The BEST Sticky Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Recipe (2024)

If you are craving a super simple dinner recipe that the whole family can’t get enough of, then you need this Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken! With simple ingredients, this is a breeze to throw together.

I must admit that I love my slow cooker, it is one of the appliances I use most often as I can use it year-round, and it makes recipes so easy to throw together. I love it when I can throw a recipe in the slow cooker like this slow cooker bbq chicken and then forget about it, and at the end of the day, I have this recipe just waiting and ready for me.

That is exactly the reason why we can’t get enough of this easy slow cooker bbq chicken. BBQ Chicken alone is absolutely amazing, and we make it all the time.

But this slow cooker version is one of my favorites. It uses different chicken pieces and a fantastic rub along with BBQ sauce, and everything combined is just delish.

People may say it’s not a slow cooker because it goes into the oven. But trust me, that broiling of the BBQ Sauce on the chicken is what really makes this dish and why we call it STICKY crock pot bbq chicken.

We do the same with some of our other recipes like meatloaf, we like to slow cook it and then throw it in the oven and broil at the end so the topping gets nice and sticky. It is the best and my favorite way to get a sticky glaze.

This is a normal thing that people will do when making slow cooker recipes, if you would rather you can drain the liquid from the slow cooker and just stir in some bbq sauce to coat.

This is one of those recipes that we make all year round as it is excellent all year round, I don’t think BBQ should be a spring and summertime flavor at all – we especially love to make it on game days. Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken is one of those recipes you will put on repeat like we have!

Some of our other favorite BBQ Chicken recipes include BBQ Chicken Nachos, BBQ Chicken Pizza and BBQ Crock Pot Chicken Wings.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:

1. You can use various chicken pieces for this slow cooker recipe with only minutes of prep.
2. Make your own rub, or use mine that we love that I have included, trust me this is a simple recipe!
3. You can make your own BBQ Sauce recipe for this!

INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):

• Chicken
• Brown sugar
• Smoked paprika
• Kosher salt
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Pepper
• BBQ sauce

HOW TO MAKE SLOW COOKER BBQ CHICKEN:

1. Spray the slow cooker with cooking spray. Place the chicken pieces into the slow cooker.
2. In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
3. Sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken and toss to combine. Once the chicken is fully coated, place the lid on the slow cooker and cook for 4-6 hours on low, or 2-3 hours on high.
4. The chicken is ready when an internal temperature reaches 165°F. I like to keep the chicken cooking for a little longer and pull it around 180°F as I feel it is more tender.
5. Preheat the broiler to high. Line a sheet tray with foil. Place the chicken pieces on the foil not touching. Brush with the bbq sauce all over the top of the chicken.
6. Broil until lightly golden and caramelized, and bubbly; keep watching as this will only take a few minutes. Turn the pieces over, and brush with extra barbecue sauce. Broil again. Repeat one more time until the chicken is caramelized and sticky. The amount of sauce you use depends on your personal preference how saucy you like your chicken, and serve.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:

IS IT OKAY TO PUT RAW CHICKEN IN THE SLOW COOKER?

Yes! This is a very frequently asked question and it is safe to add raw chicken directly into a crock pot or slow cooker.

WHAT KIND OF BBQ SAUCE SHOULD I USE?

You can use any of your favorite BBQ sauces for this, we have tried many different sauces, from sweet to spicy and we love them all, so whatever you like will work perfectly. You can also use our homemade bbq sauce, it works perfectly with this recipe!

WHAT PARTS OF THE CHICKEN SHOULD I USE?

Technically you can use any parts of the chicken that you like, a whole cut-up chicken works perfectly for this and is usually what we use for this crockpot bbq chicken recipe, but we change it up from time to time.

You can use all breasts(works for boneless skinless chicken breasts too), wings, skinless chicken thighs, or chicken legs, totally up to you and your family’s preference.

Just be advised, cooking time may vary on the cuts being used.

CAN I SKIP THE OVEN STEP?

Of course, you can. However, caramelizing the bbq chicken under the broiler is what makes that delicious sticky glaze.

If you have the extra time, I really suggest you do so.

Alternatively, if you wish you can shred the chicken, then mix the bbq sauce into the shredded chicken right in the slow cooker. This makes for fantastic bbq chicken sandwiches! Just place pulled chicken on a hamburger bun and you’re set.

WHAT TO SERVE WITH THIS?

I keep it simple with my sides but here are my favorite options:

• Potato salad – try my classic potato salad.
• Baked potato – check out my slow cooker baked potatoes!
• Baked sweet potato
• Pasta salad
• Baked Beans
• Try making homemade potato chips, like my homemade potato chip recipe.

HOW TO STORE:

Refrigerator: Leftover bbq chicken can be stored in the refrigerator in a zip-top bag or airtight container for up to 3-4 days.

Freezer: To reheat you can place on a low setting in the oven or quickly microwave it until it is heated through, you want your chicken to be 165 degrees F.

Looking for an easy and filling meal that is absolutely delicious and everyone loves? Then you have to make this Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken!

If you’ve tried this SLOW COOKER BBQ CHICKENlet me know in the comments how it turned out! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!