Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks
Chicken drumsticks in the slow cooker are lick-your-fingers-good! This recipe combines BBQ sauce and berry preserves to create a delicious, sticky sauce that easily transforms basic drumsticks into a uniquely flavored dish. Keep the cleanup to a minimum and try something new!
What’s To Love About This Recipe
- Chicken drumsticks are an inexpensive protein and they are easy to flavor with a mix of sauces and seasonings. The slow cooking process ensures the chicken stays moist and tender. No need for the grill or oven!
- This recipe takes “low-prep” to a whole new level! Simply season the drumsticks and let the slow cooker do the work. At the end, you can thicken the sauce right in the slow cooker.
- Drumsticks are a great option for meal prep and repurposing leftovers. They are also a healthy choice when cooked at home with high-quality sauces.
- Kids usually love unique meal items or anything that takes a little extra hands-on work to eat. Chicken drumsticks are a hit for them!
- It’s easy to customize the flavors and spice level by using different flavors of BBQ sauce and preserves.
Ingredients Needed
Keep your ingredients to a shortlist and still receive maximum flavor! You’ll need:
- Chicken drumsticks – Drumsticks are a delicious combination of white and dark meat that slow cooks well. You will need about 6 chicken drumsticks for a standard 5- or 6-quart slow cooker.
- BBQ sauce – I like a classic BBQ sauce, but you can choose any variation you like! You may wish to use a spicy flavor, smoky BBQ, or a version without added sugar.
- Seedless blackberry preserves – This is a fun ingredient to add to your dinner routine! Seedless preserves make a smooth sauce that is just the right amount of sweet and sticky.
- Red pepper flakes – Just a pinch adds a little kick to the yummy sauce.
- Salt and pepper – Add a bit of salt and pepper to taste.
- Cornstarch – Save a tablespoon of cornstarch for later to thicken the sauce right in the slow cooker.
How To Make Chicken Drumsticks In The Slow Cooker
- Place the drumsticks in the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle drumsticks with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- In a small bowl, mix together BBQ sauce and blackberry preserves.
- Pour the mixture over the chicken.
- Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours.
- When the chicken is done, spoon out 2 tablespoons of liquid from the slow cooker into a small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and mix until smooth.
- Add the cornstarch slurry back to the slow cooker and give it a stir. Let it sit for about 30 minutes so the sauce will thicken and stick well to the chicken.
Recipe Tips:
- To ensure the chicken doesn’t dry out, check the internal temperature for doneness with a meat thermometer (it should reach 165 ℉). Turn the slow cooker to the “keep warm” setting once cooked, or remove and serve.
- As an option, you can brown the drumsticks a bit before you slow-cook them. If you use a multicooker, you can complete this step all in one dish!
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
Drumsticks are easy to change up with spices and sauces. Try a few tweaks here and there to make them just the way your family loves them!
- Lemon Pepper – Lemon pepper would be another seasoning option to use if you’d like a bit more tangy spice. Choose a BBQ sauce that would complement the peppery flavor and leave out the preserves.
- BBQ flavor – For a stronger, smokier BBQ flavor, add some dried BBQ rub to the chicken drumsticks before you place them in the slow cooker.
- Teriyaki Sauce – For another sweet and salty combination, swap teriyaki sauce for BBQ sauce. You could also add a shake of sesame seeds across the drumsticks.
- Spicy heat – Add a little extra heat by using a combination of spicy BBQ sauce and jalapeño and fruit preserves. Or, add a few more red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the chicken.
- Other variations – If chicken drumsticks are a win for your family, try my other flavor combinations in Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks and Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken Drumsticks.
What To Serve With Chicken Drumsticks
Chicken drumsticks are easy to serve with a variety of sides. The BBQ flavor in this recipe would be delicious with Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes or Slow Cooker Cheesy Potatoes.
Grab some fresh rolls and cold Hawaiian Macaroni Salad for an effortless BBQ meal, or roast some corn on the cob with butter as a side. Serve some fresh fruit and you have a simple, delicious meal ahead!
Storing and Reheating
Leftover chicken wings, along with some vegetables, would be a great option to meal prep easy lunches throughout the week.
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the fridge. Reheat in the microwave or under the oven broiler for a few minutes to crisp the chicken skin.
Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks
Chicken drumsticks in the slow cooker are lick-your-fingers-good! This recipe combines BBQ sauce and berry preserves to create a delicious, sticky sauce that easily transforms basic drumsticks into a uniquely flavored dish. Keep the cleanup to a minimum and try something new!
Save
Equipment
- slow cooker or multicooker
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds drumsticks about 6 chicken drumsticks
- 1/3 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup seedless blackberry preserves
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch for later
Instructions
- Place drumsticks in slow cooker.
- Sprinkle drumsticks with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- In a small bowl, mix together BBQ sauce and blackberry preserves.
- Pour mixture over chicken.
- Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours.
- When chicken is done, spoon out 2 tablespoons of liquid from the slow cooker into a small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and mix until smooth.
- Add cornstarch slurry back to slow cooker and give it a stir. Let it sit for about 30 minutes so sauce will thicken and stick well to chicken.
Notes
- Store leftover drumsticks in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
- If you prefer, brown the drumsticks in a multicooker or skillet for a few minutes before slow-cooking.
- Customize the flavors with different flavors of BBQ sauce and preserves.
Nutrition
Calories: 289kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 20gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 105mgSodium: 371mgPotassium: 326mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 113IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 24mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @slowcookergourmet or tag #slowcookergourmet!
Important nutritional disclaimerSlow Cooker Chicken Drumstick FAQs
- Can you put frozen drumsticks in the slow cooker? For the best results, chicken drumsticks should be thawed before slow cooking.
- How do you get your slow cooker drumsticks crispy? To crisp them up after cooking, place the drumsticks on an oven-safe baking sheet and broil for a few minutes.
- How do you know when the drumsticks are done? Use an internal temperature to ensure the chicken has reached 165 ℉, although cooking up to 175 ℉ can make the dark meat more tender.
- Could you use chicken wings instead of drumsticks in this recipe? You could absolutely swap out chicken wings or other bone-in cuts of chicken, like chicken thighs. The cooking time should be relatively the same but may be adjusted based on the thickness of the meat cuts. For example, wings will likely cook a bit quicker since they are less dense than drumsticks.
