Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

Slow cooker chicken thighs are great for busy nights when you want a delicious, home-cooked meal without the hassle. Making chicken thighs in the crockpot means succulent meat without the fuss. Grab your preferred cut of thighs whether it be bone-in, boneless, skin-on or skinless. Using just a few simple seasonings, the end result is low-carb, paleo, and Whole30 compatible chicken at your disposal. Pair the chicken with your favorite side dish or re-use the tender meat in another recipe. Instructions to make easy chicken thighs in the Instant Pot are also included in this blog post.

Ingredients For Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh

• Chicken Thighs
• Seasonings: salt, pepper, dried thyme, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika

How To Make Chicken Thighs In The Crockpot

Slow Cooker

1. Add the chicken to the slow cooker. Add all the seasonings. Toss until the chicken is coated. Or mix the seasonings together and sprinkle them on top of the food in the slow cooker. 
2. Cook HIGH 3-4 hours or LOW 6-8.

Instant Pot

1. In a small bowl, mix together the salt, thyme, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and pepper. Toss the seasonings mix with the chicken, ensuring all the pieces are evenly coated. 
2. If using skin-on chicken: Turn on the Instant Pot and select sauté. Once hot, add the oil to the pot. Add the seasoned chicken, skin side down. Cook approximately 3 to 4 minutes per side or until the skin is crisp to your liking. Remove the chicken and set aside. If using skinless chicken, skip this step. 
3. Pour 1 cup water into the pot and deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon. 
4. Place the trivet inside and add chicken thighs on top.
5. Close & seal vent. Select high pressure and set time for 8 minutes for boneless thighs or 10 mines for bone-in. When cooking time is complete, quick-release the pressure.

What Are Chicken Thighs?

Chicken thighs are a part of the chicken’s leg locateed between the drumstick and the body. Thighs are dark meat which means they have a higher fat content compared to white meat (chicken breasts). This also means they have more flavor! There are two main types of chicken thighs: bone-in and boneless. Bone-in thighs have the bone intact and boneless thighs have the meat removed from the bone. Due to their higher fat content, chicken thighs are juicier and better for the long, low & slow cooking. Unlike chicken breasts, thighs remain moist even after cooking for hours in the slow cooker. 

FAQs & Tips

• Do not add any liquid to the slow cooker. 
• Use your preferred cut of chicken thighs! This can be boneless, bone-in, skinless or skin-on. What you see in the picture is bone-in, skin-on thighs. 
• If you use skin-on thighs and want crispy skin, you will need to broil them meat afterwards. Remove the chicken from the appliance and place it on a baking sheet. Place the chicken under the broiler for 2 to 5 minutes or until crisy to your liking. 
• Store leftover chicken thighs in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 
• I used a large 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot for this recipe. 

Chicken Thigh Recipes

• Chicken Thigh One-Pot Dinner

• Creamy Lemon Dill

• Balsamic Cranberry

• Spicy Salsa

• Mississippi

• Rosemary Dijon

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

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Slow cooker chicken thighs are great for busy nights when you want a delicious, home-cooked meal without the hassle. Making chicken thighs in the crockpot means succulent chicken thighs without the fuss. Grab your preferred cut of thighs whether it be bone-in, boneless, skin-on or skinless. Using just a few simple seasonings, the end result is low-carb, paleo, and Whole30 compatible chicken at your disposal. Pair the chicken with your favorite side dishes or re-use the tender meat in another recipe. Instructions to make easy chicken thighs in the Instant Pot are also included.

• Author: Shannon Epstein
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours
• Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
• Yield: 6 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 pounds chicken thighs (bone-in, boneless, skin-on, or skinless)
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon oil (for Instant Pot only)
• 1 cup water (for Instant Pot only)

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Instructions

Slow Cooker

1. Add the chicken to the slow cooker. Add all the seasonings. Toss until the chicken is coated. Or mix the seasonings together and sprinkle them on top of the food in the slow cooker.
2. Cook HIGH 3-4 hours or LOW 6-8.

Instant Pot

1. In a small bowl, mix together the salt, thyme, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and pepper. Toss the seasonings mix with the chicken, ensuring all the pieces are evenly coated.
2. If using skin-on chicken: Turn on the Instant Pot and select sauté. Once hot, add the oil to the pot. Add the seasoned chicken, skin side down. Cook approximately 3 to 4 minutes per side or until the skin is crisp to your liking. Remove the chicken and set aside. If using skinless chicken, skip this step.
3. Pour 1 cup water into the pot and deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon.
4. Place the trivet inside and add chicken thighs on top.
5. Close & seal vent. Select high pressure and set time for 8 minutes for boneless thighs or 10 mines for bone-in. When cooking time is complete, quick-release the pressure.

Notes

You do not need to add any liquid to the slow cooker.

Nutrition

• Calories: 200

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