Description
This Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs recipe offers tender, flavorful chicken drumsticks cooked low and slow with a homemade spice rub and honey, finished with a caramelized BBQ sauce glaze under the broiler for the perfect balance of smoky, sweet, and tangy flavors. Ideal for an easy dinner or weekend cookout.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 3 pounds chicken drumsticks
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cajun seasoning
Sauces
- ⅓ cup honey
- 2 cups BBQ sauce (divided)
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Place all chicken drumsticks into the slow cooker in an even layer to ensure they cook uniformly.
- Mix Spice Rub: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, black pepper, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and cajun seasoning thoroughly to make the spice rub.
- Season Chicken: Sprinkle the prepared spice rub evenly over the chicken drumsticks, making sure each piece is well coated for maximum flavor.
- Add Honey: Drizzle the honey over the seasoned drumsticks to add a hint of sweetness that balances the spices.
- Add BBQ Sauce: Pour 1½ cups of the BBQ sauce over the chicken in the slow cooker, reserving the remaining ½ cup for later use.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook the chicken on LOW for 5-6 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours until the meat is tender and fully cooked.
- Prepare for Broiling: When cooking is completed, line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and transfer the cooked chicken legs from the slow cooker onto the sheet.
- Broil with Sauce: Brush the reserved ½ cup of BBQ sauce over the chicken drumsticks, then broil them in the oven for 2-3 minutes until the sauce caramelizes and crisps up. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
Notes
- Cooking time can vary depending on your slow cooker model – always check chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- For extra smoky flavor, use a smoked BBQ sauce.
- If you don’t have a broiler, you can finish the chicken under a hot grill or in a hot oven set to 450°F for a few minutes.
- Leftover chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours (on HIGH) to 6 hours (on LOW)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: slow cooker chicken, BBQ chicken legs, easy chicken recipe, slow cooker BBQ, crockpot chicken
