How long do you cook chicken thighs in crock pot

Slow cooker chicken thighs is an effortless meal solution resulting in outrageously tender chicken generously dusted with a simple chicken seasoning rub.

Table of Contents Show

How Long to Cook Chicken Thighs in Slow Cooker
How Do I Cook Bone-In Chicken Thighs
How to Cook Chicken Thighs in the Slow Cooker
Will Skin Get Crispy in the Slow Cooker?
Chicken Thighs Recipes
How long does it take for chicken thighs to cook?
Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in crockpot?

Once upon a time, when I was a kid I drove our lawn mower into the side of my parent's garage, significantly damaging it. The only thing that spared me from the full extent of my dad's wrath was a tree falling on our roof before my dad got home. Fast forward twenty years and my son drives an ATV into the side of my pole shed, punching a good hole in it. What happens next? Well, a tree lands on the roof of the shed! I wish history didn't repeat itself quite so often.

So that's pretty much what is on the agenda today. As soon as I am done writing about these slow cooker chicken thighs I have to meet with the insurance adjuster to assess the damage.

But, you know what? It is hard to beat the slow cooker for crazy days like today, and it is hard to beat chicken thighs for an inexpensive hassle-free meal. Let's take a look at one of my favorite ways to make them!

I actually prefer to cook chicken thighs in the slow cooker instead of the oven. Why? As the bone-in chicken thighs cook the moisture renders out of the skin, pooling in the bottom of the slow cooker where the chicken is sitting, essentially cooking the chicken in its own flavorful juices. Not only does this make the chicken taste better, the moisture makes the meat more tender.

How Long to Cook Chicken Thighs in Slow Cooker

I find 4 hours on low to be ideal when cooking chicken thighs in the slow cooker. This gives the skin plenty of time to render out the fat, resulting in firmer/dryer skin when served. You can cook the chicken longer if needed, nothing bad will happen. The meat will get more tender the longer it cooks until it finally falls off the bone.

How Do I Cook Bone-In Chicken Thighs

You have a lot of flavoring options for cooking your chicken thighs. When using a slow cooker, I personally recommend sticking to a dry rub, or basic chicken seasoning. By not adding moisture to the slow cooker (like a BBQ sauce for example), you will allow the skin to dry out as it cooks, resulting in a more crisp skin. Adding a sauce will certainly flavor the meat, but the skin will remain soggy.

How to Cook Chicken Thighs in the Slow Cooker

I find six chicken thighs fit perfectly in the bottom of my 6-Quart Crock Pot, however, you can still easily make this recipe if you have a different sized slow cooker. The chicken thighs need to be laid in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker, so you are welcome to use as many thighs as will fit in yours.

Will Skin Get Crispy in the Slow Cooker?

The slow cooker is NOT an ideal cooking vessel if you are looking for crispy chicken skin. Baking or broiling your chicken thighs will result in much crispier skin. That being said, you do not need to settle for soggy, rubbery skin just because you are using a slow cooker. As the chicken thighs cook they will release moisture, the skin sitting in the pooling liquid will never get remotely crisp. However, the portion of the skin resting above the liquid will render fat and will firm up. I still would not describe it as "crispy", however, it is crisp enough that you can bite through it.

To summarize: If you are looking for maximum crispy chicken skin, use your oven.

Chicken Thighs Recipes

If you are looking for other recipe ideas for chicken thighs, check out these crispy Soy-Brined Chicken Thighs, my Indian Butter Chicken, or my Filipino Chicken Adobo!

▢ 6 Chicken Thighs (bone in)
▢ Salt and needed

Chicken Seasoning

▢ ½ teaspoon Paprika
▢ ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
▢ ¼ teaspoon Onion Powder
▢ ¼ teaspoon Oregano
▢ 1 dash Cayenne Pepper

Lightly sprinkle chicken with salt on each side.
In a small dish combine chicken seasoning and blend together. Sprinkle liberally over chicken thighs.
Arrange chicken thighs in a single layer at the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker, skin side up. Turn on low and let cook for 4 hours. Chicken will surpass 165 degrees when measured with a meat thermometer.

The longer the chicken cooks the more tender it will be. 4 hours is plenty of time to create sufficiently tender chicken, but it can be left in the slow cooker longer if needed.

IF YOU LIKED THIS RECIPE check out my Ginger Peach Glazed Chicken Thighs recipe too!

If you enjoyed reading my Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs (Bone-In) recipe then you should probably like me on Facebook and follow me on Pinterest too. That’s what I would do at least, because if you don’t get to know me but you still use my recipe it is kind of like taking candy from a stranger, and your mom taught you not to do that. Don’t disobey your mom, subscribe to Fox Valley Foodie today!

How long does it take for chicken thighs to cook?

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs cook quickly, in 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size. Bone-in thighs, however, take a bit more time, between 25 and 30 minutes. Use a thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the thighs. They're finished cooking when the temperature reads 165°F.

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, even if you check it early. On high, the chicken turns out drier; I consistently have the best results with low.