Description
This Crock Pot Chicken Legs recipe features tender, juicy chicken legs slow-cooked in a rich, homemade Southern Soul BBQ Sauce. The chicken is first seared to lock in flavors and then simmered low and slow for hours, resulting in melt-in-your-mouth texture and a deeply flavorful dish perfect for a comforting family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken legs
- 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
BBQ Sauce
- 2 ½ cups homemade Southern Soul BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- Make the BBQ Sauce: Prepare the homemade Southern Soul BBQ Sauce according to your favorite recipe and keep it simmering to meld the flavors while you prepare the chicken.
- Season and Sear the Chicken: Pat the chicken legs dry and season all sides evenly with Kosher salt and black pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, sear the chicken legs on all sides until they develop a golden brown crust, about 3-4 minutes per side. This step locks in juices and adds depth of flavor.
- Transfer to Crock Pot and Add Sauce: Remove the seared chicken legs from the skillet and place them into the crock pot in a single layer. Pour the simmering homemade BBQ sauce evenly over the chicken, turning the legs to ensure they are thoroughly coated in the sauce.
- Slow Cook the Chicken: Cover the crock pot with the lid and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours until the chicken is tender, fully cooked, and easily pulls away from the bone.
- Serve: Carefully transfer the cooked chicken legs to a serving platter. Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley over the top for a bright, fresh garnish. Serve warm with your favorite sides.
Notes
- Searing the chicken before slow cooking enhances flavor but can be skipped for convenience.
- You can use store-bought BBQ sauce if you prefer to save time, but homemade sauce yields the best taste.
- Cooking times may vary slightly depending on your crock pot model and size of chicken legs.
- For extra caramelization, place the cooked chicken under the broiler for 2-3 minutes before serving.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat nicely in the oven or microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 chicken legs with sauce
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 40g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
