Name: Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 300 min
Total time: 310 min
Ingredients: 8-10 chicken drumsticks; 1 tablespoon cornstarch; 2 ½ teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon chili powder; green onions (sliced); 1 cup BBQ sauce (your favorite kind); 1 cup peach preserves; ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce; 3 tablespoons fresh jalapeños (diced)

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Slow cooker chicken drumsticks, perfectly tender and smothered in a sweet and spicy sauce. Set it and forget it for hassle-free fall-off-the-bone chicken.

You know how much I love using my crock pot for easy dinners like pork chops and gravy, buffalo wings and even meatloaf. Setting and forgetting is my jam!

You can prep this Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks recipe in just 10 minutes. You’ll absolutely love the sweet and spicy sauce that features barbecue sauce and peach jam for unique flavorings.

Ingredients Needed

ingredients for slow cooker chicken drumsticks on a table

I developed this recipe with bone-in chicken legs. Substitute another cut if chicken if you’d like!
Choose a barbecue sauce that you love the flavor of. I generally use Sweet Baby Ray’s.
If you’re sensitive to salt, I recommend using a low sodium soy sauce. Or reduce the salt to 1 teaspoon when seasoning the chicken.

✨ See the recipe card for complete ingredients and amounts. ✨

How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

This recipe takes just 3 steps:

Add the chicken into a slow cooker liner. Sprinkle the chicken with cornstarch, salt, pepper, garlic powder and chili powder, tossing to coat evenly.

seasoned, uncooked drumsticks in a crockpot

In a medium bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, peach preserves, soy sauce and diced jalapeños. Pour the sauce over the chicken.
Cook on high 2-3 hours or low 4-5 hours or until the chicken is fall off the bone tender.

cooked chicken drumsticks in a slow cooker

What if I don’t have a slow cooker?

If you don’t have a crockpot, you can still make this chicken legs recipe in a Dutch oven or heavy bottom, oven safe pot. Follow the same directions and add your pot to the oven set to 350°F for 2-3 hours. Use a meat thermometer to check your chicken. Chicken is safe to eat at 165°F.

What do I serve with my slow cooker chicken drumsticks?

The fork tender chicken drumsticks are a wonderful weeknight dinner or party main dish and are complemented well with several different sides. Here are some of my favorites.

Add a simple side salad with your favorite dressing.
Place your drumsticks over a bed of mashed potatoes or rice pilaf.
Serve with a side of roasted potatoes or french fries.
This sauce is wonderful spooned over green veggies like green beans, broccoli, carrots or brussels sprouts.

And serve our brown sugar cookies for a little taste of sweetness after dinner.

chicken drumsticks on a table with potatoes and salad

Make it Ahead Freezer Meal

This is a great recipe to make ahead and freeze for a busy night. Add all of the ingredients to a resealable gallon sized bag and toss to coat. Freeze the whole bag for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready, place the bag on a sheet pan and defrost in the refrigerator overnight. Cook as directed.

Storage and Reheating

Store any leftover chicken drumsticks by placing them into an airtight container and refrigerating. They will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer.

To reheat, place your slow cooker drumsticks on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 350°F.

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