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 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.

Does chicken get more tender the longer it cooks in a slow cooker? ›

Is it better to cook chicken slowly? Chicken is a very versatile and lean meat with little fat or sinew, so it doesn't need long cooking for it to become tender. Both quick high heat methods such as frying, and low, slow cooking are suitable.

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

Pre-heat a pan, preferably cast iron but non-stick will work, over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of oil, allow it to heat for 30 seconds, then add the chicken thighs. Cook for 4 minutes undisturbed, this will allow the crust to form. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes until done.

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!

Should chicken be covered in liquid in slow cooker? ›

Cover and cook. Place the cover on the slow cooker and turn it on to high for 4 hours or low for 6 to 8 hours. You do not need to add any liquid. Chickens today typically have some solution added, so they rarely need added liquid.

How to make chicken thighs taste better? ›

Chicken thighs with the skin will have more flavor and the skin will get nice and crispy. Technically, you can use chicken breasts, but we recommend thighs because they are juicier. Spices– onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika create a great rub for the chicken. Olive oil– for cooking the chicken.

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.

How to cook chicken thighs Jamie Oliver? ›

Spread out in a single layer in the roasting tray, and bake for 40 minutes in the preheated oven until golden. Lovely served with a rocket salad dressed with some lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil, and a nice glass of white wine.

Can you overcook chicken thighs in a 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.

Why does chicken get rubbery in slow cooker? ›

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.

Why is my chicken rubbery after crockpot? ›

Overcooking might play a role in your chicken's tire-like texture. Leaving chicken in a pan, oven, or grill for just a little too long can suck the moisture right out and leave you with a dry, rubbery bird. Without moisture, the protein fibers in the chicken become elastic.

How long should chicken thighs be cooked? ›

Baking Temperature and Timing

While chicken thighs only need to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees as read by a meat thermometer, I recommend you bake them until they reach 180 – 190 degrees. This takes 30-40 minutes at 400 degrees.

How do chefs get chicken so tender? ›

It is very important to marinate chicken whenever you plan to cook with high, direct heat such as grilling or pan searing, as these techniques tend to dry out the meat as it cooks. A marinade is an acidic solution that gets a head start on breaking down the structure of a protein before it is cooked.

How do you tenderize chicken thighs? ›

1) Marinate the chicken in water, wine, or other liquids for up to an hour before cooking. This will tenderize the meat and add flavor. 2) Slowly cook the chicken on low heat with a lid on top for about 15-20 minutes per pound of chicken.

Should you remove skin from chicken thighs slow cooker? ›

This method can result in incredibly juicy and fork-tender meat. To help achieve that desirable result, you should remove the skin from the chicken before it's cooked, regardless of which of the best slow-cooker chicken recipes to make at home you pick.

Can chicken thighs still be pink in slow cooker? ›

Hemoglobin in the muscles can likewise react with air during cooking to give the meat a pinkish color even after cooking. The chicken's feed and whether it's been frozen can also affect the final color.

Can chicken thighs be used instead of chicken breast? ›

If your weekly shopping list routinely includes a pack of chicken breasts, it's time to reconsider your poultry purchase. Chicken thighs are a reliably tender, flavor-packed alternative to basic boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

Do chicken thighs cook faster or slower than breasts? ›

Bone-in thighs take longer than chicken breasts. Chicken breasts will cook the quickest of all, so you won't undercook it. You might make it dry out a bit but not much if it's in a sauce-based meal.

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