The 15+ Best Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes (2024)

These slow cooker chicken thigh recipes are the best ones to use for healthy and delicious chicken dinners! Slow cooking your chicken will give you more time for the things that matter the most to you. Plus, you will walk into the house after a long day and a delicious chicken dinner will be ready to serve!

The 15+ Best Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes (1)

Can you put frozen chicken thighs in a slow cooker?

This question comes up often, and the topic is, to say the least, controversial. Technically, yes; You can cook frozen chicken in a slow cooker. More importantly, though is the question, should you cook frozen chicken in a crockpot?? The answer boils down to an issue of food safety and the risk of food poisoning.

According to the Crock-Pot manufacturer’s website, it should be done with caution. They offer the following advice:

  1. To assure that foods are properly cooked, use a food thermometer to determine the internal temperature. In the case of slow cooker chicken thigh recipes, the rule is simple. Chicken is properly cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. A direct quote from Crock-Pot says, “Add at least 1 cup of warm liquid to the stoneware before placing frozen meat in the stoneware. Do not preheat the slow cooker. Cook recipes containing frozen meats for an additional 4 to 6 hours on low, or an additional 2 hours on high.”

Now that you have those recommendations, it’s time to find some new favorite slow cooker chicken thigh recipes to try!

Browse through the recipes below. When something catches your eye, get the recipe by clicking on the recipe link. Or, you can click on the photo beneath the link.

Be sure to bookmark, print, or Pin your favorite recipes. By doing so, you’ll have access to the chicken thigh recipes when you are ready to make them!

Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes

Easy Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken

There’s no need for side dishes when you make this chicken thigh recipe! Tender white potatoes and healthy veggies are cooked right in the crockpot with the bone-in chicken thighs.

Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs in Garlic-Lemon Sauce, from JessicaGavin

Easy to make, slow cooker chicken thighs with hearty vegetables is a flavourful, complete meal! Everything is simmered together in a delicious, lemony garlic herb sauce.

The 15+ Best Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes (3)

Healthy Crock Pot Chicken and Rice

This Peruvian-inspired chicken dinner is one of our favorite slow cooker chicken thigh recipes! Full of vegetables, delicious seasonings, fiber-rich brown rice, and juicy chicken thighs.

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs, from Sweet Peas & Saffron

These chicken thighs have a deliciously sticky, sweet and savory sauce that is perfect for spooning over rice and vegetables. This makes a great weeknight dinner or meal prep recipe.

The 15+ Best Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes (5)

Slow Cooker Butter Chicken, from One Lovely Life

This crock pot take on paleo butter chicken is so easy and delicious it’s become one of the all-time best slow cooker chicken thigh recipes on One Lovely Life!

The 15+ Best Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes (6)

Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken

This recipe delivers all of the teriyaki flavors of Asian take-out, made easily in your slow cooker. This dish features juicy chicken thighs and fresh vegetables tossed in a sweet teriyaki sauce.

Slow Cooker Herbed Chicken and Rice Pilaf, from Half Baked Harvest

Whether it’s for Sunday dinner or a hearty, healthy weeknight meal, this is one of the slow cooker chicken thigh recipes you’ll make often!

The 15+ Best Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes (8)

Thai Slow Cooker Chicken Wild Rice Soup, from Sweet Peas & Saffron

This Thai Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is a twist on a classic comfort recipe. A bit spicy, savory and sweet, and completely comforting!

The 15+ Best Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes (9)

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore With Potatoes, from Cafe Delites

A classic Italian dinner made easily in a crock pot, Chicken Cacciatore With Potatoes features chicken falling off the bone in a hearty Italian stew!

The 15+ Best Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes (10)

Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken Thighs, from Slow Cooker Gourmet

This healthy chicken thigh recipe creates a delicious dinner with a beautiful presentation that will have everyone’s mouth watering before you get it to the table!

The 15+ Best Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes (11)

Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken, from Slender Kitchen

With tender chicken thighs, olives, sweet red peppers, and onion, this slow cooker chicken thigh recipe couldn’t be more delicious, and it’s healthy too!

The 15+ Best Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes (12)

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos, from The Real Food RDs

Turn simple chicken thighs into a delicious and healthy Mexican meal in your slow cooker. When you do that, you’ll have a Taco Tuesday winner chicken dinner!

The 15+ Best Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes (13)

Crockpot Salsa Verde Chicken, from Eat Well 101

Loaded with salsa verde, lime juice, and sliced bell peppers, this deliciously healthy slow cooker chicken thigh recipe is easy to make and full of amazing flavors!

The 15+ Best Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes (14)

Slow Cooker Coconut Chicken Curry, from The Food Charlatan

Slow cook your way to one of the best chicken curries you will ever eat! The sauce has coconut milk, jalapeno, and red onion. It’s not too spicy, but it has tons of flavor.

The 15+ Best Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes (15)

Slow Cooker Spicy Shredded Mexican Chicken, from Host the Toast

This slow cooker chicken thigh recipe creates chicken taco meat that’s incredibly hearty! Plus, now there’s yet another delicious reason for hosting Taco Tuesday.

The 15+ Best Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes (16)

The 15+ Best Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can you overcook chicken thighs in a slow cooker? ›

The answer is yes, but you might not want to. Overcooked chicken tends to be dry and unappetizing. The slow cooker is a forgiving environment but even so, 8 hours or more is a long time for chicken to cook.

Do chicken thighs get more tender the longer you cook them? ›

Unlike chicken breasts, chicken thighs and drumsticks actually become more tender the longer they cook. That's because of their makeup. Dark meat has an abundant amount of connective tissue, which dissolves into gelatin as the meat cooks, rendering it juicy and tender.

Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in crockpot? ›

Always cook your boneless skinless chicken breasts on LOW for the best results. I do not recommend cooking boneless chicken breast on HIGH, as it will become very dry and tough, even if you check it early. On high, the chicken turns out drier; I consistently have the best results with low.

Is it better to cook chicken thighs high or low? ›

If you get impatient and heat up your chicken thighs by cranking the temperature all the way up, your chicken will be too dry, which is the last thing you want. Instead, you want to keep your chicken thighs slowly cooking on a low temperature, thus allowing the meat to marinate in its juices and gradually tenderize.

How do I keep chicken from drying out in the crockpot? ›

Chicken pieces, particularly chicken thighs and legs, will dry out less quickly and maintain their texture best when layered on top of other ingredients. Plus, this helps to flavor the entire dish as the chicken cooks and releases juices.

Why do chefs prefer chicken thighs? ›

While the breast is very low in fat, chicken thighs are higher in fat, and in cooking, fat equals flavor. It also means the thighs are more tender and less likely to dry out than chicken breasts—in other words, they are very easy to cook and very difficult to ruin.

Should you flip chicken thighs when cooking? ›

If you started in a warm / hot pan, the fat won't completely render out of the skin. Only flip once the skin is dark golden brown. The skin will naturally release from the pan once it is ready to be flipped, don't force it. Cook the thighs to 175*F MINIMUM.

Do you cook chicken thighs skin side up or down first? ›

Once the pan is hot, add the chicken thighs, skin side down, and allow them to cook undisturbed for 8 minutes. Transfer the pan to the oven and allow to continue cooking skin side down for 9 minutes, flip chicken thighs and allow to cook 3 minutes more.

How do chefs get chicken so tender? ›

Low and slow cooking methods like braising, stewing, or smoking are most effective when trying to create tender, succulent chicken.

How do you tenderize chicken thighs? ›

Here are four simple steps you can follow to make your chicken dishes as juicy, flavorful, and tender as possible:
  1. Debone the pieces of meat. To tenderize pieces of chicken, you'll need to remove any bones left in the meat. ...
  2. Pound the poultry. ...
  3. Marinate your chicken. ...
  4. Cook at an adequate temperature.
Oct 8, 2021

Should you flip chicken in a slow cooker? ›

Should you flip the chicken in the slow cooker? No, all you need to do is add all the ingredients into the slow cooker, cover and cook. Chicken is such a delicious, versatile and healthy option and there are a variety of ways to cook it.

How long can chicken stay in the crockpot on low? ›

Cover your crock pot and cook chicken breasts on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Chicken is done when the internal temp reaches 165 degrees F. Use chicken in your favorite recipes.

Can you put uncooked chicken in slow cooker? ›

Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!

Does chicken get more tender the longer you slow cook it? ›

Yes, chicken breast will become softer and more tender the longer it is cooked, provided it is cooked at a low enough temperature. If it is cooked at too high of a temperature, the chicken breast will become dry and tough.

What happens if you overcook chicken thighs? ›

You Still Need To Use A Thermometer

The sweet spot for chicken thighs is between 175 and 195 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a little higher than the 165 degrees recommended for white meat. If dark meat is cooked to more than 210 degrees Fahrenheit it will start to dry out and get stringy.

How long can you leave chicken in a slow cooker? ›

You certainly can, the meat will simply fall to bits, which might be desirable for some recipes like “Chicken and Dumplings” which will take 8–12 hours on “Low” setting. As long as the temperature remains above 140 F you can leave your chicken in the cooker all day but try to avoid more than 12 hours

Can you cook chicken thighs too long? ›

One of the most underrated and not-talked-enough-about qualities of chicken thighs is that it's nearly impossible to overcook them. The beauty of dark meat! Unlike the other most common cut of chicken (breasts), thighs are extremely forgiving when it comes to cook times.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Roderick King

Last Updated:

Views: 6432

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Roderick King

Birthday: 1997-10-09

Address: 3782 Madge Knoll, East Dudley, MA 63913

Phone: +2521695290067

Job: Customer Sales Coordinator

Hobby: Gunsmithing, Embroidery, Parkour, Kitesurfing, Rock climbing, Sand art, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Roderick King, I am a cute, splendid, excited, perfect, gentle, funny, vivacious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.