Slow Cooker BBQ or Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks or Legs is an easy, healthy, crock pot recipe, served plain or coated, oven broiled to crispy skin perfection!
Crockpot Chicken Drumsticks
First, to clarify, chicken legs include the drumstick and thigh and a drumstick is just a drumstick! Both will work with this easy recipe and work well.
Looking to slow cook chicken legs and not just drumsticks? You have definitely come to the right place.
These chicken drumsticks or legs are easy and fantastic with or without sauce coating them! They’re beautifully cooked in your slow cooker and finished under the broiler in your oven.
They just have to be to get the best finish on the outside of them.
Included, are recipes for homemade BBQ and Buffalo Sauces. Both are super simple to make and both sauces get baked right into your drumsticks, if desired.
You can always eat them plain. Our simple spice rub is only a few ingredients that you likely have in your pantry: salt, pepper and paprika.
Rub that onto your chicken legs before you place them inside your crock pot.
Once cooked, place all of the chicken under your broiler to crisp up the outside.
Super easy. Super good.
There are two different coatings for you to bake into your chicken drumsticks and both are fabulous!
The first is Honey Barbecue Sauce and the second, Buffalo or Buffalo Wing Sauce.
Honey. I love chicken with a little sweetness so I will always use honey in my barbecue sauce, and Ken will usually just use barbecue sauce.
Either way these drumsticks taste delicious.
I get cravings for these Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks and I just can’t get enough of them. I have always loved buffalo wings and now almost prefer drumsticks because there is more meat on each!
All you need to do now is pick your favorite sauce, decide whether you want to use store bought or homemade, and make the best crockpot chicken drumsticks.
Really.
I wouldn’t waste your time.
Healthy Chicken Drumstick Slow Cooker Recipe
I love using my slow cooker and making simple meals like this and recipes do not get any easier or healthier for that matter!
This is a healthy chicken drumstick recipe made right inside your slow cooker.
In my opinion, you have to broil bbq chicken legs or drumsticks after slow cooking them. It is the only way to go when making drumsticks!
Your broiler will do an amazing job at crisping up your cooked chicken legs and drumsticks.
In my opinion, it’s the best way to do it.
Don’t get me wrong, we usually make these chicken drumsticks with a coating on them. We just love the taste of the coating sticking to the outside of each drumstick.
Oh so good.
Even though we love our drumsticks coated, we ALWAYS eat one or two plain, as soon as they are cooked. We likely always will.
Let me tell you how tasty they are plain. Well not totally plain but I don’t really count a little salt, pepper and paprika as anything other than plain, and I’m sure you know what I mean.
Hopefully you agree.
These drumsticks are super healthy and made right inside your own slow cooker! Served plain or coated with anything your heart desires.
Crockpot Chicken Legs
The best thing about this healthy chicken drumstick slow cooker recipe is that no one will know how healthy it is. Sounds strange but I always think that is a good thing.
We used to cook these drumsticks or chicken legs with sauce on them inside the slow cooker. As of late we have switched things up and believe we have created a much better slow cooked and broiled bbq chicken legs recipe.
I am pretty sure you will agree.
Just in case you are not interested in fixing something that isn’t broken I have left the original recipe down below, titled as the Original Slow Cooker Honey Barbecue Drumsticks recipe.
Both the ingredients and directions are listed. Exactly as originally written.
Regardless, I encourage you to try the recipe using our method now. I can’t wait to hear what you think in the comment section below.
This terrific crockpot chicken drumsticks or slow cooker chicken legs is a definite keeper.
An amazing recipe is now even better!
Ingredients in Slow Cooker BBQ or Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks
- 2-3 pounds chicken drumsticks, trimmed or 4 chicken leg quarters, trimmed
- paprika
- salt
- pepper
- cooking spray
How to make Slow Cooker BBQ or Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks
Prepare your slow cooker with cooking spray.
Add paprika, salt and pepper to a large resealable bag and adjust until blended.
Add chicken legs or drumsticks and toss until coated.
Place inside slow cooker as evenly spaced as possible.
Cover and cook on low until chicken is cooked and tender, 4 to 5 hours.
Pick the sauce you want to use, if any. I have included homemade sauces for our slow cooker buffalo chicken legs, slow cooker bbq chicken drumsticks or slow cooker honey bbq chicken drumsticks!
Adjust your oven rack 6 inches from your broiler.
Turn your oven on to broil and allow it to preheat.
Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with tin foil and a rack lightly coated in cooking spray.
Place chicken pieces on top of your rack as evenly spaced as possible.
Broil chicken until lightly browned and charred, about 10 minutes, flipping chicken halfway through broiling.
Brush chicken with sauce, if using, and continue to broil until lightly charred, about another 5 minutes, flipping and brushing chicken with more sauce halfway through broiling.
Brush chicken with remaining sauce.
Serve and enjoy every bite.
Doesn’t that sound terrific? I hope you want to try to slow cook your chicken drumsticks and then oven broil them! I am pretty sure you will be glad you did.
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks
All slow cooked chicken drumsticks will need your oven to finish them off. Broiling BBQ or Buffalo sauce into your drumsticks or chicken legs is quick, easy and oh so tasty.
You won’t find that many recipes out there that are simpler than preparing homemade Buffalo Wing Sauce and I urge you to try it.
Barbecue sauce can take more effort, depending on what kind you’re in the mood for, but making Buffalo Sauce could not be easier. Hot sauce, melted butter
Both homemade barbecue and buffalo sauces are worth trying to make for yourself.
Making homemade everything is generally better, especially with sauces. Having total control over flavors is something I am grateful for and appreciate.
Now I insist on it.
Again, what could be better?
Homemade Buffalo Wing Sauce
- ½ cup hot sauce
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons molasses or honey
Blend ingredients together in a small bowl. Taste it and see if it needs more molasses or honey or more heat! My son always uses more hot sauce.
If you taste it you will know if the flavor is perfect for you!
This homemade buffalo wing sauce is so simple and requires 3 ingredients that you most likely already have in your home.
If desired, you can skip the honey or molasses. I frequently used honey when my late friend Marcel told me to try molasses and wow.
What a difference.
I never used honey again and I never will to make this recipe.
Originally, only hot sauce and butter were required to make homemade buffalo wing sauce but using molasses, and replacing honey, makes the sauce so much better.
I couldn’t believe it either.
You can’t use blackstrap molasses as it’s too bitter. I wasn’t happy with the final result at all. You might not mind but I am suggesting that for the purposes of this recipe, I wouldn’t use it.
This will give you 3/4 cup of the best Buffalo Wing Sauce.
Once your sauce is made you can either use the sauce as a dip or coat your wings in it. Both taste great but I prefer to bake the drumsticks coated in sauce.
So good.
Usually, when I use the sauce as a coating I add a teaspoon of cornstarch to it. I find the sauce is thicker and sticks to the drumsticks a little better.
The sauce will work with or without it. I made this recipe without cornstarch for years without a problem.
We also love our Buffalo Wings and our recipe is terrific. Crispy outside and oh so good. Check it out at Best Baked Crispy Wings. Wings are cooked slowly in your oven and either dipped or coated in the buffalo wing sauce.
If you prefer, I have included our slow cooker chicken wing recipe as well. So similar to this recipe and with the same incredible results!
You make your chicken wings inside your slow cooker and finish them off under your broiler, inside the oven.
Our Easy Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks recipe is fabulous too, baked right inside your oven. Definitely worth a look.
We actually prefer drumsticks lately to wings because there is much more meat with a little effort.
Slow Cooker Honey BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
You can always put some barbecue sauce into a measuring cup and add some honey, a little at a time, until it tastes just the way you like it!
Slow cooker honey bbq chicken drumsticks have been a long standing favorite in our home.
Remembering all of the sauce all over my son’s face as he ate them still kinda makes me smile! So easy to control how sweet your slow cooker honey bbq chicken drumsticks taste.
I’m hoping you try our homemade barbecue sauce recipe below at least once. Taste as you go the first time, and after that, you will know exactly what your own personalized barbecue sauce needs.
When making a terrific honey barbecue sauce I would start with the basic, quick barbecue sauce recipe. Start with 3/4 cup ketchup and add everything else.
Next, start with 2 tablespoons of honey and if it is not enough, add some more.
I always find store bought barbecue sauces are so sweet already that there is almost not much point in adding too much honey. With a simple, homemade barbecue sauce you are in total control.
Just the way we all prefer life to be.
You are in total control of all of the ingredients and the resulting flavors that are added. Your final result will be yours and yours alone.
I have to urge you to keep track of what you add as you go just so you can duplicate a successful homemade barbecue sauce.
Homemade Easy Barbecue Sauce
When making your first barbecue sauce, start by using 3/4 cup ketchup, add the rest of the ingredients and see if you think your homemade barbecue sauce needs more.
Next, check out all of the options.
Quick Barbecue Sauce
- 3/4 – 1 cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- salt to taste
- pepper or cayenne to taste
Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl and decide if you want to add any of the options listed below. The first time you make this easy barbecue sauce recipe I encourage you to make the basic recipe first.
Taste as you go and decide the way you like it. The next time you make it you will know exactly the way you like it or you can keep trying something different.
I like starting with the 3/4 cup of ketchup and if you add too much of anything you can always dilute the flavor by adding in the extra 1/4 cup of ketchup.
Don’t be afraid to try something new and a little different. Baked bbq chicken drumsticks with homemade barbecue sauce are that good. I think you just might be glad you made them.
Options
- 1-2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2-4 tablespoons honey
- 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1-2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1-2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1-2 tablespoons mustard, yellow or Dijon
- 1-2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1-2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 1-2 teaspoons minced chipotle chile in adobo
- 1 jalapeño chile, stemmed, seeded, and minced
I can’t wait to hear what you included in your perfect barbecue sauce and how your baked bbq chicken drumsticks turned out! Hopefully you won’t mind sharing what you thought of them with me.
Baked bbq chicken legs are so tasty!
This crockpot buffalo or BBQ chicken drumstick recipe is super easy and luckily the sauces couldn’t be tastier.
As you would expect, much tastier than store bought and most importantly, you’re in total control of the flavor.
I really hope you try it.
At least once.
I just know that you will be glad you did.
Original Slow Cooker Honey Barbecue Drumsticks Recipe
As I mentioned before, below is our original recipe for slow cooker honey bbq chicken drumsticks. Exactly as it was written.
It wasn’t that we were really unhappy with it. We just switched the recipe up because we wanted and needed the recipe to be more versatile.
We needed to do it for ourselves and once it turned out so well I just had to share it with you.
I figured you too needed options.
Now, you can enjoy these drumsticks or legs plain, and hopefully you are as impressed with them as we were. We always eat one before baking the sauce right on each drumstick or leg.
Eating a plain one has become part of the recipe almost because I or we eat one every time we make it.
Then you have the option of adding any sauce that you want to. We love and have included our favorite barbecue and buffalo sauces just in case you want to give them a try.
The possibilities do not stop there. Think honey garlic, teriyaki, honey mustard, chinese honey and so many more.
My husband loves to dip his drumsticks and absolutely LOVES this new method. Now he will use whichever dip is made because he enjoys them all and I have to agree.
These dips are perfect for drumsticks, wings, vegetables and more! You will find all of our dip recipes here and they are all keepers in my opinion.
I can’t wait to hear what you think of them.
The chicken drumsticks or legs are healthier and quite frankly easier and less messy to eat.
Ingredients
- chicken drumsticks
- barbecue sauce
- liquid honey
- garlic
How to make Original Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
This is exactly how our original recipe was posted so many years ago. I am leaving it up so you can still find it. I encourage you to try the updated recipe.
We prefer the results and you just might too!
That being said, here we go!
Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray and place your drumsticks inside.
Evenly distribute them as best as possible.
In a medium bowl, combine BBQ sauce and honey. Taste it and make sure that it is not too sweet or sweet enough. Adjust as necessary and pour evenly over drumsticks.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or until done. We also like to broil the drumsticks in the oven until the outside crisps right before serving. This next step is up to you.
Turn your oven up to broil.
Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with tinfoil and a rack lightly coated in cooking spray.
Remove drumsticks with a large spoon or spatula.
If you use tongs the meat is so tender it may fall right off the bone!
Place drumsticks on your prepared rack.
I put the oven rack at least 5 or 6 inches below the broiler so they don’t burn. Don’t broil them from the highest possible rack position.
You will likely end up with a few dark, charred spots though, I always do and I love it.
I find the extreme high heat dries out and crisps up the outside of each chicken drumstick. Taste so much better.
I leave them in until dark spots start to show up. Usually just a few minutes. Do not leave them unattended, once these drumsticks start to burn they will burn fast!
Serve and enjoy!
Recipes for Chicken Drumsticks
We love drumsticks in our house. They taste just like chicken wings and have a lot more meat on them, that is for sure! Below, I have listed some of our favorite drumstick recipes below! Hopefully you enjoy them as much as we do!
Chinese Honey Chicken Drumsticks
Easy Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks
Honey Mustard Chicken Drumsticks
If you have a moment, please check out our video below! It will show you exactly how these drumsticks are made. In the video we broil the drumsticks to crisp up the skin but you definitely don’t have to!
Slow Cooker Honey Barbecue Drumsticks Video
Slow Cooker Honey Barbecue Drumsticks
Slow Cooker BBQ or Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks or Legs is an easy, healthy, crock pot recipe, served plain or coated, oven broiled to crispy skin perfection!
Ingredients
- 8-12 chicken drumsticks or 2 - 3 pounds (1/4 pound each)
- 4 chicken leg quarters, trimmed
Spice Rub
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons pepper
Honey Barbecue Sauce
- 1 cup barbecue sauce, your favorite variety or our homemade (recipe below)
- 2 - 4 tablespoons liquid honey, to taste
- 2 tblsp garlic, minced
Buffalo Wing Sauce
- 1/2 cup hot sauce
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons molasses, not blackstrap
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Homemade Barbecue Sauce
- 3/4 - 1 cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons molasses
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- salt
- pepper
Barbecue Sauce Options
- 1/8 -1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1-2 tablespoons mustard, yellow or dijon
- 1-2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1-2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1-2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1-2 teaspoons chii powder
- 1-2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 jalapeño chile, seeded, and minced
- 1-2 teaspoons chipotle chile in adobo, minced
Instructions
Making the Sauce
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Whisk all of the ingredients together in a bowl until blended. Set aside in your fridge until needed.
Making your Drumsticks or Chicken Legs
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Prepare your slow cooker with cooking spray.
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In a large resealable bag combine rub ingredients. Add drumsticks or chicken legs and adjust until coated.
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Place drumsticks or chicken legs inside your slow cooker. Distribute them as evenly as possible.
-
Cover and cook until chicken is cooked and tender, 4 to 5 hours on low.
-
Adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler and turn it on.
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Prepare a rimmed baking sheet with tinfoil and a rack lightly coated in cooking spray.
-
Transfer chicken to your prepared rack and place in your oven.
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Broil chicken legs or drumsticks until browned and lightly charred, about 10 minutes, flipping chicken halfway through broiling.
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In a small bowl prepare your sauce, if using. Honey barbecue, barbecue, buffalo wing sauce or any other for that matter.
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Brush chicken with sauce and continue to broil until lightly charred, about 5 minutes, flipping and brushing chicken with more sauce halfway through broiling.
-
Brush chicken with remaining sauce.
-
You will likely end up with a few dark spots. I always do. I find the extreme high heat crisps up the outside of the drumsticks which makes them taste even better. I leave them in until dark spots start to show up. Usually just a few minutes. Do not leave them unattended, once these drumsticks start to burn they will burn fast!
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Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
An awesome dish I have ever seen it was really amazing. Really a mouth-watering dish which I have ever seen!
So happy you loved these as much as we do! You truly made my day! Take care and all the best. Karin