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Home » Slow Cooker » Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

Published: April 14, 2019 Last Modified: April 14, 2019 By Sara 68 Comments

Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

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Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks Recipe | Crock Pot Chicken Drumsticks | BBQ Chicken Drumsticks #chicken #drumsticks #slowcooker #crockpot #bbq #dinner #dinneratthezoo

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 teriyaki chicken and beef stroganoff. This chicken drumstick recipe is so simple, yet so very satisfying and it’s kid friendly too!

Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks Recipe | Crock Pot Chicken Drumsticks | BBQ Chicken Drumsticks #chicken #drumsticks #slowcooker #crockpot #bbq #dinner #dinneratthezoo Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks Recipe | Crock Pot Chicken Drumsticks | BBQ Chicken Drumsticks #chicken #drumsticks #slowcooker #crockpot #bbq #dinner #dinneratthezoo

Slow cooker chicken drumsticks coated in BBQ sauce inside a crock pot.

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!

How do you make slow cooker chicken drumsticks?

For this recipe, you’ll need chicken drumsticks, BBQ spice rub and your favorite BBQ sauce. That’s it! The drumsticks are coated with seasoning then the sauce is poured over the top. The final step is to brush a little extra sauce onto the chicken and broil it to crispy perfection.

Chicken drumsticks in a slow cooker coated in BBQ spice rub.

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.

A crock pot of chicken drumsticks coated in BBQ sauce.

Tips for slow cooker chicken drumsticks

  • I like to use my homemade BBQ spice 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.
  • Leave the skin on your drumsticks, the skin helps to keep the meat from drying out.
  • Watch your chicken carefully under the 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 boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts for a shredded BBQ chicken alternative.

Slow cooker chicken drumsticks on a sheet pan, ready for the broiler.

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!

Slow cooker chicken drumstick variations

This is a simple recipe with a simple ingredient list, but 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 to the barbecue sauce before you pour it into the slow cooker.

Slow cooker chicken drumsticks served with mashed potatoes and corn.

How to serve slow cooker chicken drumsticks

I like to serve my crock pot drumsticks over mashed potatoes or another starch such as rice. I also include a veggie on the side. Here are some of my favorite side dish options.

  • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
  • Homemade Rice-A-Roni
  • Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
  • Garlic Butter Mushrooms
  • Candied Carrots

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!

Slow cooker chicken drumsticks coated in BBQ sauce inside a crock pot.
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5 from 19 votes

Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

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.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 5 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 323kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 3 pounds chicken drumsticks
  • 2 tablespoons BBQ spice rub
  • 2 1/2 cups BBQ sauce divided use
  • cooking spray

Instructions

  • Coat the inside of a slow cooker with cooking spray.
  • Rub the BBQ spice all over the drumsticks, then place the drumsticks in the slow cooker in layers.
  • Pour 2 cups of BBQ sauce into the slow cooker. Gently toss to coat.
  • Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
  • Preheat the broiler.
  • Remove the chicken drumsticks from the slow cooker and place them in a single layer on a sheet pan coated with cooking spray.
  • Brush the remaining 1/2 cup sauce over the drumsticks. Broil for 3-5 minutes or until edges are starting to brown and crisp, then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 647mg | Potassium: 449mg | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 175IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1.3mg
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    Comments

    1. Thor Hammerson says

      January 2, 2022 at 3:50 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe. Flavors came out amazing. Used a mesquite BBQ sauce and made up my own BBQ rub.
      Fabulous meal with inexpensive drumsticks, made some wild rice to go with.
      Top remarks from me !
      AJ

      Reply
    2. LARETTA CASTRO says

      November 21, 2021 at 7:38 pm

      5 stars
      This was an easy and tasty recipe! I love it and it is now in my top 10 recipe!

      Reply
    3. Karen B says

      November 16, 2021 at 12:15 pm

      I am making these today but don’t have enough time to use the slow cooker. Can these be made in the oven? How long on what temp if they can?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        November 18, 2021 at 1:12 pm

        You could try baking them at 400 degrees F for about 45 minutes, then brush the sauce on during the last 5 minutes.

        Reply
    4. Kimberly says

      October 13, 2021 at 1:28 pm

      5 stars
      I made these and it is not quite dinner time, but they are done and I am about to out them in the broiler. They smell so good, I couldn’t help but sample one!!
      These are the BEST chicken drumsticks I have ever made!!

      Reply
    5. Carolyn says

      October 10, 2021 at 3:41 pm

      5 stars
      Awesome!! This is the only way that I will make BBQ chicken. I used wings, drumsticks and thighs and it was fabulous! Definitely a hit in my house with my 13 yr old daughter. Thank you so much for sharing!!

      Reply
    6. Heather says

      September 23, 2021 at 5:52 pm

      These are amazing! I’m not usually even a fan of drumsticks- but YUM!

      Reply
    7. Tiffany nicole McClain says

      August 30, 2021 at 4:39 pm

      5 stars
      Was delish! I added honey and brown sugar to bbq sauce then topped that over chicken!

      Reply
    8. Michael says

      May 26, 2021 at 8:46 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve been eating Paleo for four years now I thought I had tried every drumstick recipe available. By chance, I stumbled on your site today and I made these for dinner tonight. I cannot praise this recipe enough, this is maybe the best chicken drumstick recipe I have ever had. I’ll be making it again and again. Thank you so much!

      Reply
    9. Marie says

      April 10, 2021 at 5:34 pm

      5 stars
      My sister made these last night for the family! Gobbled up so fast! Amazing recipe.

      Reply
    10. Anne says

      October 21, 2020 at 7:56 am

      I make this all the time! always delicious! i use STUBB’s original BBQ sause.

      Reply
      • Sandra says

        July 11, 2021 at 9:48 am

        Stubbs original is also my favorite sauce

        Reply
    11. Trisha says

      September 29, 2020 at 5:44 pm

      Do you take the skin off

      Reply
      • Sara says

        September 30, 2020 at 2:22 pm

        I do not but you can if you prefer!

        Reply
      • Nancy-Sonja Jacobs says

        June 19, 2021 at 4:48 pm

        The recipe says to keep it on so that it stays moist

        Reply
    12. Dayna says

      August 10, 2020 at 12:40 pm

      5 stars
      These came out incredible! The chicken was so tender and flavorful. My husband is a Texan and said it was BBQ restaurant quality. I’ve made a lot of your recipes and they’ve all turned out great. This would be perfect for hosting because it is so low maintenance and comes out amazing.

      Reply
    13. Katie says

      March 22, 2020 at 9:45 am

      What temp did you set to broil?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        March 22, 2020 at 9:48 am

        I broil on high!

        Reply
        • Cubby says

          March 10, 2021 at 7:51 am

          My broiler doesn’t work so what temp for the oven?

          Reply
          • Sara says

            March 10, 2021 at 3:27 pm

            I’d do 450 degrees F!

            Reply
      • Dianna James says

        May 9, 2020 at 5:23 pm

        Can I double the recipe and put it in one big crock pot?

        Reply
        • Sara says

          May 9, 2020 at 7:22 pm

          Yes that’s fine!

          Reply
    14. Bea says

      January 29, 2020 at 4:21 pm

      I used chicken drumettes and served them as an appetizer and they were gobbled up so fast! Next time I’ll double the recipe

      Reply
    15. Tanya says

      January 25, 2020 at 6:13 pm

      Hi, can you do ribs????

      Reply
      • Sara says

        January 26, 2020 at 10:35 am

        Here is my ribs version! https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/slow-cooker-ribs/

        Reply
    16. Byenia says

      November 18, 2019 at 12:26 am

      5 stars
      Worked great. I had about 2 lbs. of frozen drumsticks that were placed in my Crockpot for about 5 hours on low (that’s when I first checked in on them and a meat thermometer showed their temperature up in the 180s-190s F – just about to start falling off the bone). Sprinkled it with dry rub seasoning, followed by Sassy2Carb barbecue sauce by Ken Davis since it’s low-carb and tastes pretty good compared to other brands. Finished off under the broiler as directed. Thanks for the easy dinner idea!

      Reply
      • June Racette says

        June 15, 2021 at 11:25 am

        do you have to put the drumsticks under broiler or oven or can you just eat them when done in cooker

        Reply
        • Sara says

          June 15, 2021 at 7:15 pm

          You can skip the broiling!

          Reply
    17. Kelsey Ensinger says

      November 12, 2019 at 1:35 pm

      Can I put the chicken in frozen and cook for 8 hours?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        November 13, 2019 at 9:27 am

        I would cook it on high to make sure the chicken comes to a food safe temperature in the appropriate amount of time.

        Reply
      • Charity Foreman says

        July 2, 2020 at 12:02 pm

        How long should I cook5 lbs chicken drumsticks?

        Reply
    18. MEL says

      November 4, 2019 at 12:17 pm

      Do all the drumsticks have to be entirely covered by BBQ sauce in the slow cooker? Planning on cooking 6 pounds of chicken (3 layers in crockpot). Thanks!

      Reply
      • Sara says

        November 4, 2019 at 7:36 pm

        They don’t need to be totally submerged!

        Reply
    19. Leah says

      October 27, 2019 at 3:01 pm

      This recipe looks great! has anyone tried adding some potatoes or sweet potatoes to the crock-pot? i dont feel like making a side dish separately.

      Reply
      • Megan says

        October 29, 2019 at 6:55 pm

        Yes!! I’ve tried sweet potato, carrots and onion in the slow cooker with the chicken. My family devoured it.

        Reply
    20. Diane Neufeld says

      September 16, 2019 at 8:41 pm

      I cook for 6 men… After I broil them can I put back into a clean crock pot to keep warm?
      What is a good side? I was thinking Mushroom rice?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        September 16, 2019 at 9:03 pm

        Yes you can put them back in the crock pot. Mushroom rice would be a good choice!

        Reply
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