10+ Chicken Thigh Recipes Crockpot You’ll Love for Easy Dinners
Cooking chicken thighs in a crockpot? Super simple, honestly. Just toss them in, let the slow cooker work its magic, and come back to a meal that’s ready and waiting.
Using a slow cooker lets you set it and forget it, making dinner ready when you come back home. This method keeps the chicken juicy and packed with flavor, and you barely have to do anything.
You can whip up all sorts of dishes with chicken thighs in your crockpot—think savory, spicy, sweet, or tangy. Slow cooking really lets the flavors meld.
Whether you’re just getting into slow cooking or you’re hunting for new ideas, these recipes make dinner easy and genuinely satisfying.
Ingredients:
- Chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless)
- Basic seasonings (salt, pepper)
- Oil (optional for searing)
- Sauces or marinades (BBQ, honey garlic, etc.)
Cooking Instructions:
- Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper or whatever spices you like.
- If you want, sear the chicken in a hot pan with oil for about 3 minutes per side.
- Put the chicken in the crockpot and add any sauces or veggies you want.
- Cook on LOW for 4.5-5 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours—just make sure the inside hits 165°F (74°C).
- Serve hot, maybe with a sprinkle of fresh herbs.
1) Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
This honey garlic chicken thigh recipe is about as easy as it gets. The sauce is sweet and sticky, and it soaks right into the chicken.
All you need is chicken thighs, honey, soy sauce, garlic, and a couple of other pantry staples. Just toss everything in the crockpot.
Let it cook slowly until the chicken’s super tender and flavorful. It’s perfect for those nights when you just want to walk in the door and eat.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ⅓ cup honey
- ½ cup ketchup
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
Cooking Instructions
- Put the chicken thighs in your slow cooker.
- Mix soy sauce, honey, ketchup, garlic, and basil together.
- Pour that sauce over the chicken.
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
- Serve hot with rice or veggies.
Find the full details at slow cooker honey garlic chicken thighs from Busy Cooks.
2) Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs with Simple Sauce
Making BBQ chicken thighs in your crockpot is honestly a breeze. The chicken slowly soaks up all that saucy flavor and stays super juicy.
You barely need to prep—just season the chicken, add the sauce, and let the slow cooker do its thing. The sauce usually comes together with ketchup, brown sugar, and a splash of vinegar or mustard.
It’s easy to tweak, too—add some extra spices or a touch more sweetness if you’re feeling it.
Ingredients
- 4 to 6 chicken thighs (bone-in, skinless)
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions
- Sprinkle smoked paprika, salt, and pepper on the chicken.
- Mix BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar.
- Put the chicken in the slow cooker and pour the sauce over it.
- Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is done (165°F / 74°C).
- Serve with your favorite sides.
Check out more at slow cooker BBQ chicken thighs at realfoodwholelife.com.
3) Crockpot Chicken Thighs with Potatoes and Cream of Mushroom Soup
This one’s a classic comfort food recipe. Start by tossing potatoes and carrots in the bottom of your crockpot.
Layer chicken thighs on top. Mix up cream of mushroom soup and some seasonings, then pour it all over.
Let it cook on low for about 6 hours or high for 3 hours. The chicken turns out super tender, and the potatoes soak up all that creamy sauce.
You can eat it as is or add a side of rice or noodles. It’s hearty and takes almost no time to prep.
Ingredients
- 4-6 chicken thighs
- 4 medium potatoes, chopped
- 3 carrots, sliced
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- Pepper, to taste
Cooking Instructions
- Put potatoes and carrots in the crockpot.
- Lay the chicken thighs over the veggies.
- Stir together cream of mushroom soup, garlic salt, and pepper.
- Pour that over the chicken and veggies.
- Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours at 200°F (93°C) or 300°F (149°C).
- Check that the chicken’s done before serving.
4) Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs and Veggies One-Pot Dinner
This meal’s a lifesaver when you don’t want to fuss. Throw chicken thighs, carrots, potatoes, and green beans all in one pot.
The slow cooker does the heavy lifting, cooking everything until it’s tender and full of flavor. The chicken stays juicy, and the veggies soak up all those savory juices.
A little thyme or rosemary adds a fresh note. You can just chill while dinner cooks itself.
Ingredients
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 3 carrots, peeled and cut
- 4 medium potatoes, cut into chunks
- 1 cup green beans, trimmed
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup chicken broth
Cooking Instructions
- Sprinkle chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and thyme.
- Put carrots and potatoes in the slow cooker.
- Add green beans and garlic on top.
- Lay chicken thighs over the veggies.
- Pour chicken broth around the sides.
- Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours at 160°F (71°C) low or 300°F (149°C) high.
- Serve hot.
This is a riff on Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs and Vegetables with Herbs.
5) Sweet and Savory Slow Cooker Soy Sauce Chicken Thighs
This one’s a favorite for a reason. The sauce mixes soy sauce, honey, garlic, and ketchup, giving you a perfect sweet-and-savory combo.
Just toss bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs in your Crockpot, pour the sauce over, and let it go. After a few hours, the sauce gets thick and coats the chicken just right.
Serve it with rice or steamed veggies if you want to keep things simple.
Ingredients
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- ¾ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Mix ketchup, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and olive oil.
- Put chicken in the Crockpot and pour the sauce over.
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
- Serve hot with whatever sides you like.
More details at A Southern Soul.
6) Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken Thighs
This one’s a go-to when you’re short on time. You only need a handful of ingredients, and the slow cooker does the rest.
The chicken soaks up a sweet, garlicky sauce while it cooks. Brown sugar brings a gentle sweetness, and the garlic gives it a kick.
Serve it over rice, noodles, or whatever you have on hand. The smell alone is worth making it.
It usually takes 6-8 hours on low, so you can set it up in the morning and come home to dinner.
Ingredients
- 4-6 chicken thighs
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons fresh garlic, chopped
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
Cooking Instructions
- Put chicken thighs in the slow cooker.
- Mix brown sugar, garlic, black pepper, and soy sauce.
- Pour over the chicken.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours (165°F / 74°C).
- Serve over rice or noodles.
Check out Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken recipe for the full scoop.
7) Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs with Caramelized Onions
Cooking chicken thighs with caramelized onions in the slow cooker is a game changer. The onions get super sweet and melt into the chicken.
Start by sautéing onions until they’re soft and golden—don’t rush this part, it’s worth it. Add them to the slow cooker with chicken thighs, garlic, salt, and pepper.
Let it all cook on low for about 6 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours. You end up with juicy chicken and a sweet onion sauce that’s hard to resist.
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs, bone-in and skin-on
- 3 large onions, thinly sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Cook the onions until caramelized, about 15 minutes.
- Put onions in the slow cooker.
- Add garlic and chicken thighs on top.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3-4 hours at 200°F (93°C) low or 300°F (149°C) high.
- Serve warm with the onion sauce.
Feel free to throw in your favorite herbs or spices. For more, check out this slow cooker chicken thighs recipe with caramelized onions.
8) Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs with Carrots and Green Beans
Sometimes you just want a meal that’s healthy and easy, right? This recipe totally delivers.
Just toss chicken thighs, carrots, and green beans into your slow cooker. The veggies cook right alongside the chicken, soaking up all that good flavor.
Slow cooking makes the chicken thighs so tender and juicy. You barely need to touch it while it cooks.
If you’re in the mood, you can throw in some herbs or a quick honey garlic sauce for extra flavor. Dinner’s ready in about 4 to 6 hours on low—pretty hands-off.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs
- 3 large carrots, cut into chunks
- 2 cups fresh green beans
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons honey
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cooking Instructions
- Place chicken thighs in the slow cooker.
- Add carrots and green beans around the chicken.
- Mix chicken broth, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper. Pour over the top.
- Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours.
- Check for doneness and serve warm.
If you’re looking for something similar, check out Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken with Carrots, Potatoes & Green Beans.
9) Slow Cooker Juicy Tender Chicken Thighs
Juicy, tender chicken thighs in the crockpot? Super easy.
All you need to do is season them with garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper. Pop them in the slow cooker with a bit of broth or sauce to keep things moist.
Let them cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, or high for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Just double-check that the internal temp hits 165°F (74°C).
The chicken soaks up all those flavors and turns out really soft. Serve it up with veggies, rice, or maybe a salad if you’re feeling fresh.
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried herbs (thyme or rosemary)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup chicken broth or your favorite sauce
Cooking Instructions
- Season chicken thighs with garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper.
- Place chicken in the slow cooker.
- Pour chicken broth or sauce over the chicken.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2 1/2-3 hours.
- Make sure the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) before serving.
10) Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs with Honey and Ketchup Sauce
You can throw together a simple, tasty meal with chicken thighs, honey, and ketchup sauce. The sauce comes out sweet and tangy, giving the chicken a sticky glaze.
Slow cooking keeps the chicken juicy and tender. Honestly, it’s hard to mess this one up.
Just mix honey, ketchup, soy sauce, garlic, and a pinch of basil. Pour that over chicken thighs in your crockpot.
Cook on low for about 6 hours. If you’re in a hurry, high for 3 or 4 hours works too.
This one’s easy and perfect for days when you don’t want to fuss over dinner. The chicken turns out flavorful and goes great with rice or some veggies.
Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
Cooking Instructions:
- Whisk together soy sauce, ketchup, honey, garlic, and basil.
- Place chicken thighs in the slow cooker.
- Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours.
- Serve warm with your choice of sides.