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Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks - Fall Off The Bone Crockpot Recipe

These slow cooker BBQ chicken drumsticks are the ultimate set-and-forget dinner that delivers incredible flavor with minimal effort. The magic of the crockpot transforms ordinary chicken legs into fall-off-the-bone tender perfection coated in a rich, savory barbecue sauce.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 420
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 8-10 chicken drumsticks
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels and place them in your slow cooker. This helps the sauce adhere better to the chicken.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt until well combined.
  3. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken drumsticks, making sure each piece is well coated. You can gently toss them to ensure even coverage.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. The chicken is ready when it easily pulls away from the bone with a fork.
  5. For a thicker sauce, carefully transfer the chicken to a serving platter. Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water, then stir this slurry into the sauce in the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 15-20 minutes until thickened, then pour over the chicken.

Notes

For less greasy results, remove skin before cooking. Experiment with different barbecue sauce flavors. For extra texture, broil cooked drumsticks for 2-3 minutes to caramelize sauce. Recipe doubles easily for meal prep or crowds.