Crock Pot Chicken Legs And Thighs

A simple low-carb recipe for crockpot chicken legs and thighs that requires little prep. You can even place the ingredients in the slow cooker the night before for dinner meal prep!

Do you cook in the crockpot frequently? I wish I did, but for some reason, I rarely pull mine out of the pantry closet.

I often buy a cooked rotisserie chicken at the grocery store for those times when I don't feel like cooking. However, if I had planned things right, I could have had my own chicken roasting in the crockpot with very little effort!

Crockpot chicken has always been a favorite of mine because the meat just falls off the bone as it does with rotisserie-cooked chicken. I also have a rotisserie oven, but it's a small one. A larger-sized whole chicken just doesn't fit in it.

Even with the smaller-sized chickens that do fit, the legs often end up touching the elements, and those areas burn. I definitely use the crockpot much more than the rotisserie. However, both of these are appliances that I don't get enough use out of.

This recipe was originally going to be for crockpot teriyaki chicken. However, I changed it to plain old crockpot chicken thighs and drumsticks because the flavor was nothing like teriyaki when it was done.

Ingredients Needed For Crockpot Chicken

Here are all of the ingredients you will need to make this crockpot chicken recipe:

Chicken

Use as much chicken as you need to feed yourself or your family. Make extra and save it for your meal prep for the week too! I was able to make about 6 ½ pounds of chicken legs and thighs in my slow cooker.

Spices

I used a combination of ground ginger, garlic powder, and salt and pepper for the spices. Since I was going for a teriyaki flavor, I used ginger and garlic together.

That's why I also used liquid aminos with it. When you are on a keto diet, it's best to use liquid aminos instead of soy sauce because it is gluten-free.

Sweetener

To make the chicken taste sweet, I used SweetLeaf stevia drops. You don't need very many drops to sweeten the entire pot.

The blackstrap molasses is optional but I think it adds a deeper flavor profile. Its robust taste balances out the sweetness from the stevia.

Please note: Check out the recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients used to make this low-carb recipe.

Quick Tips:

• Use an Instant-Read meat thermometer to check the chicken temperature. This is the most effective way to tell if the chicken is fully cooked. Chicken thighs and legs should have an internal temperature of 175 degrees F.
• Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel before adding the salt and pepper. This will help the spices to soak into the meat more effectively!
• If you don't like the taste of blackstrap molasses (or you can't find it in the store), you can leave it out. It's an optional ingredient.

How To Make Chicken Legs And Thighs In The Slow Cooker

This is a super-easy recipe. In fact, after you make it once, you'll probably have this recipe memorized! There are basically 3 simple steps.

Mix The Spices Together

First, mix all the spices and the sweetener together in the crock pot. Do all of this before you add the chicken to it.

Add The Chicken To The Crock Pot

After all the spices and everything is in the crockpot, put the chicken in. Add the water - make sure you have enough so that it doesn't burn.

Cook All Day

Then, just let it cook all day. That's it! This recipe will be done by the time you are ready to eat dinner.

What To Serve With Chicken Drumsticks And Thighs

This chicken has a pretty mild flavor, so it goes really well with almost any side dish you make. Try it with keto cauliflower mac and cheese - it's comfort food without too many carbs.

The umami flavors will taste perfect with Asian spiralized zucchini noodle salad. Or, serve it with some cilantro lime cauliflower rice and your favorite chopped salad!

Don't forget the dipping sauces! I love eating these chicken legs with keto bbq sauce or sugar free ketchup.

Frequently Asked Questions About Slow Cooker Chicken

Before we get to the printable recipe card, here are some questions people often ask about how to make it (and store it).

How do you make them taste spicier?

The easiest way to make these chicken legs and thighs taste spicier is to add some red pepper flakes. After they are done cooking, dip them in some sriracha for a little kick.

How do you store leftover chicken legs?

Store leftover chicken legs and thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to 5 days.

Can I use frozen chicken?

Yes, you can use frozen chicken drumsticks and thighs in the slow cooker. It might take a little longer to cook, but it will work just as well as fresh.

This chicken tasted more like a regular slow-cooked chicken! The flavor from the liquid aminos is very mild and somewhat sweet.

I'll have to try again to make low-carb teriyaki chicken in the crockpot, but I will keep this recipe as is. It resulted in tasty meat that just fell right off the bone, so I'll take it!

Other Slow Cooker Recipes To Try

If you enjoyed this recipe for crockpot chicken legs and thighs, here are some more keto-friendly slow cooker recipes you should try next. They are some of our favorites!

• Keto Crockpot Crack Chicken Recipe is extra cheesy and has the saltiness and crunch from bacon - kids love this recipe.
• Keto Cheeseburger Soup tastes just like your favorite burger but in a thick and creamy soup.
• Crockpot Crustless Chicken Pizza Casserole has the same cheesiness and tomato sauce as the best of pizzas.
• Keto Pot Roast can be made in both the slow cooker or the Instant Pot - it is an entire meal in one dish.
• Pork Curry Slow Cooker Recipe is both keto-friendly and paleo-approved. It has tons of flavor and tastes amazing with cauliflower rice.

Follow us on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, and INSTAGRAM for even more tasty keto-friendly recipes!

Recipe

Crock Pot Chicken Thighs and Drumsticks

5 from 4 votes

A simple low carb recipe for crock pot chicken thighs and drumsticks that requires little prep. The ingredients can be placed in the crock the night before.

Prep Time:5 mins

Cook Time:6 hrs

Total Time:6 hrs 5 mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Print Pin Review Recipe Save Recipe View Collections

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 536

Video

Ingredients

• ▢ ½ cup liquid aminos or gluten free soy sauce
• ▢ 2 cups water
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 15 drops SweetLeaf Stevia drops or 2 tablespoons Swerve
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon blackstrap molasses optional
• ▢ 6 ½ pounds chicken cut into pieces
• ▢ salt and pepper

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

• Mix together soy aminos, water, ground ginger, garlic powder, sweetener, and molasses (if using) in large 6 quart crock pot.
• Season chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
• Add chicken pieces to crock pot.
• Turn crock pot on and allow chicken to cook for at least 5-6 hours on high or 7-8 hours on low.

Notes

Use an Instant-Read meat thermometer to check the chicken temperature. This is the most effective way to tell if the chicken is fully cooked. Chicken thighs and legs should have an internal temperature of 175 degrees F.

Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel before adding the salt and pepper. This will help the spices to soak into the meat more effectively!

If you don't like the taste of blackstrap molasses (or you can't find it in the store), you can leave it out. It's an optional ingredient.

Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart

Nutrition

Serving: 1piece | Calories: 536 | Carbohydrates: 0g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 184mg | Sodium: 805mg | Potassium: 467mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 345IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 2.3mg

Additional Info

Net Carbs: 0 g | % Carbs: 0 % | % Protein: 35.6 % | % Fat: 64.4 % | SmartPoints: 15

Values

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    [serving_size] => 1
    [calories] => 536
    [carbohydrates] => 0
    [protein] => 46
    [fat] => 37
    [saturated_fat] => 10
    [cholesterol] => 184
    [sodium] => 805
    [potassium] => 467
    [fiber] => 0
    [sugar] => 0
    [vitamin_a] => 345
    [vitamin_c] => 4
    [calcium] => 28
    [iron] => 2.3
    [serving_unit] => piece
)

Notes on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.

Copyright

© LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission from Lisa MarcAurele is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.

First published on June 19, 2015. Post updated on June 1, 2021, with new images and additional recipe information.