Description
This Crockpot Chicken Thighs recipe delivers tender, flavorful chicken with a crispy skin crust, slow-cooked to perfection. The chicken is seasoned with a smoky and slightly spicy rub, seared in a skillet to lock in flavor, then slow-cooked with garlic and chicken broth for moist, juicy results. Perfect as a convenient and delicious meal for busy days.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 lbs bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
Cooking Liquid and Aromatics
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels to ensure they crisp up well and place them in a large bowl ready for seasoning.
- Make the Spice Rub: In a small bowl, mix together salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes until well combined.
- Coat Chicken with Oil: Add olive oil to the chicken thighs and toss to coat evenly, helping the spices stick.
- Season the Chicken: Sprinkle the spice rub evenly over the chicken thighs in the bowl and toss thoroughly so every piece is well coated with the seasoning.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat a skillet over medium heat (cast iron preferred). Place chicken thighs skin side down and cook for 4-5 minutes until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
- Prepare Slow Cooker Base: Add chicken broth and chopped garlic into the slow cooker bowl, stirring to distribute the garlic evenly throughout the liquid.
- Slow Cook the Chicken: Arrange the seared chicken thighs skin side up in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 5 hours or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 185°F (85°C) and is tender and juicy.
- Serve: Remove from slow cooker and serve the chicken thighs with your preferred side dishes. Enjoy your flavorful, tender meal!
Notes
- Patting the chicken dry before searing helps achieve a crispier skin.
- Using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs keeps the meat tender and flavorful.
- Searing the chicken first locks in flavor and creates a nice crust before slow cooking.
- Ensure the internal temperature reaches 185°F for fully cooked, tender chicken.
- Feel free to customize the spice rub for different flavor profiles.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh (approximately 150g)
- Calories: 310 kcal
- Sugar: 1.5 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
