Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs (2024)

Published: Jan 11, 2024 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links · 5 Comments

Diet: Gluten Free

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These are the most delicious, juicy, fall apart chicken thighs cooked in the slow cooker. The BEST way to cook chicken thighs! Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs are a little bit crispy and coated in a garlic and paprika rub and then cooked in a simple but flavour packed stock.

About slow cooker chicken thighs

If you are looking for the best way to cook chicken thighs then slow cooker chicken thighs recipe is it! Just a little bit of prep to brown the chicken and give it a little bit of crispiness and then it is all put in the slow cooker to cook low and slow.

Whilst we love cooking chicken in our air fryer, there is just something about the slow cooker that gives the most juicy chicken that just falls apart. And the flavour in this is INSANE. SO good!

Serve it up with potatoes and veggies, or shred it up to add to sandwiches and salad. It's great for meal prep.

Looking for other slow cooker chicken recipes? Why not try our easy Slow Cooker Chicken Breasts, hearty Slow Cooker Chicken Chasseur or our delicious Slow Cooker Chicken Korma.

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About slow cooker chicken thighs
Ingredients and substitutions
How to make slow cooker chicken thighs - Step by step
Serving suggestions
Variations
Storage
Extra Tips
Frequently Asked Questions
More chicken recipes
Recipe
Feedback

Ingredients and substitutions

Chicken thighs - We have used boneless and skinless chicken thighs to keep it lean. But, if you want to get a really crispy skin, then you can use bone in and skin on chicken thighs. This will change the cooking times though and there is more on that in the FAQs below.
Oil - A good quality olive oil.
Seasoning - We used a mixture of paprika, garlic and Italian seasoning, but we have given some options of other seasonings below.
Garlic - You can never have too much garlic, right? Some fresh garlic (along with the granules) gives it an incredible garlic flavour. Feel free to leave it out if you don't love garlic.
Stock - This is what the chicken is cooked in. You can use a stock cube or stock pot.
Butter - This is added to the stock to give a really rich flavour. Again, it's optional, but really recommended for chicken thighs in slow cooker.
Basil - This is sprinkled on just before serving.

A full ingredients list with measurements is in the recipe card below.

How to make slow cooker chicken thighs - Step by step

One: In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, garlic granules and Italian seasoning.

Two: Sprinkle the spice blend over the chicken and rub it all over, fully coating the thighs.

Three: Put the oil in a large pan and heat over a medium. Place the thighs topside down in the pan and fry for 4 minutes.

Four: Transfer the chicken to your slow cooker.

Five: Add the crushed garlic, stock and butter.

Serving suggestions

The great thing about a slow cooker chicken thigh is that there are so many different ways to serve it. We served ours with Air Fryer Baby Potatoes and some tenderstem broccoli.

But it also goes really well with our Oven Cooked Rice or Air Fryer Chips.

Slice the cooked chicken thighs and stir-fry them with your favourite vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, and onions and our Healthy Teriyaki Sauce for a delicious stir-fry.

You can also shred the cooked chicken thighs and mix them with our Homemade Healthy BBQ Sauce. Serve on toasted buns with Coleslaw and pickles for a classic BBQ sandwich.

Variations

Seasoning - The great thing about slow cooked chicken thighs is that the flavours are so easy to adapt. We kept it to smoky paprika and plenty of garlic, but you could use a Cajun Blend or paprika and cayenne for plenty of heat.

Vegetables - If you want to make the whole meal in the slow cooker, then you can cook potatoes and vegetables in with the chicken.

We wouldn't recommend using raw potatoes, as they would still be quite hard. But a canned of new/baby potatoes would work well. You can also cook green beans at the same time.

Flavour - For added flavour, you can add some white wine, soy sauce, or balsamic vinegar.

Storage

Store:Allow the chicken to cool down to room temperature before storing it in an airtight container or ziplock bag. This will prevent any condensation from forming and potentially causing bacterial growth. Store the chicken in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Freeze:You can store it the same way in the freezer and it will keep for up to 3 months.

Defrost:Defrost it in the fridge overnight.

Reheat:You can reheat it in the microwave or on the hob.

Extra Tips

Make sure the chicken is in a single layer in your slow cooker, so that it is all sitting in the liquid.
For the best flavour, spoon the liquid from the slow cooker over the chicken before serving.
If you want to retain extra crispiness in these slow cooker chicken thighs, then put a tea towel between the lid and the pot and it will soak up the condensation.
A little bit of lemon in the stock adds a lovely freshness.
Sprinkle some red chilli flakes on top before serving for some added spice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use bone in chicken thighs instead?

Yes, you can use bone in and skin on chicken thighs in the slow cooker, but it will change the cooking time. This is because bones absorb heat. You will need to add an extra 30-45 minutes if using bone in.

What slow cooker should I use?

We use aCrock Pot DuraCeramic Slow Cookerand we love it. What I love most about it is that you can put the bowl insert on the hob too. So, we thicken gravy on the hob, in the slow cooker bowl. You can also sear the meat in it first. I also love that it has a clear lid, as I am so impatient that I want to keep looking and seeing what it is doing. If you don't have a clear lid, then lifting it to see will release lots of the heat and add to the cooking time.

Can I use the juices to make gravy?

Yes, you can. Don't let any of it go to waste. Once the chicken is out, empty the juices into a saucepan and then whisk in 1.5 tablespoon of corn flour (cornstarch). Heat on low for a few minutes until it has thickened into a gravy.

How do I know when the chicken is cooked?

The cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of the chicken. The best way to check they are done is to use a meat thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 75°C before serving. Make sure it goes into the thickest part, and not touching any bone.

More chicken recipes

Air Fryer Rotisserie Chicken
Sticky Chicken Meatballs
Creamy Chicken Orzo
Pizza Topped Chicken

If you’ve tried these slow cooked chicken thighs, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

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