Tender BBQ Crockpot chicken thighs make excellent pulled chicken sandwiches or an easy barbecue main dish with sides. Serve the chicken warm straight out of the slowcooker for an easy buffet entree.
1tbspbarbecue dry rub seasoning *see Notes for substitute
1cupprepared BBQ sauce
1tspWorcestershire sauce
Optional: 1 yellow or red oniondiced
Instructions
Spray the inside of your slowcooker with cooking spray.
Place one layer of boneless, skinless chicken thighs on the bottom of the Crockpot. Use a fork or tongs to open them up from the folded position they are packaged in. Don't overlap them, just start with a single layer.
Sprinkle half of the dry BBQ rub, a pinch of salt, and a sprinkle of black pepper over the chicken in the slowcooker.
Spread another layer of chicken, opening them up as you add them to the pot. Sprinkle with more seasonings and continue until all the chicken has been added to the pot.
If using onions, spread them over the chicken now.
Pour the barbecue sauce over the top of the chicken. Add the Worcestershire sauce and then cover the pot with the lid.
Cook on HIGH heat for 3 - 4 hours. Stir the chicken and sauce after about 2 hours to help coat all the meat in sauce and rotate the pieces from the bottom to the top.
The BBQ chicken is done when it is fall-apart fork tender and the sauce is starting to bubble.
Recipe Notes
BBQ Dry Rub Options:You can use any brand of prepared BBQ dry rub that your family prefers. They come in varieties from sweet to spicy and often feature chili powder, paprika, garlic, cayenne, and sometimes a bit of brown sugar. The dry rub helps season the meat as it cooks. If you don't have BBQ seasoning on hand, you can simply sprinkle some kosher salt and black pepper over the chicken to help season it.Chicken Piece Substitutions:If you prefer to use a leaner cut of chicken, boneless skinless chicken breasts or tenderloins can be used but should be cut into smaller portions so they cook more evenly. Reduce the cooking time to 2 1/2 hours and check for doneness, they will cook much faster than thighs.