These Slow Cooker Honey BBQ Chicken Drumsticks are WAY EASY, but so delicious! Serve them on gameday or for an easy family dinner!
You guys, I’ve been watching The Bachelor *hangs head in shame*
I totally blame my friends. I have some amazingly sweet friends. The kinds of friends who will flat out tell you when you are being an idiot. But you know they love you so much that it’s totally fine. Anyway! They are suuuuuuper into The Bachelor. Which is hilarious because they are straight up some of the smartest women I know.
I had to watch it. Like if I want to be part of 50% of the conversations that happen with them during a season of The Bachelor, I had to start watching it.
They are seriously reading this right now yelling at their computers, “You jerk, Lisa! You know that you like it!!”
Anyway. You guys, it makes me feel soooooooooooooo old. When they flash the women’s names, ages, occupations, and where they live at the bottom of the screen? I mean. They are in their way early 20s. It makes me want to cry a little.
And then they say things like, “I just know that he’s going to be my husband,” after spending a total of 15 minutes alone with this guy. And then I am crying. But it’s because I’m laughing so hard.
You guys. It’s so awesome. I get that they are real people. Like I shouldn’t laugh. But the mid-30’s mother in me who has cleaned up the same 18 toys 7,432 times this week just can’t help it. I mean, I’m 99% sure that the person who came up with this concept was a woman in her mid-30s with three tiny destructive children who needed a good laugh at the expense of some skinny pretty 20 year olds. AmIRIGHT??
Okay. Now that I got that out of my system.
You guys! These DRUMSTICKS! I don’t feel comfortable using the phrase “bombdiggity,” but if I did, I would for sure use it on these bad boys. They are so delicious, packed with flavor, moist and tender and best of all EASY. I browned them a little before throwing them in my crock pot, but it’s not mandatory.
Here’s what you need to know: All slow cookers are different. The year they were made greatly impacts how they will handle a recipe. My slow cooker is new, so it runs hot. It cooks things quickly. If yours is old, this recipe may take longer. I would keep an eye on it so that the chicken doesn’t dry out.
Slow Cooker Honey BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups BBQ sauce
- 1 cup honey
- 2 pounds drumsticks
- 2 TBSPs butter
- salt and pepper
- 3 T corn starch
Instructions
- In a large bowl whisk together the BBQ sauce and honey.
- Melt your butter in a cast iron skillet or a heavy bottomed dutch oven over medium heat. Working in batches brown the chicken, just about a minute on each side.
- Spray the slow cooker with cooking spray. Pour some of the sauce in the bottom of the crock pot. Put the chicken in the crock pot and cover them with the remaining sauce. It's okay if some of the chicken is layered.
- Cook on low for four hours or until a meat thermometer registers 165 degrees.
- Remove the chicken from the crock pot and plate on the serving platter. Add the cornstarch to the sauce, whisking it to combine. With the crock pot still on low, cook for five minutes. Pour some of the sauce over the chicken.
Other recipes perfect for game day!
Erin @ Simple, Sweet & Savory says
YUM! These look delicious—and perfect for our Super Bowl party we’re having! I love appetizers made in the slow cooker. And Sweet Baby Ray’s is DAH BEST! Pinning to try this!
Lisa Longley says
It IS the best! Thanks Erin!
Julia says
These drumsticks look so good! I only wish my husband didn’t hate BBQ sauce. Maybe I’ll sub sweet chili sauce, which we all like!
Julia recently posted…Gluten Free Arancini with Yellow Split Lentils
Lisa Longley says
Thanks Julia!
Ana says
Use ketchup instead 🙂
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
Every season I say I’m going to watch it for that reason but I never do!! I heard this one was a doozy so far. 🙂
Lisa Longley says
You should catch up on Hulu! #totallyworthit
Rachel says
You jerk Lisa, you know you like it!
And you know I LOVE a good slow cooker recipe! This looks delicious!
Lauren @ Rustic Honey says
MOUTH. IS. WATERING! YUM! Not only do I love your recipe idea above but also the technique! Feel like you could also do hot wings, Asian wings, etc. with this process! Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait for GAMEDAY! 🙂
Lisa Longley says
I totally agree Lauren! I actually have another one in mind too!
Karen says
Have just found your blog. Love that your recipes are so easy to make and made with things easily found. Will definitely be making this. Only think is, will use some chicken breasts since this looks like it would make them moist and tender. Question – what do you sprinkled on top? Looks like a seed of some kind.
Lisa Longley says
Thank you Karen for your kind words! They are just sesame seeds. Honestly, they were more to make the photo pop. Perfectly delicious without them, though great with them too. 🙂
Jordie says
hi! My crockpot is set for high 4 or 6 hours or low for 8 or 10 hours. I usually do recipes like this for dinner cause my hubby and I work all day. What setting do you recommend?! Thanks!
Lisa Longley says
Hi Jordie! As mentioned in the recipe, this cooks best at low for 4 hours. Sorry I can’t be more helpful!
Julie says
Made this today. So good, flavor was great and chicken fell off the bones. Will definitely make again. Thanks for sharing.
Lisa Longley says
I’m so glad to hear that! Thank you for coming back to tell me!
Wanda Smithley says
My family prefers crispy drumsticks. If I don’t cook these so long and then broil them and then pour the sauce over them, would that work? And if so, do I still need to brown them before going in the crock pot? Or do you have another way to make them crispy?
Lisa Longley says
Sticking them in the oven after is a great idea! You don’t need to brown them first then.