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–+ servings
chicken legs in a slow cooker lined with a plastic bag. Chicken is coated with rub and drizzled with bbq sauce
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Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Grab a napkin! Slow Cooker Chicken Drummies are fall off the bone tender and exploding with barbecue flavor! My family devours like crazy, thank goodness they are easy and inexpensive!
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 15 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 403kcal
Author Amy

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp sweet paprika
  • 1 Tbsp smokey paprika
  • 1 Tbsp chili powder
  • 1 Tbsp dry mustard
  • 1 Tbsp ground cumin
  • 1 Tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 Tbsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
  • 2 Tbsp apple juice
  • 4 pounds chicken drumsticks
  • 2 cups barbecue sauce divided

Instructions

  • Pat drumsticks dry. No need to rinse the chicken off. Just pat it dry so the rub will stick.
  • Add chicken to a slow cooker liner and sprinkle with BBQ rub, or all the seasonings listed in the reicpe to make your own rub. Twist the bag closed and toss to coat chicken.
  • Drizzle with BBQ sauce. Don’t worry about stirring it. The sauce will work it’s way down.
  • Add cooking liquid (apple juice, water, chicken broth, orange juice, etc).
  • Cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
  • When chicken has finished cooking in slow cooker, lower your oven rack about 12 inches from the broiler element. Preheat oven to to broil.
  • Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Spray with nonstick spray.
  • Remove chicken from slow cooker and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. It's going to be falling apart, so just do the best you can to keep them in one piece. I like using tongs for this.
  • Generously baste with BBQ sauce.
  • Broil on high for about 2-3 minutes. Watch carefully so they don’t burn.
  • Flip the legs over and baste the other side, then broil for 2-3 minutes.

Notes

This recipe can easily be made ahead of time. Follow instructions through step 4. Then refrigerate until 4-6 hours before you want to eat. Continue with the rest of the instructions. 
To customize flavors
  • Add more cayenne pepper to make them spicy
  • Add honey to BBQ sauce before basting to make them sweet
  • Add garlic to make them garlicky!
  • Add liquid smoke to make them smoky.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 140mg | Sodium: 1059mg | Potassium: 593mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 993IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2mg