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Home » Recipes » Chicken

Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

By Erin · November 12, 2022 · 9 Comments

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Gluten Free
chicken thighs in a slow cooker with text overlay

This Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs recipe will show you how to cook chicken thighs in your crock pot! The result is juicy, tender and flavorful chicken that falls right off the bone.  

crispy chicken thighs in a crockpot

I figured it was about time I  create a recipe for slow cooker chicken thighs! 

See, I adore my air fryer chicken thighs and my Instant Pot chicken thighs recipes, but sometimes you just want to set it and forget it, and that's where the slow cooker comes in handy. 

Since the weather's been getting cooler, we've been loving my slow cooker chicken stew. But, sometimes I just want to batch cook chicken for lunches, and using the slow cooker is perfect for that! 

Recipe features

  • The chicken is pan-seared in a skillet first, which allows the skin to become crispy
  • Coated in a simple yet flavorful dry rub
  • Cooked slow and low, which allows the chicken to become so tender that is falls right off the bone 
five cooked chicken thighs on a plate

Ingredients

Bone-in chicken thighs - I recommend using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs; see "Tips and Tricks" section below if you prefer to use boneless 

Spices - A mixture of garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, and Italian seasoning works well; I used sweet paprika, but smoked paprika will work in a pinch. 

Chicken broth - The chicken will essentially cook in the broth, so don't skip it! 

Butter - Butter makes everything better, am I right? You could use ghee instead, but I would not substitute oil. 

Garlic - Fresh garlic really elevates the flavors of this recipe. Plus, it pairs well with the butter. 

Instructions

Step 1: Season the chicken. In a small bowl, stir the garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, and Italian seasoning together. Pat the chicken dry, then use your hands to rub the spice mixture all over the chicken thighs.

Step 2: Pan-sear the chicken. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, place the chicken skin side down into the skillet and pan-fry it for 4-5 minutes until the skin is crispy. Now, transfer it to your slow cooker in a single layer, skin side up. 

raw chicken in a glass bowl with dry rub on the left and chicken pan-seared in oil on the right

Step 3: Add everything to your slow cooker. Pour the chicken broth, butter and garlic to your slow cooker, then place a lid on top and cook the chicken in LOW for 5 hours. Add salt to taste and garnish with fresh parsley. 

raw chicken thighs in a slow cooker with cubes of butter

Tips and tricks

  • To use boneless skinless chicken thighs: Coat the chicken in the dry rub, then pan-sear it smooth side down in a skillet for about 2 minutes. Transfer it to your crock pot, then add the remaining ingredients. Cook on LOW for approximately 3-4 hours.
  • Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°F. Chicken thighs vary in size, and therefore the cook time may be slightly different.
  • For optimal flavor, spoon the juices from the slow cooker over the chicken before serving. 

Is there a way to serve this with gravy?

Yup! Once the chicken is done cooking, remove it with tongs, then pour the juices from the crock pot into a saucepan. Use a hand whisk to whisk in 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Heat the mixture over medium heat, whisking for a few minutes until it's thickened into a gravy. If it doesn't seem to be thickening, increase the heat. 

What should I serve with crockpot chicken thighs? 

  • Roasted red potatoes
  • Roasted carrots
  • Braised greens
  • Green beans
  • White rice

Storage

Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To reheat: Reheat chicken in the microwave until it's warm. Alternatively, you can add it to a baking dish with a little water in the bottom, then heat it at 350° until it's warmed through. 

close up of a cooked chicken thigh

More slow cooker recipes

  • Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
  • Slow Cooker Pumpkin Curry Soup
  • Butternut Squash Chickpea Chili 

More easy chicken recipes

  • Blackened Chicken
  • Honey Garlic Chicken
  • Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken 

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!

crispy chicken thighs in a crockpot

Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

This Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs recipe will show you how to cook chicken thighs in your crock pot! The result is juicy, tender and flavorful chicken that falls right off the bone.  
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 4
Author: Erin

Ingredients

  • 2 lb. bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (4-5 chicken thighs)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • â…“ cup chicken broth
  • ¼ cup butter diced
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • fresh parsley for garnish
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. Stir the garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, and Italian seasoning together in a small bowl. Use your hands to rub the spice mixture all over the chicken, making sure they're coated.
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, then place the chicken skin side down into the skillet and cook it for 4-5 minutes until the skin is crispy; transfer to your slow cooker skin side up.
  • Pour the broth into your slow cooker, then add the diced butter and garlic. Cook the chicken in LOW for 4.5-5 hours, checking the internal temperature is at 165°F before removing it. Garnish with parsley and enjoy!

Video

Notes

*Calories are per serving and are an estimation
*Storage: store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 442kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 53g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 21g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 253mg | Sodium: 630mg | Potassium: 498mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 575IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 2mg
Did you Make this Recipe? Tag me Today!Leave a comment below and tag @thealmondeater on Instagram!
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About Erin

Erin is the recipe developer, writer and photographer behind the healthy food blog, The Almond Eater. She's been blogging since 2014 and loves to create food for many different diets, including vegan, gluten free and/or Whole30 recipes.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laura says

    March 12, 2023 at 12:30 pm

    Love this recipe!! I used boneless skinless thighs and the meet was falling apart and so moist. The oregano flavor was a little too much for me (I’m not a big fan), so I used parsley and basil instead of Italian seasoning! I bet this would be good with a splash of wine!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      March 12, 2023 at 7:29 pm

      Yay! I'm happy you enjoyed the stew, Laura!

      Reply
  2. Marta says

    March 02, 2023 at 6:21 pm

    This was amazing. My husband said it’s the best chicken we had in a long time. I put potatoes on the bottom. They were great.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      March 03, 2023 at 8:20 am

      Wow that's some high praise! I'm so happy you both liked the chicken (and love the addition of potatoes!)

      Reply
  3. Robyn says

    March 01, 2023 at 2:00 pm

    Can you cook this on hight and for how long?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      March 01, 2023 at 3:39 pm

      Yes! You can cook on high heat for 3 hours.

      Reply
  4. Adrian says

    February 20, 2023 at 2:17 pm

    I put a teatowel between the lid and pot if I want something crispy, no need to sear first.

    Even works for roast potatoes

    Reply
    • Erin says

      February 20, 2023 at 4:51 pm

      That's a great tip!

      Reply
  5. Jill stephey says

    December 08, 2022 at 3:44 pm

    I made this for dinner the other night along with the red potato recipe. First, it was so easy and my house smelled delicious (my dog was sniffing all over the kitchen). And my family and I loved it! Even my 7 yo who doesn’t like potatoes liked these. Will definitely make again!

    Reply

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