Slow Cooker Orange Chicken Drumsticks – These babies are falling off the bone when they come out of the slow cooker, then they get basted with a sweet and spicy barbecue sauce…grab a napkin they are messy in a good way!
Slow Cooker Spicy Orange Chicken Drumsticks – so much to love!
Hopefully you love your slow cooker as much as I love mine! You just can’t beat throwing dinner in there and coming back to dinner that’s ready!
Every day three growing boys slide their two feet under my table and let me tell you they can really put away the groceries while they are sitting there. When I find a budget friendly, yes I mean down right cheap, meal that my boys all love…it’s not only a winner at the table but in my pocket book too!
Slow Cooker Spicy Orange Drumsticks – instructions
Add rub ingredients to a gallon sealable bag.
Next, add chicken drumsticks and shake to coat.
Then, set drumsticks in slow cooker.
Add chicken broth to the bottom of slow cooker.
Mix prepared barbecue sauce, orange marmalade, chili powder and cayenne pepper together. Drizzle half a cup of sauce over drumsticks, reserve remaining sauce for later.
Cook in slow cooker on high for 4 hours.
Preheat oven to broiler, I leave my rack about 6 inches from the broiler element.
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, spray with non-stick baking spray. Remove drumsticks from slow cooker and lay on baking sheet.
Baste drumsticks with sauce.
Broil for 3-5 minutes. Remove from oven, baste again, and broil for 3-5 more minutes.
Serve immediately! I like to save a little extra sauce for dunking!
Slow Cooker Spicy Orange Drumsticks- sides to go with them
Rosemary Oven Baked Potato Chips
Slow Cooker Spicy Orange Drumsticks – a family favorite
Whether you are looking for game day food, and easy dinner, or party food Spicy Chicken Orange Drumsticks are just the thing!
My kids love them, my kids friends (some of which eat at my house more than their own homes) love them, and my pocket book loves them! Do me a favor and make them ASAP and let me know what you think of them!
Slow Cooker Spicy Orange Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 4 pounds chicken drumsticks
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or orange juice either works well
- RUB:
- 1 T. garlic powder
- 1 T. chili powder
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. cumin
- cayene pepper to taste (we are wimps in my family so I only used a dash you can add as much as you can handle)
- 1 T. kosher salt
- GLAZE:
- 1 1/2 c. prepared barbecue sauce
- 1/2 c. orange marmalade
- 2 T. orange zest
- 2 T. orange juice
- 1 tsp. chili powder
Instructions
- Add rub ingredients to a gallon sealable bag.
- Next, add chicken drumsticks and shake to coat.
- Then, set drumsticks in slow cooker.
- Pour chicken broth or orange juice to the bottom of slow cooker.
- Mix prepared barbecue sauce, orange marmalade, orange zest, 2 T. orange juice and chili powder together. Drizzle half a cup of sauce over drumsticks, reserve remaining sauce for later.
- Cook in slow cooker on high for 4 hours.
- Preheat oven to broiler, I leave my rack about 6 inches from the broiler element.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, spray with non-stick baking spray. Remove drumsticks from slow cooker and lay on baking sheet.
- Baste drumsticks with sauce.
- Broil for 3-5 minutes. Remove from oven, baste again, and broil for 3-5 more minutes.
- Serve immediately! I like to save a little extra sauce for dunking!
Robyn Rottman says
The chilli powder and cumin ruined it for me. Next time I’ll leave them out. Good idea though!
Amy Engberson says
Leaving them out is a great idea if you don’t like chili powder or cumin!
Robyn Rottman says
Hi! I love this idea and am planning to make it this week. Do I set the broiler on high or low?
Thanks!
Amy Engberson says
I typically broil the legs on low. The sauce will caramelize. Be sure to watch it closely so it doesn’t burn!
Jolene Neumayer says
Hi can I not use orange marmalade?
Amy Engberson says
Yes. The recipe calls for 1/2 a cup of marmalade used to make the glaze for the drumsticks. The orange BBQ sauce gives the chicken the best flavor!
Marty says
Very good orange chicken
Amy Engberson says
Thanks! I love how easy these drumsticks are to make!
Nunu says
What do you do with the liquid that is left in the slow cooker after cooking? Do you mix it with the basting sauce?
Amy Engberson says
You can discard the liquid that’s left in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Kathleen says
6 servings equals how many drumsticks?
And, could I make this with wings instead of drumsticks?
Amy Engberson says
There are about 3 drumsticks in one pound. I’d plan on about 2 drumsticks per person, maybe 3 for bigger eaters. This recipe would be fantastic made with wings instead of chicken legs.
Tammy says
Just discovered your blog through another blog and I am loving it. Just a quick question…..are these with the skin on or off? Thanks can’t wait to try them.
Amy Engberson says
Welcome! I’m so glad you found me! I leave the skins on when I make these drumsticks! Enjoy!
Danielle says
Can the drumsticks be frozen in the beginning or do they have to be thawed?
Amy Engberson says
I always make them after they are thawed!
Dana says
Never used my slow cooker before….
In the ingredients section, chicken broth isn’t listed, so I didn’t buy any… how much do I need to put on the bottom of the cooker? Can I just use extra oj instead?
Like I said earlier, I’ve had this cooker for at least 10yrs and never used it…. Been concerned about things getting stuck on the bottom and burning while unattended for long periods of time. So many people say how great they are….. We’ll see!
Amy Engberson says
I’m so excited you are breaking out your slow cooker! You are going to love it! They are so handy and make my life so much easier! I just clarified the recipe so it should be a little easier to understand. Sorry I left the amount of chicken broth or orange juice off the ingredients list. I add half a cup of orange juice or chicken broth to the bottom of the slow cooker before I start cooking the drumsticks. Hopefully this helps! Let me know if you have any more questions! I think you are going to love them!
Shari says
Hello! I have this on the crockpot already, so I winged it lol, but is the cayenne pepper in the rub and the sauce is in the rub group, but in the directions is in the sauce. Also when you say to add the chicken broth to the crockpot, are you talking about the orange juice? I read the other reviews and you said you have been substituting. Thank you, can’t wait for the house to start smelling good!
Amy Engberson says
I can see why this recipe was a little confusing. I went back and edited it. The cayenne pepper if in the rub. I don’t use much because my family can’t handle it. You can use 1/2 cup orange juice or chicken broth to pour in the bottom of the slow cooker. Either works well. There is an additional 2 Tablespoons of orange juice in the sauce. And yes…the house smells divine while these are cooking! Hopefully that clears the instructions up. Let me know if you have any more questions.
Sabrina says
These are a perfect gameday food! There are sure to be a hit at my next party!
Amy Engberson says
My family gobbles them up during the first quarter of every game!
Grace says
I have a gas oven with no broiler…any ideas for how to finish off the drumsticks? Should I just bake them on high heat for the same amount of time?
Amy Engberson says
I haven’t ever tried that but I’m sure it would work just fine. Just watch them close so they don’t burn.
Maryanne | the little epicurean says
Orange chicken drumsticks?! That sounds tasty! I love slow cooker recipes 🙂
Amy Engberson says
Me too! My slow cooker saves my life! This flavor combination is my new favorite!
Kelley says
It doesn’t say how much chicken broth to use
Amy Engberson says
Ooos! I just added it! Lately I’ve been substituting orange juice for the chicken broth and I love it! Either works great!
Cathy Trochelman says
I love this idea…orange chicken has the BEST flavor!
Amy Engberson says
I agree! Orange Chicken is one of my favorites!
Amanda | The Chunky Chef says
I love that these are made in the slow cooker!
Amy Engberson says
Me too! The slow cooker makes my life so much easier…an my house smells amazing while they are cooking!
Cookin Canuck says
My mouth started watering as soon as I saw these. I mean, THAT GLAZE!
Amy Engberson says
That sticky, spicy, and sweet glaze is my favorite part!
Danielle says
Orange chicken is one of my favorites and these look like such a party friendly way to serve the great flovors!!!
Amy Engberson says
Mine too! Party food is so much fun!
Erin @ The Speckled Palate says
What a brilliant idea! We’re HUGE slow cooker fans, too, and I love the idea of making drumsticks in the slow cooker for the whole fam. Well done!
Amy Engberson says
Thanks! You can’t beat a budget friendly dinner that the whole family loves! Especially if all I have to do is throw it in the slow cooker!