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.

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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

FAQs

What can be made from chicken thighs in a slow cooker? ›

Slow cooker chicken thigh recipes
  1. Slow cooker Thai chicken curry. A star rating of 3.7 out of 5. ...
  2. Slow cooker honey mustard chicken thighs. ...
  3. Slow cooker chicken tikka masala. ...
  4. Slow-cooker chicken casserole. ...
  5. Slow-cooker Spanish chicken. ...
  6. Slow cooker pulled chicken. ...
  7. Slow cooker chicken chasseur. ...
  8. Slow-cooker butter chicken.

Can you overcook chicken thighs in slow cooker? ›

You can overcook chicken in a slow cooker. If the chicken is cooked too long, it will become dry and tough. Check your chicken for doneness early, especially if it is one of your first times making it.

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

Don't shoot the messenger. But, do not cook boneless, skinless chicken breasts on HIGH unless you like overcooked, dried out, tough meat. Always cook on LOW.

Do you need to put liquid in the slow cooker when cooking chicken? ›

Adding some liquid to the slow cooker is an essential step, and ensures that the chicken is tender and juicy.

Is it OK to put raw 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!

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.

Do you have to brown chicken before putting in a slow cooker? ›

"Browning, or caramelizing, meat before putting it into a slow cooker isn't 100 percent necessary, but it is well worth the effort for the most flavorful and full-bodied end result," he says. "The caramelized surface of the meat will lend rich flavor and color to the finished dish."

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 to make chicken thighs taste better? ›

Spices like smoked paprika, cumin, coriander, cayenne, and thyme will make the most flavorful spice rub for your chicken, so make sure to always have your pantry stocked with some spices. Preheat a cast iron or non-stick pan over medium-high heat for 2 minutes with 1 tablespoon of oil.

Can chicken thighs be a little pink? ›

Safely cooked poultry can vary in color from white to pink to tan. All poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 °F (73.9°C) as measured with a food thermometer. For whole poultry, check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast.

How to cook chicken thighs in Jamie Oliver? ›

Cut each chicken thigh into three strips and place in a bowl. Rub the meat all over with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper, then toss. Heat a large frying pan, big enough to hold all the chicken pieces snugly in one layer, and put the chicken into the pan, skin side down.

Can you overcook chicken in a slow cooker? ›

2) Use the right Crockpot size

Aside from accidentally overcooking the meals, the most common reason we see for tough, rubbery, or overdone chicken is customers using a Crockpot that is far too big.

How long can you leave chicken in a 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. Perfect for shredding!

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

Using a nice, long, low-and-slow cook time helps chicken breasts retain plenty of moisture - but you can certainly opt to add a splash of water or chicken stock to the crockpot if you like!

Should chicken thighs be cooked fast or slow? ›

The key is to cook them slowly.

(That discovery is what led to the supple meat in our Mahogany Chicken Thighs and Grilled Spice-Rubbed Chicken Drumsticks recipes.) Poultry Lovers Unite!

What makes chicken rubbery in crockpot? ›

In addition, chicken breast has less fat and can become dry (chewy or rubbery) if cooked for too long. Without moisture, the protein fibers in the chicken become elastic. Included with each meal is a set of instructions to help you cook the meals.

Can you cook chicken thighs from frozen in a slow cooker? ›

You can place frozen chicken thighs directly into your slow cooker without thawing. This method is safe and ensures that the chicken remains tender.

Can chicken thighs be used instead of chicken breast? ›

Chicken thighs are a less expensive and more flavorful alternative to basic chicken breasts. Find out how to cook chicken thighs perfectly in four ways—baked, grilled, in a skillet and in the Instant Pot. Kimberly Holland is Southern Living magazine's digital food editor and a highly regarded content creator.

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