well for flexible timelines. They are forgiving if they cook a bit longer in the slow cooker, and the flavors just continue to deepen.
This is a favorite recipe for hands-off cooking. Just add the chicken, seasonings, and broth into the slow cooker, and add the BBQ near the end for the best flavor. This option is perfect for busy weekdays or when you need a hearty meal to serve a crowd!
BBQ chicken in the slow cooker is also an easy meal-prep option. You can serve the chicken thighs whole, shred them to serve with sides, or add them to bowls, wraps, and sandwiches.
The flavor can’t be beat! Use your favorite BBQ sauce and add simple seasonings for a rich, classic BBQ chicken taste.

Ingredients Needed

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs – Add approximately 2 ½ pounds of chicken to the slow cooker. Boneless, skinless thighs are super flavorful because of the dark meat, and they stay tender and juicy during slow cooking. The tender texture works well for shredding and tastes delicious with BBQ sauce.
Herb and garlic seasoning – Try mixing up this simple, versatile blend for meat and veggies! Adding the seasoning directly to the chicken helps season the meat during cooking, and it stays flavorful underneath the BBQ sauce. If you prefer not to mix up a homemade blend, a store-bought herb-and-garlic mix will also work well.
Salt – A little extra salt helps bring out the chicken’s flavor. You can adjust this amount based on what is already included (or not) in the herb and garlic blend.
Black pepper – A bit of black pepper adds warmth and heat to balance the other seasonings.
Chicken broth – Adding a small amount of broth helps the chicken retain moisture during cooking and creates a flavorful base. Be careful not to add too much liquid, or else it will thin the BBQ sauce and prevent it from sticking to the chicken thighs.
Thick BBQ sauce – Use any BBQ sauce you like! Whether smoky, sweet, or flavored, you can’t go wrong. A thicker sauce will work best to thoroughly coat the chicken with plenty of flavor for serving.
Apple cider vinegar – Apple cider vinegar balances the richness of the BBQ sauce and keeps the chicken from tasting flat or overly sweet.

ingredients to include large white bowl of chicken thighs surrounded by bowls of herb and garlic seasoning, salt, pepper, chicken broth, bbq sauce and apple cider vinegar

How To Make Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs

Add the chicken thighs to the slow cooker in an even layer.
Sprinkle the herb and garlic seasoning, salt, and black pepper evenly over the chicken.

overhead view of black slow Cooker with chicken thighs

overhead view of black slow Cooker with chicken thighs with seasonings

Pour the chicken broth around the edges of the slow cooker, avoiding pouring directly on top of the seasoning.
Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2½-3 hours, until the chicken is very tender and cooked through.
About 30 minutes before serving, spoon off excess liquid if needed. Pour the BBQ sauce over the chicken and drizzle in the apple cider vinegar.

overhead view of black slow Cooker with slow cooked chicken thighs with bbq sauce

overhead view of black slow Cooker with slow cooked chicken thighs with bbq sauce and hand holding small white bowl of apple cider vinegar being poured over thighs

Cover and continue cooking until the sauce is heated through and coats the chicken well.
Serve the chicken whole or lightly shredded, with extra sauce spooned over the top if desired.

overhead view of black slow Cooker containing slow cooked bbq chicken thighs

Pro Tips

A small amount of broth is added to prevent scorching and help the chicken release its juices, but the chicken does not need to be fully submerged. Too much liquid will thin the BBQ sauce later.
The BBQ sauce is added toward the end on purpose. Adding it too early can dull the flavor and make the sauce taste overcooked or overly sweet.
Chicken is done when it reaches 165℉, but the thighs are best when cooked until very tender and easy to pull apart.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Swap boneless thighs for bone-in chicken thighs if you’d like! Bone-in thighs will be extra juicy, but need to cook slightly longer. Boneless thighs will be easier to shred and serve.
Chicken drumsticks are another option for this recipe. The drumsticks will cook slightly faster than the chicken thighs.
Vary the flavor with different BBQ sauces. Try your favorite local sauces or grocery-store versions, such as honey BBQ, smokehouse, spicy BBQ, or tropical. Thicker BBQ sauces will work best to thoroughly coat the chicken.
Adjust the flavors with seasonings! Add smoked paprika for warmth, or a little bit of cayenne pepper for spicy heat. Add more salt and pepper as needed.
If you prefer saving the sauce for serving, you can prepare the chicken thighs with my Easy Homemade BBQ Rub Recipe. Simply add the dry rub to the chicken along with the salt and pepper (omit the herb and garlic seasoning if preferred), then place the chicken in the slow cooker. Serve cooked chicken with BBQ sauce on the side!
Bulk up your meal with veggies added right into the slow cooker. Slice or roughly chop a white onion, or a variety of colored bell peppers, along with the chicken.
If you plan to serve the chicken shredded for sandwiches, bowls, or wraps, see the best tips for Slow Cooker Shredded BBQ Chicken.
Optional step: For a slightly caramelized finish, place the cooked chicken thighs (or drumsticks) under the oven broiler for a few minutes after adding the BBQ sauce to the slow cooker. This is not required for the finished dish, but it adds a little texture and color variation.

closeup of slow cooked bbq chicken thighs in white serving platter with silver tongs

Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Thighs

Place the chicken thighs in the Instant Pot in an even layer, then sprinkle with herb-and-garlic seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Pour chicken broth around the edges of the pot, being careful not to wash off the seasonings.
Seal the lid and cook on high pressure for 10-12 minutes, then allow a 5-minute natural release. Quick-release the remaining pressure.
Drain excess liquid if needed, then pour the BBQ sauce over the chicken and drizzle in the apple cider vinegar.
Turn the pot on sauté mode for a few minutes until the sauce is heated through and coats the chicken.
Serve chicken thighs whole or lightly shredded with extra sauce if desired.

How To Serve Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs

Slow cooker BBQ chicken thighs make an easy main dish to serve with plenty of delicious home-cooked sides. Dish up the chicken thighs on a plate loaded with comfort-food favorites like Hawaiian Macaroni Salad, Mashed Potatoes, and Collard Greens. Mac and cheese and Corn on the Cob are even more tasty options to complement the BBQ flavors!

BBQ chicken makes a great meal-prep dish since it’s easy to serve in many ways. Make a batch of chicken thighs and serve them whole or lightly shredded to add into BBQ sandwiches or sliders on buns, over rice and veggie bowls, or in wraps with veggies and other condiments.

Leftover shredded BBQ chicken is also an easy, flavorful addition to baked potatoes, flatbreads, or salads!

overhead view of dinner plate of bbq chicken thighs, broccoli and rice with bowl of chicken thighs and parsley on side

Storing and Reheating

How To Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store any remaining sauce with the chicken to help it stay juicy when reheating.

Freezer

Let the chicken cool completely, then freeze it in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw chicken in the fridge overnight before reheating.

How To Best Reheat Leftovers

Reheat leftover chicken with some of the sauce in the microwave in short bursts until heated through. If you prefer to reheat in the oven, add chicken and sauce to an oven-safe baking dish, cover with foil, then heat at 325℉ until just heated in the middle.