Whether you need a recipe for busy weeknights, or are missing the grill during the colder months, Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks is a delicious and easy recipe that's perfect. It’s also a great recipe if you’re looking to impress someone with your culinary skills, but you really don’t have any - I’m speaking from experience here.
With a few simple ingredients and an afternoon in the slow cooker, these babies will be fall-off-the-bone tender and packed with flavor. Let’s dig in!
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The gluten-free guide below is based on personal experience and research. Always be sure to discuss any medical changes with your doctor for your personal medical needs. Additionally, this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
🌿 Nutritional Benefits of Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Chicken drumsticks offer a number of health benefits. They also pair well with a variety of vegetables and side dishes to make a well balanced meal.
- High in protein: chicken drumsticks are an excellent source of protein containing approximately 20 grams of protein in 4 ounces.
- Chicken drumsticks are low in carbohydrates making this a good option for anyone following a low-carb diet.
- Essential vitamins and minerals: including B vitamins, selenium, and phosphorus, which support energy metabolism, immune function, and overall health.
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🍗 Ingredients for Gluten Free BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
This recipe is so simple it uses hardly any ingredients. Don’t let the short ingredients list deceive you though - these slow cooker drumsticks are full of flavor! While you likely have most of the seasonings on hand, if you need to stock up on anything consider Thrive Market. You can check out my full review of why I love it for gluten-free living here.
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- Chicken legs
- Season salt
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Chili powder
- Paprika
- Gluten-free BBQ sauce (my favorite is Sweet Baby Ray’s but if you need a paleo, unsweetened option I recommend Primal Kitchen)
You also could make a similar recipe using a different gluten-free sauce such as these Teriyaki Turkey Wings. Honestly, the sky is the limit with these!
See recipe card for quantities and keep reading for ingredient substitutions and variations.
🥣 Instructions for Slow Cooker Drumsticks
Step 1: Combine the seasonings together.
Step 2. Add chicken drumsticks and coat each drumstick with seasoning, rubbing it into the meat.
Step 3: Place chicken in the slow cooker and brush on the BBQ sauce. Cook on high for 4 hours.
Step 4: Top with more BBQ sauce and serve.
Hint: For a sticky leg, place under the broiler for 3-5 minutes. Watch closely so it doesn’t burn!
Once these are complete, pair with a starch or gluten-free whole grain and a vegetable side for a complete meal. I recommend serving these drumsticks with these mashed potatoes and roasted carrots and zucchini.
🔪 Equipment
I wasn’t kidding when I said it was an easy recipe! You only need 2 pieces of equipment to make it.
- Slow Cooker
- Measuring spoons
What’s even better is that the clean up can be as simple as the recipe with these crockpot liner bags. They are one of my favorite kitchen hacks!
🍽️ Storage
Barbecue chicken legs in a crock pot store well in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. They can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
If you opt to freeze them it is recommended that you thaw them overnight before reheating.
⭐ Top tip
Experiment with different BBQ sauces to change up the flavor profile. Remember to always confirm that you’re using gluten free BBQ sauce.
💛 Did you love this slow cooker bbq chicken drumsticks recipe?
You’re going to want quick and easy access to this slow cooker drumsticks recipe so be sure to save it to Pinterest for reference later. Plus it’ll be easy to share when all your friends start asking for the recipe!
More Gluten-Free Slow Cooker Recipes
Looking for other recipes you can make in a slow cooker? Try these:
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
Ingredients
- 6 chicken legs
- 1 teaspoon season salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ⅓ cup gluten-free bbq sauce
Instructions
- Combine all the seasonings together.
- Season all of the chicken and rub it into each piece.
- Place chicken into the slow cooker and brush on bbq sauce.
- Cook on HIGH for 4 hours.
- Remove and top with more bbq sauce.
- For a sticky bbq leg, place under the broiler for 3-5 min (watch closely!)
Notes
- ingredient and equipment suggestions & substitutions,
- tips for modifying the recipe, and
- frequently asked questions
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