Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe (Low Carb)

This Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe contains affiliate links which means that if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will receive a small portion of the sale at no additional cost to you. 

If you are looking for an easy way to make crockpot bbq chicken thighs for the whole family this is sure to be one of your favorite recipes.

This easy dinner requires minimal effort and simple ingredients so it is the perfect slow cooker meal for busy weeknights. 

With just 15 minutes of prep time, this is one of the easiest slow cooker recipes for boneless chicken thighs. 

You will soon see why this is one of my favorite bbq chicken thigh crock pot recipes!

Can I Use Store-Bought BBQ Sauce?

Yes! If you prefer to use store-bought barbecue sauce instead of the homemade sauce this recipe calls for you can.

Although I think if you give this homemade bbq sauce a try, you will see how easy it is to make and it just may be your new favorite bbq sauce.

Not only does the homemade sauce have the most flavor but it is a simple recipe that only takes a few minutes to whip up.

You can also adjust the flavors you like best when you mix bbq sauce yourself.

Variations Of This Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe

There are a variety of ways to personalize this great recipe for juicy chicken thighs.

Try adding apple cider vinegar to help tenderize the chicken, this can also help to bring out more flavor of cooked chicken thighs.

If you are wanting a sweeter sauce, use brown sugar or a brown sugar substitute, this will also help to caramelize the sauce.

Add in some Worcestershire sauce to deepen the BBQ flavor of your crockpot chicken thighs.

A great way to add a little spice to this slow-cooking recipe is to sprinkle in some cayenne pepper or add a bit of liquid hot sauce.

If you want a little kick but not too much flavor, try a little dry mustard. 

*If you are following a low-carb diet, use sugar-free ketchup and honey to make this a keto-compliant recipe.

Can This Recipe Be Made With Other Types of Chicken? 

Absolutely! You can use boneless chicken breast, chicken legs, chicken wings, skinless chicken thighs, or bone-in chicken thighs to create this crock pot recipe.

I prefer to use chicken thighs because dark meat is typically more tender and flavorful than white meat, so it is a good choice for succulent chicken.

Plus, when slow-cooking chicken, I like to play it safe by using boneless. 

If you cook this recipe for extra time, slow cooker chicken tends to fall apart. When this happens with barbecue chicken thighs, you can easily make this into bbq chicken sandwiches.

If you cook bone-in chicken longer than the cooking time that the recipe calls for, you add a lot of extra hard work when you have to pick out all the bones.

These bones may splinter when you bite into them so that is why using boneless chicken thighs is my favorite way to create this recipe. 

What You’ll Need to Make this BBQ Chicken Thigh Crock Pot Recipe

To make this Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe, you will need chicken thighs, a crock pot, a small bowl to mix bbq sauce, and the ingredients listed below.

This recipe is low-carb and keto-friendly because it calls for sugar-free ketchup and sugar-free honey, but if you aren’t worried about adding sugar or carbs to your meal, feel free to use whichever versions of these ingredients you prefer to use.

What You’ll Need to Make Homemade BBQ Sauce 

• Ketchup
• Honey
• Soy Sauce 
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Ground Ginger
• Minced Garlic

If you click on these ingredients, a new window will open to show you the exact products I am using to make this slow cooker chicken recipe. These are keto-friendly versions but you could substitute with regular honey or ketchup if you prefer the real thing.

How to Make An Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe

The first step in making this recipe is to place chicken in a non-stick skillet sprayed with olive oil cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat.

Sear the chicken until golden brown, if the chicken is at room temperature and the skillet is heated up, this should not take a long time, usually 3-4 minutes will be enough. 

Don’t worry about breaking out an instant-read thermometer just yet. This step isn’t for cooking the chicken as much as it is the best way to bring out the flavors of the chicken thighs.

To cook the chicken properly in a slow cooker, I recommend checking it with a digital meat thermometer and cooking it to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. 

The next step is to make the sauce, mix together all of the wet ingredients and add in the spices.

You could make a dry rub and create seasoned chicken thighs but it is much easier to just mix these ingredients together in a small meal prep bowl and then place the chicken in the crockpot in a single layer.

Pour the sauce on top before slow cooking on high for 3 hours or low for 4-5 hours in the crock pot. 

The sauce will thicken as the chicken cooks.

Tips for Serving this Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs Recipe

When it’s meal time, take the chicken out of the crock pot and pour sauce on top before serving.

You are in control of how much sauce you want to add, I like to serve a little extra sauce in a separate bowl, a good reason to do it this way is so my family can choose how much they want to add to their meal.

This is a great meal to serve with mashed potatoes because you can pour some sauce right on top and not have to make gravy.

It also goes great with broccoli as a side or mixed right into the homemade bbq sauce.

Tips for Storing BBQ Chicken Thigh Crock Pot Recipes

When it comes to storing your chilled chicken, grab a tight-sealed container and pop it in the fridge.

You’ll only want to keep it in there for around 3-4 days for best results.

If you feel like having it again and want to heat up some leftovers, simply transfer it to a microwave-friendly dish and heat it up in short 30-second bursts until it reaches the correct temperature.

Now, let’s talk freezing options, shall we? One way to go about it is by placing those delicious crockpot BBQ chicken thighs in a container that can handle the cold and seal it up tight.

Stick it in the freezer, and it will stay good for up to three months.

Pro tip: Consider shredding the chicken beforehand to make the defrosting process a breeze.

More Easy Crock Pot Chicken Recipes You’ll Love

One of my most popular and favorite crockpot chicken recipes is this Cheesy Keto Crockpot Chicken with a Kick. 

I usually make this recipe at the beginning of the week and eat it for lunch for about 3-4 days. I find that it is even better when served the next day and I don’t get sick of it.

Just be sure to warm it up in a microwave-safe dish and store it in an airtight container when you plan on saving it all week.

Another favorite chicken crockpot recipe of mine is this Keto Chicken & Rice Soup crockpot dump meal.

This recipe is made with simple ingredients like chicken broth, steamable cauliflower rice, and ranch seasoning to create a delicious easy meal with less than a half hours worth of prep time. 

When I want a hearty low-carb meal, I make this slow cooker chicken parmesan recipe for subs.

It is low-carb, gluten-free, and keto friendly since it doesn’t have the bread crumbs or bread crumb mixture you would normally find in a chicken parmesan recipe.

If you are looking for an instant pot recipe that is super easy, you’ll love these Instant Pot recipes with Frozen Chicken.

No need to regret not taking out chicken last night, these recipes all use frozen chicken to create an easy dinner for the whole family. 

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