Crockpot Chicken Drumsticks are an easy three-ingredient dinner made with chicken legs, a flavorful chicken rub, and BBQ sauce. The slow cooker makes the chicken incredibly tender and juicy, and an optional few minutes under the broiler gives you deliciously crisp, caramelized skin.
This recipe for chicken drumsticks is an absolute winner. We are working with just three ingredients, and two of those ingredients can be homemade or store-bought. You know how much I love encouraging you to do what works best for you in your own kitchen. Additionally, these crockpot chicken legs can be an easy dump and go meal, or you can take an extra step of crisping the chicken at the end. Finally, you will find everything in this recipe that you need to make sure it is a success every time.
Please note that this recipe was updated in September of 2026 to simplify the method and ingredients.
Ingredients for Crock Pot Chicken Drumsticks
- Chicken drumsticks: Use bone-in, skin-on drumsticks. If you have frozen drumsticks, make sure they are thawed for this recipe.
- Chicken rub: My homemade rub comes together with simple ingredients and is sweet, slightly spicy, and smoky.
- BBQ sauce: Use your favorite store-bought sauce or make my homemade BBQ sauce recipe.
How to Make Crock Pot Chicken Drumsticks
- Toss the drumsticks with the chicken rub and put them in the base of your slow cooker.
- Coat the drumsticks in the BBQ sauce and cook on low for three to four hours.
- To make the skin crisp, broil the chicken drumsticks for a few minutes, watching them closely until the skin is crisp, not burnt.
How Long to Cook Chicken Drumsticks in the Crock Pot
Your drumsticks should cook on low for 3-4 hours, checking them with an instant-read thermometer. Chicken is safe to eat when the thickest part of the drumstick reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit without touching the bone.
How to Get Crispy Skin on Crock Pot Chicken Drumsticks
The slow cooker fully cooks the chicken and keeps the meat tender, but doesn’t make the skin crispy, which is why I love to broil them at the end. While this step is optional since the chicken is already fully cooked, just a few minutes in the oven gives the skin the crispiness that you know and love in chicken drumsticks.
Storing and Reheating Leftover Crock Pot Chicken Drumsticks
Leftovers should be stored in the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep in the refrigerator for three to four days. As with all leftovers, use your best discretion.
To reheat these chicken legs, add them and their sauce to an oven-safe baking dish. Cover and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-40 minutes. Leftovers should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit before serving.
FAQ
No, the BBQ sauce provides plenty of moisture, and the chicken will release moisture as it cooks.
I firmly believe that if you are cooking meat in a slow cooker and given a choice between cooking times, you should always pick the low setting. It just cooks the meat better. That being said, you can cook them on high for 1 to 2 hours if you want to speed up the cooking time.
Yes. With four pounds, you will likely need to layer them so they all fit in a six-quart crockpot.
What to Serve with BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
If you are looking to make this into a full meal, there are a couple of things that would pair perfectly with this recipe.
- Homemade Mac and Cheese is a 25 minute recipe and would go so well with these.
- My Coleslaw recipe rests in the refrigerator overnight, so it is perfect to pair with these.
- Finally, these Baked Potato Wedges are only three ingredients (a six-ingredient meal!) and come together fast in the oven.
- This Potato Salad is always a crowd-favorite.
- Smashed Potatoes are easy to make and perfect with chicken.
If you make these amazing slow cooker drumsticks or any of my other recipes, leave me a comment and let me know what you think. I love hearing from you.
Recipe Video
Crock Pot Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 4 pounds chicken drumsticks see note
- 1/4 cup chicken rub see note
- 2 cups BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Pat the chicken very dry. Toss the drumsticks in the chicken rub and transfer them to a 6 quart slow cooker.4 pounds chicken drumsticks, 1/4 cup chicken rub
- Coat the drumsticks in BBQ sauce and cook on low for three to four hours or until the chicken registers 165 degrees Fahrenheit with an instant read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the drumstick without touching the bone.2 cups BBQ sauce
- If desired (to make the skin crisp) line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack in the baking sheet. Then transfer the drumsticks to the rack. Broil for a few minutes watching the chicken closely until the chicken skin is crisp.
Notes
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- pinch of cayenne pepper
Connie D says
This was so good! Loved how there was very little prep work other than browning the chicken before putting it in the crockpot. So very easy and delicious. Thank you for sharing the recipe!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
Marylin Parkin says
We don’t eat pasta in any shape or form. Can you suggest an alternative for your recipes?
It would really depend on the recipe. I don’t have an easy swap that would apply to all recipes. The great news, though, is that I have loads of dinner recipes that contain no past eat all. You can see them all here: Dinner Recipes.
sal sova says
Want to try this bbq 4 the crockpot
I hope you love it!
Linda says
I was wondering on the slow cooker chicken drumsticks recipe can you skin the chicken before cooking and skip the browning step?
You can. I probably would encourage you to make the recipe as written and then take the skin off before eating, serving with some of the sauce from the slow cooker.
Andy says
I added a half can of IPA beer to the BBQ sauce. Fantastic recipe!
I’m so glad you liked these!
Ami says
Lisa, first of all, ALL of your recipes are AMAZING!! I cooked these chicken legs and the recommended side of the potato wedges (and I just put some cabbage as a side too), and it was all amazing. I am so glad you stress the browning the chicken legs before, that makes such a difference. And, I love your recommendations on a lot (or most) of your recipes about re-heating left overs in the oven, because that makes a huge difference (the microwave will be no more!). I just wanted to drop a line and let you know I will be making these again for sure!
Thank you so much for this amazing comment, Ami!
Carolyn m Malkowski says
ILove this Recipe thank you
You’re welcome!
Carolyn m Malkowski says
I’m making this Tommorrow sounds great!!
I hope you enjoy them!
Martin says
I just love all your recipes as the meals look so delicious going to do this for Sunday dinner
I hope you loved it!
Bonnie says
This is a great easy recipe! My husband said, “finger licking good!” The chicken cooks nicely it doesn’t fall apart. The barbecue sauce and honey combined give it a great flavor! Thanks much!
I’m so glad that you liked it, Bonnie!