Crock Pot Chicken Thighs

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my slow cooker chicken thighs recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.

• Chicken – This recipe for Crock Pot chicken thighs uses bone-in chicken thighs, which have great flavor and get a crispy skin, but you can also make it with boneless skinless chicken thighs or even chicken breasts.
• Spices & Herbs – Rub both sides of the chicken with a combination of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, sea salt, and black pepper. Feel free to use other dried herbs and spices of your choice.
• Olive Oil – Used for searing the skin before cooking the chicken thighs in the Crock Pot. You could also use avocado oil or another neutral heat-safe oil.
• Coconut Aminos – This is my all-time favorite soy sauce substitute, but regular or low sodium soy sauce works as well.
• Honey – I prefer sugar-free honey, but you can use regular honey if you like.

VARIATION: Make it BBQ.

If you want the tasty goodness of BBQ chicken, use the and seasonings from my Crock Pot chicken legs.

How To Make Chicken Thighs In The Crock Pot

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.

1. Mix the spices. In a small bowl, mix together paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, sea salt and black pepper.
2. Season the chicken. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Rub both sides with the spice mixture.

3. Sear until crispy. In a large cast iron skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Sear the chicken, skin side down, until the skin is crispy. (I flipped it over in the picture below to show what it looks like, but you don’t have to.)

TIP: You can skip the searing step if you want to, but I don’t recommend it.

A quick sear makes the skin so crispy and delicious! But if you’re in a big rush, you could place the chicken directly into the slow cooker right away.

4. Transfer and add the honey mixture. Place the chicken thighs in a slow cooker, skin side up. Whisk together the honey and coconut aminos in a small bowl, then pour the mixture over the chicken.

5. Slow cook. Cover and cook chicken thighs in the Crock Pot, until they are very tender.

TIP: If you like, you can make a honey garlic sauce from the juices in the slow cooker!

Simply whisk about a tablespoon cornstarch, or your favorite cornstarch substitute (amount needed may vary), into the liquid at the bottom of the slow cooker.

How Long To Cook Chicken Thighs In The Crock Pot?

Cook time for slow cooker chicken thighs is typically 4 to 5 hours on Low or 2 to 2.5 hours on High. For best results, the chicken should reach an internal temperature of at least 170 degrees F — this is the optimal temperature for dark meats to make them juicy.

Flavor Variations

Want to make Crock Pot chicken thighs in a different flavor? Here are a few ways to do it:

• Teriyaki – Make my homemade teriyaki sauce and pour it over chicken thighs in the slow cooker, then cook following the recipe instructions. You can even serve them in place of the chicken pieces in a teriyaki chicken bowl!
• BBQ – To make BBQ chicken thighs in the Crock Pot, omit the other ingredients and simply coat the meat with your favorite BBQ sauce, and cook in the slow cooker. At the end, brush with more sauce and broil for a few minutes if you want to crisp up the skin.
• Garlic Butter – Rub compound butter under the chicken skin (see my oven baked chicken thighs recipe for more details on how to do this). For the skin and outside of the chicken, use the same spices below and sear the same way. Instead of the honey and coconut aminos, pour 3/4 cup of chicken broth into the bottom of the slow cooker before cooking.

Serving Ideas

This chicken is so versatile! You can pair it with just about any side dish, but here are a few of my top choices:

• Potatoes – Serve the honey garlic chicken thighs over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes (or cauliflower mashed potatoes, pictured above!) for a comforting meal. You can also try Instant Pot baked potatoes or crispy roasted potatoes, or just arrange some diced potatoes around the chicken thighs in the slow cooker before cooking for a one-pot option.
• Roasted Vegetables – Make roasted brussels sprouts, quick roasted asparagus, or a big medley of your favorite roasted vegetables.
• Rice – Place the chicken on top of a heaping pile of rice (or cauliflower rice).
• Salad – You can’t go wrong with a simple side salad. Crock Pot chicken thigh recipes pair well with any of my healthy salad recipes, but I especially love it with butternut squash salad or beet salad in the fall months.

My Tools For This Recipe

• Cast Iron Skillet – The cast iron gives the chicken a perfect sear for crispy skin.
• Slow Cooker – You can program this one to start cooking chicken thigh Crock Pot recipes while you’re at work and finish cooking right when you get home.