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.
Crock Pot Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 4 pounds chicken drumsticks see note
- 1/4 cup chicken rub
- 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
Barbara says
When I use my Slow Cooker, I usually use a bag inside keeping the cleaning at a minimal.
When I read about mixing the cornstarch and adding it back in to thicken, will the bag be a problem?
I’ve never used a bag with my slow cooker, but I can’t imagine why it would be a problem.
Terri W says
Finally made this chicken. So good!! Family says it’s a keeper.
I’m so happy to hear that!
Rick Erickson says
Hi Lisa,
I just wanted to let you know that I made the Crock Pot Drumstick Chicken. I started them late in the day so they weren’t ready until 10:00,
Thats was just fine, I made a really nice snack out of it. The meat fell off the bones so I made 3 delicious sandwiches OMG I sure enjoyed my late night snack. I put the chicken on a nice heavy bun and poured the thickened sauce over the top. Truly a snack to die for.
I have a 2 1/2 lb. bag of wings, what sort of modifications would I need to make wings instead of drumsticks?
Lisa, like the other recipes of yours that I’ve made this one was no exception, I really enjoyed it. Five ***** Stars.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it, Rick! I actually have a recipe for wings in the crockpot. You could just substitute the BBQ sauce for the wing sauce. I hope you enjoy it! Crockpot Wings
Linda says
I have stopped eating chicken skin for many years now. I was wondering if you skip the browning step could you cook skinned chicken legs in this recipe?
The only reason I would say no is that browning the chicken outside of the crockpot will render some of the fat, making the dish a little less greasy over all. Additionally, it helps the over all flavor.
Cheryl says
How many drumsticks to a whole bottle of each ingredient??
I don’t have it broken down that way, but in the recipe card at the bottom of the post (just above where you left this comment) you can see the ingredient ratio in pounds of chicken and cups of sauce.
Howard says
Can you chicken breast instead of drumsticks?
I haven’t tested this recipe with chicken breasts. They are likely going to need less time than 4 hours.
Lynn says
Can you use thighs and drumsticks?
Hi Lynn! I haven’t tested this recipe with chicken thighs. It should work just fine, but you will want to watch the time and temperature so the chicken doesn’t overcook.