Chicken is, in my opinion, the most versatile of meats. It can be roasted, fried, grilled, or boiled. Although breasts are the leaner part of the chicken, thighs are by far the most flavorful. Bone-in chicken thighs are, to me, the best cut. The bone provides another layer of flavor you don’t get when removed. Thigh fillets are delicious too, but not as good, in my opinion.
This crockpot chicken thighs recipe is easy, full of bold flavors, and has always been a favorite in my house. Soy sauce and ketchup, when combined with spices, make the most wonderful sauce for chicken.
We will make our own ketchup using all-natural ingredients like maple syrup and tomato paste. Also, instead of using regular soy sauce, I recommend using the low sodium one, for a healthier alternative.
Other slow cooker chicken recipes we love are Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy, Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup, and Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole.
Crockpot Chicken Thighs Ingredients:
- Chicken thighs: I like to use bone-in chicken thighs . The bone gives so much flavor to the sauce and the meat itself.
- Olive oil: I recommend using light olive oil, which is better suited for frying at high temperatures.
- Tomato paste: this will be the base for our homemade ketchup.
- White vinegar is responsible for the tangy taste of ketchup.
- Maple syrup: game-changer in the ketchup scene. You can also use honey, but I prefer the milder taste of maple syrup.
- Onion and garlic powders: give it the extra layer of flavor that makes it taste almost exactly like the commercial brands.
- Mustard powder: gives ketchup a slight bitterness and earthiness.
- Worcestershire sauce: a little bit of sauce goes a long way to season your ketchup. A teaspoonful is all you need to make a difference.
- Fresh garlic: nothing can substitute the flavor of freshly minced garlic. Please do not overdo it, but adding a moderate amount gives food a distinct aroma that can’t be accomplished by any other condiment.
- Reduced sodium soy sauce: If you want to make this dish gluten-free, I recommend replacing the soy sauce with liquid aminos.
- Parsley: added for flavor as well as for presentation.
How To Make Crockpot Chicken Thighs?
- Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Heat the skillet over medium-high and add the olive oil. Pan-fry the chicken thighs skin side down until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes.
- Remove from the skillet and place the thighs inside crockpot in a single layer.
- Prepare the sauce: in a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the tomato paste, water, vinegar, maple syrup, Worcestershire sauce, and minced garlic.
- Add the garlic powder, onion powder, and mustard powder.
- Mix in the soy sauce.
- Pour sauce over chicken thighs and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3.
Substitutions For This Recipe:
- If you want to make a reduced-fat version of this meal, use skinless chicken thighs. The skin really contains a lot of fat and, although it adds a lot of flavors, it also adds a lot of calories and saturated fat.
- It’s ok to use chicken thigh fillets instead of bone-in chicken thighs. It makes them easier to eat if you have little ones in the house.
- You can use apple cider vinegar or malt vinegar instead of white. It will alter the taste of the ketchup a little bit, but not extremely. I believe in using what you have at home.
- If you are allergic to gluten, please use liquid aminos or gluten-free soy sauce for this recipe, as regular soy sauce has gluten in it.
- If you don’t have pure maple syrup at home, you can definitely use honey. Again, if you are trying to watch your calorie intake, you can use monk fruit sweetener or sugar-free syrup. If you want to eat clean, I recommend using monk fruit instead of sugar-free syrup, which contains artificial sweeteners and gums.
What To Serve With Crockpot Chicken?
Like any other well-balanced meal, this one needs a veggie and a carb side. If you check our Blog, we have a delicious Rice Pilaf recipe. You can also serve it with our Wild Rice or Mexican Rice. White rice is always a great idea too.
If you are not a fan of rice, please check out our potato dishes: Pan Fried Potatoes and Onions, Creamed Potatoes, or our delicious Potatoes Romanoff with Cheese. Adding steamed veggies or a side salad makes this a nutritious and complete meal.
Tips For Perfect Crockpot Chicken Thighs:
- I can’t say enough how good your chicken will taste by browning the skin, so please do not skip this part. It really makes all the difference.
- Do not forget to season the chicken thighs on both sides.
- Be sure not to overcrowd the crockpot. Try adding the thighs in one single layer so they all get cooked equally, and the sauce can make a delicious crust on top of each thigh.
MORE CHICKEN RECIPES YOU MIGHT ENJOY
- Baked Bbq Chicken Wings
- Baked Teriyaki Chicken Thighs
- Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken
Crock Pot Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- Crock pot
Ingredients
- 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon light olive oil
- 6 oz tomato paste
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons vinegar
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ⅛ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ tsp dried mustard
- ⅓ cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and place the chicken thighs, skin side down. Brown them for 3 minutes and turn. Brown them for 3 minutes on the other side. Place them inside the crockpot in a single layer.
- Make the ketchup: whisk together the tomato paste, water, white vinegar, maple syrup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and minced garlic until smooth.
- Add the spices: garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, and mustard powder to the mix and whisk until smooth.
- Cook for 3 hours on HIGH or for 5 hours on LOW. Serve with more parsley on top for presentation.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
- How To Store Leftover Crockpot Chicken Thighs? You can either refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to 4 days, or you can freeze them for up to three months.
- Can you put frozen chicken thighs in a crockpot? I would not recommend doing this. The slow-cooking method would take forever to defrost the frozen chicken, and it is not safe to do it this way.
- How long does it take to cook chicken thighs in the crockpot? If you brown them before putting them in the crockpot, the cooking process has begun, so just 3 hours on high or 5 on low is enough. If you don’t brown them, 4 hours on low and 6 on high should do it.
- What to put in the crockpot with chicken thighs? You can either cook them with a sauce, or you can add veggies like carrots, green beans, and onion. You can even make soup if you add chicken stock to the crockpot. It really depends on the kind of recipe you are making.
If you like this Crockpot Chicken Thighs recipe, please leave a comment and give this recipe a rating. I would love to hear from you and I truly appreciate your feedback! I will always do my best to respond to every comment ASAP. Thank you for following along! and happy cooking!
The recipe card doesn’t show any measurement for the vinegar and two for the maple syrup. Which is which?
Sorry about this! 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1/4 cup maple syrup