Crockpot Chicken Thighs

My easy recipe for Crockpot Chicken Thighs will give you juicy, crispy chicken with just a few minutes of hands-on cooking time!

Let the slow cooker do most of the work for you, and make this tasty bone-in chicken thighs recipe for dinner tonight.

This is one of my absolute favorite ways to cook bone-in skin-on chicken thighs, and I know that you’ll love this easy crock pot recipe too!

Slow cooker chicken thighs cook low and slow in a deliciously seasoned broth made with just 6 ingredients.

This homey, comforting chicken recipe is uncomplicated, yet amazingly flavorful, and will go perfectly with your favorite side dishes, like my vegetable rice recipe, sour cream mashed potatoes, or stovetop mac and cheese.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. Crispy Chicken Skin – It can be tricky to make chicken with crispy skin in a crock pot, but I’m here to tell you that it’s totally possible! A few minutes of searing in a skillet before slow cooking will do the trick. And for even more crispiness, place the chicken under the broiler for a bit before serving it.
2. Classic Flavors – These chicken thighs are seasoned with garlic and common spices like onion powder, smoked paprika, and Italian seasoning. This makes them taste amazing and allows them to pair well with any type of side dish that your family enjoys.
3. Tender and Juicy – Slow cooking has the added benefit of making the most delicious, moist, and juicy chicken. The long cooking time allows the chicken to become so tender that it falls off the bone!

Are you looking for an Instant Pot recipe instead? Try my Instant Pot Chicken Thighs recipe!

Or make Glazed Apricot Chicken Thighs on the stovetop.

Key Ingredients

Here is everything you need to make chicken thighs in the slow cooker:

• Chicken: This recipe is designed to be the best way to slow cook inexpensive bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. Trim away any excess fat and skin before you get started.
• Olive Oil and Butter: Use butter and light olive oil rather than extra virgin olive oil to sear the chicken skin before adding the thighs to the crock pot.
• Chicken Stock: We’ll only add half a cup of liquid to the slow cooker. Packaged or homemade stock can be used.
• Seasonings: Aside from salt and pepper, you’ll need freshly minced garlic, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

How To Make Chicken Thighs in Slow Cooker

1. Prep the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels (this step helps them brown better), and generously season them with salt and pepper.
2. Sear: Heat butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken thighs, skin side down, until the skin is golden brown. No need to cook the other side at this point!

3. Fill the Crockpot: While the chicken is browning, add chicken stock, garlic, and seasonings to the slow cooker insert. Add the browned chicken, skin side up.
4. Slow Cook: Cover with the lid and cook the chicken thighs in the slow cooker for 1½ hours on high or 4 hours on low. The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
5. Make Gravy (optional): If you like, remove the chicken from the slow cooker, then stir in a slurry of cornstarch and water. Cook for 15 more minutes to thicken the sauce.
6. Crispier Skin (optional): Place the cooked chicken on a pan and cook under the broiler in your oven for 5 minutes or so. This will make your chicken skin extra crispy.

Recipe Tips

• Adjust the Seasoning: The seasonings in this recipe are classic and delicious, but you can easily change them to suit your preferences. To make this recipe lower in sodium, look for low-sodium broth and unsalted butter.
• Check the Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to ensure that your chicken thighs are fully cooked. This means that they should be at or over 165°F (74°C). I prefer to pull the chicken from the slow cooker once it’s reached this temperature. Cooking the meat much past this point can make it too soft.
• Searing is Key! I get the best results searing the chicken in a stainless steel or cast iron pan, but you can use a non-stick pan, or whatever you’re comfortable with. The important thing is that the pan is hot and that you let the chicken sit without touching it so that it can brown and get crispy.

Storing Tips

You can keep leftover crock pot chicken thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days.

The leftovers make wonderful lunches or pull the meat off to make salads, sandwiches, or wraps.

What To Serve With Crock Pot Chicken Thighs

I love to serve this recipe with rice! Try making white rice in the instant pot, or make a more flavorful dish like my mushroom rice or Mexican rice.

If your family prefers potatoes, you will definitely want to make them my Instant Pot buttered potatoes. Or use the oven to make crispy roasted fingerling potatoes.

More Ways To Cook Bone-In Chicken Thighs

You’ll find so many delicious and easy chicken recipes here!

• Cranberry Chicken Thighs are cooked on the stovetop in a sweet and tangy sauce that’s perfect for the holidays.
• Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs are perfectly baked in the oven, along with tender Brussels sprouts.
• Pull out your Instant Pot and make Instant Pot Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken, Instant Pot Honey Chicken Thighs, or Instant Pot Honey Mustard Chicken.

Recipe FAQs

How to make gravy for crock pot chicken?

Once the chicken thighs are finished cooking, you’ll have a delicious and flavorful broth left in the slow cooker. Stir in a slurry of 2 tablespoons cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water and continue cooking for about 15 minutes to thicken it up.

Alternatively, you can transfer the mixture to a saucepan on the stove and add the slurry. Bring to a low boil. This method will give you a thickened chicken gravy a bit more quickly.

You might also like to try my simple slow cooker chicken and gravy recipe. It’s the ultimate comfort food, especially served with mashed potatoes!

Can I use boneless chicken thighs in this recipe?

While you can cook boneless chicken thighs in the crockpot, this particular recipe is designed for bone-in thighs. I prefer to bake boneless chicken thighs instead.

Save this chicken recipe! It’s the easiest way to cook bone-in chicken thighs in the crockpot, and the most delicious too.