How to Make BBQ Chicken Legs in the Crockpot (Fall-Off-the-Bone!)
These Crockpot BBQ Chicken Legs are the ultimate easy dinner solution—tender, juicy, and bursting with flavour. The slow cooker does the heavy lifting, transforming chicken drumsticks into melt-in-your-mouth perfection, whilst a brief broil at the end creates that irresistible sticky, caramelised BBQ glaze. Perfect for weeknight suppers, game day gatherings, or family meals, this recipe comes together with minimal effort and maximum taste. With just chicken drumsticks, seasonings, honey, and BBQ sauce, you'll have restaurant-quality results that seem like you've spent hours cooking
Watch: How to Make BBQ Chicken Legs in the Crockpot (Fall-Off-the-Bone!)
Original recipe video — click to play
Original method: 45 minutes including broil
Ingredients
Main
- 1 â…ť kg chicken drumsticks, patted dry
About 8-10 drumsticks
Seasonings
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
Sauce
- 480 ml BBQ sauce
Approximately 1 cup
- 60 ml honey
Add 30 minutes before serving and during final broil step
Approximately 4 tablespoons
Method
- 1
Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with kitchen paper to remove excess moisture.
~5 mins - 2
In a small bowl, combine salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Season the chicken legs evenly with this spice mixture on all sides.
~5 minsTip: For extra flavour, sear the seasoned chicken in a hot pan for 2-3 minutes per side before adding to the crockpot (optional but recommended)
- 3
Place the seasoned chicken drumsticks into the slow cooker in a single layer.
~5 minsTip: If searing, add chicken directly from the pan to the crockpot
- 4
Pour the BBQ sauce over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are well coated.
~5 mins - 5
Cover the slow cooker and cook on Low for 8 hours or on High for 5 hours, until the chicken is extremely tender and the meat pulls away from the bone easily.
~8 hrsTip: The chicken is ready when it is fall-off-the-bone tender
- 6
About 30 minutes before serving, drizzle the honey over the chicken and stir gently to coat evenly.
~5 minsTip: This adds sweetness and helps create the sticky glaze
- 7
Transfer the glazed chicken legs to a baking tray, reserving any sauce in the crockpot.
~5 mins - 8
Preheat your grill to high. Place the chicken legs on the grill tray and broil for 3-5 minutes, turning halfway through, until the BBQ glaze becomes sticky and caramelised with light charring.
~8 minsTip: Watch carefully to prevent burning. The glaze should bubble and darken slightly
- 9
Return the broiled chicken to the crockpot to warm through with the sauce, or serve immediately on a platter with extra sauce spooned over the top.
~5 minsTip: Serve hot with extra sauce on the side
Nutrition
Detailed nutritional information is coming soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whilst the slow cooker makes the chicken incredibly tender, the broiling step is what creates the signature sticky, caramelised BBQ glaze and colour that makes this dish special. It takes only a few minutes and transforms the finish from steamed to restaurant-quality. However, if you prefer, you can skip it and serve the chicken with extra sauce spooned over—it will still be delicious, just without the charred glaze
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