22 Sensational Slow-Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes

They'll have you feeling like chicken tonight

Grilled chicken thigh garnished with vegetables

Lilechka75 / Getty Images

While lean, quick-cooking chicken breasts are convenient to have on hand for family meals, you just can't beat chicken thighs for their flavor, juiciness, and price. Chicken thighs maintain their excellent taste and tenderness even when cooked for several hours in a slow cooker, while chicken breasts can become quite dry and tough.

As with most slow cooker chicken recipes, there's usually no need to sear the chicken before you add it to the crock. However, browning the chicken—especially if the skin hasn't been removed—can really amp up your meal, adding flavor, color, and texture. If you have time, brown whole chicken thighs in a small amount of vegetable oil over medium-high heat before adding to the slow cooker with the rest of your recipe's ingredients.

While some recipes call for bone-in chicken thighs, many do not. Thankfully, with only one bone running through the middle of chicken thighs, they're easy to debone. Just make cuts on either side of the bone and remove it while scraping off any meat that might be adhering.

If you don't cook with chicken thighs often, these crock pot recipes will make you a believer. 

1:07

Watch Now: 6 Reasons We Love Chicken Thighs

  • 01 of 22

    Crock Pot Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

    Crockpot Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    Curry powder and ginger provide the flavor for tender, juicy chicken thighs and sweet potatoes in this easy crock pot recipe. Peach preserves (or your favorite kind) add just enough sweetness.

    Get the Recipe

  • 02 of 22

    Crock Pot Chicken, Sausage, and Shrimp Gumbo

    Crock Pot Chicken, Sausage, and Shrimp Gumbo

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    Enjoying a weeknight gumbo is easier than you think. After a little upfront work—making a roux and quickly cooking shrimp—it's just 7 to 9 hours in the slow cooker and you have a New Orleans-style feast ready for dinner.

    Get the Recipe

  • 03 of 22

    Crock Pot Chicken Fricassee

    serving bowl with creamy slow cooker chicken fricassee

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

    Flavorful chicken thighs plus mushrooms, aromatic vegetables, and a creamy, buttery sauce add up to weeknight supper satisfaction. Add rice or noodles, or serve with a salad and bread.

    Get the Recipe

  • 04 of 22

    Crock Pot Beef and Chicken Stew Recipe

    Slow Cooker Beef and Chicken Stew in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

    Chicken thighs team up with stewing beef to make this hearty dish reminiscent of Kentucky's famous burgoo. Potatoes, carrots, and canned tomatoes make it a well-rounded feast.

    Get the Recipe

    Continue to 5 of 22 below.
  • 05 of 22

    Crock Pot Chicken and Quinoa Burrito Bowl

    A chicken and quinoa bowl topped with sour cream

    The Spruce Eats / Jennifer Meier

    In this one-pot, one-bowl recipe, boneless chicken thighs are slow-cooked to perfection with a variety of seasonings, black beans, and quinoa. Garnish servings with sour cream, green onions, avocado, and cheese.

    Get the Recipe

  • 06 of 22

    Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken With Cabbage

    Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken With Cabbage

    The Spruce Eats / Rachel Riesgraf

    This wonderfully flexible slow cooker recipe is perfect for chicken thighs. Try adding leeks, celery, or even fennel. Slowly cooking chicken with a generous amount of garlic infuses it with tremendous flavor.

    Get the Recipe

  • 07 of 22

    Salsa Crock Pot Chicken

    Easy 2-Ingredient Salsa Crock Pot Chicken

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

    This super easy recipe uses just two ingredients: chicken thighs and salsa. Choose a traditional tomato salsa or try something a little different. A fruity salsa would be fabulous.

    Get the Recipe

  • 08 of 22

    Sweet and Spicy Crock Pot Chicken

    Sweet and Spicy Crockpot Chicken

    Rommel Gonzalez / Getty Images

    Purchased or homemade barbecue sauce and sweet and sour sauce sweet and team up in this fast and easy chicken dish. The simplicity of the dish makes it a great starting point. Add extra vegetables if you'd like.

    Get the Recipe

    Continue to 9 of 22 below.
  • 09 of 22

    Slow Cooker Chicken With Farro and Vegetables

    Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs With Farro in a blue bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

    Farro is a great ingredient for the slow cooker because, unlike rice, it maintains its chewy texture over the long cooking time. This is a satisfying one-pot meal and an excellent way to use chicken thighs.

    Get the Recipe

  • 10 of 22

    Slow-Cooker Chicken Tinga

    chicken tinga tacos on platter

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

    Chicken tinga is a Mexican stew made with chicken thighs and chipotle peppers. Charred tomatoes, onion, and garlic add to the flavor and slow cooking brings it all together wonderfully. Serve it as is or use it for taco night.

    Get the Recipe

  • 11 of 22

    Crock Pot Chicken With Dry Rub

    chicken and corn

     Brian Leatart / Getty Images

    Put the barbecue sauce back on the shelf! A dry rub—made with cayenne, paprika, thyme, sage, lemon pepper, and a hint of brown sugar—flavors this spicy crock pot chicken.

    Get the Recipe

  • 12 of 22

    Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore

    Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore in a white bowl

    The Spruce Eats

    Boneless chicken thighs (or breasts) are slow cooked in a flavorful homemade tomato sauce. Serve over spaghetti or your favorite pasta shape for a crowd-pleasing dinner.

    Get the Recipe

    Continue to 13 of 22 below.
  • 13 of 22

    Crock Pot Lemon Chicken and Carrots

    High Angle View Of Lemon Chicken With Roasted Potatoes On Plate
    Jasmin Awad / EyeEm / Getty Images

    A lightly sweetened lemon sauce flavors these boneless chicken thighs, while carrots and celery add texture and color. Enjoy this over noodles or rice to soak up all that yummy sauce.

    Get the Recipe

  • 14 of 22

    Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

    Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    Chicken noodle soup in a crock pot? Yes please! Use chicken thighs for maximum flavor and let this soul-satisfying soup simmer away all day. You won't regret it.

    Get the Recipe

  • 15 of 22

    4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Cola Chicken

    Slow Cooker Cola Chicken resting on a platter

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

    Slow cooking chicken thighs in ketchup and Cola—or Dr. pepper—is a shortcut to flavor. Try shredding the cooked chicken and serving it on buns.

    Get the Recipe

  • 16 of 22

    Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Filling

    A chicken burrito covered in cheese and salsa on a white plate

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

    Boneless chicken thighs make a fabulous burrito filling. A variety of vegetables and Tex-Mex seasonings flavor the chicken. When the dish is almost ready, the chicken is shredded and refried beans are added.

    Get the Recipe

    Continue to 17 of 22 below.
  • 17 of 22

    Crock Pot Green Chile Chicken

    Chicken Chile Verde in a green and yellow bowl
    sbossert / Getty Images

    While you can make this recipe with chicken breasts, using thighs takes it to the next level. Seasoned with cumin, chili powder, garlic, and green chiles, it makes an excellent filling for tacos, burritos, or enchiladas.

    Get the Recipe

  • 18 of 22

    Low-Fat Crockpot Chicken and Vegetable Stew

    chicken stew

     Rita Maas/The Image Bank/Getty Images

    It might be low in fat, but this stew doesn't skimp on flavor, thanks to a medley of vegetables, a can of crushed tomatoes, and fresh herbs.

    Get the Recipe

  • 19 of 22

    Crock Pot Portuguese Chicken

    Crock Pot Portuguese Chicken

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    Spicy Spanish chorizo—or Portuguese chourico—plus artichoke hearts and black olives give this easy-to-pull-together chicken layers of texture and flavor.

    Get the Recipe

  • 20 of 22

    Slow Cooker Creole Chicken With Sausage

    Creole style chicken and sausage on rice

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray

    Spicy andouille sausage adds Louisiana flavor to this chicken and sausage combination. It's a Creole-style recipe, enhanced with tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions.

    Get the Recipe

    Continue to 21 of 22 below.
  • 21 of 22

    Crock Pot White Chicken Chili

    Crock Pot White Chicken Chili

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

    With white beans, corn, dried seasonings, and fresh cilantro, you won't miss the tomatoes in this white chicken chili. To give it an extra boost, take the time to brown the chicken thighs.

    Get the Recipe

  • 22 of 22

    Crock Pot Chicken With Sun-Dried Tomatoes

    instant pot tuscan chicken

    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

    Make this fabulous Tuscan-inspired dish with chicken thighs for a super satisfying supper. You can add some cream to the sauce if you like and top it off with Parmesan cheese then serve it over hot polenta, pasta, or rice.

    Get the Recipe