BEST Crockpot Chicken Leg Quarters
Updated Apr 16, 2025
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These slow cooker chicken leg quarters cook all day while you do your own thing. Do whatever you want and come home to one of our most delicious slow cooker recipes.
This easy recipe for slow chicken legs and thighs is one of our favorite low-cost family meals. It also happens to be one of our favorite ways to make chicken.
Read on, and I’ll show you exactly how to make this delicious meal using simple ingredients.
Make this easy dinner for about two dollars per serving.
Featured Comment: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent recipe! We really enjoyed it. Thanks! – JVee
Table of Contents
About These Crockpot Chicken Quarters
Like most busy families, we rely on our slow cooker to make many delicious family meals that kids will eat. These include creamy slow cooker chicken breasts, slow cooker Mexican chicken soup, and even our crockpot roasted chicken which is a great way to cook whole chickens.
I credit my late dad for teaching me to appreciate good chicken. Recipes like roasted chicken quarters, NY fireman’s chicken, honey lime skillet chicken, and a good chicken salad. And maybe my favorite of all: My Mom’s Homemade Chicken Pot Pie Recipe. I love them all.
We put this latest crockpot chicken recipe together at our little weekend oasis located on a small lake in the middle of Nowhere, Wisconsin. It’s a tranquil place to get off the grid, hit the nearby farmer’s market, and make a lot of family recipes.
This crockpot chicken leg quarters recipe uses just a few ordinary ingredients you probably already have. It’s one of our favorite ways to feed the entire family.
Like some of our other favorite recipes, this one is super simple.
In town or in the country, this easy family dinner is perfect for wherever this may find you.
What’s In This?
- Chicken leg quarters or thighs (bone-in and skin-on): This is the base for this juicy and flavorful meal with bone-in, skin-on chicken leg quarters or thighs! The skin locks in moisture while the bones enhance the flavor of your dish.
- Honey: This adds some sweetness to your savory meal with the natural goodness of honey. It’s the perfect way to balance out the savory flavors and add a touch of indulgence.
- Garlic: This is an easy way to spice up your dish with the pungent and aromatic flavor of garlic. This versatile ingredient brings a depth of flavor to any dish, and its health benefits make it a must-have in any kitchen.
- Barbecue Sauce: Adds smoky and tangy flavor to your chicken with barbecue sauce. Use you favorite bbq sauce or make your own.
- Soy Sauce: For a slight Asian twist, this will add some umami to your meal with the salty and savory taste of soy sauce. This ingredient is a staple in Asian cuisine and is perfect for adding depth and complexity to your dish.
- Ketchup: A staple in our house, this will bring a touch of sweetness and tanginess to your meal.
- Oregano: Add some earthy and herbaceous notes to your dish with oregano. You can use fresh or dried, whatever you have on hand.
- Salt and Pepper: Add some of both to bring out the most flavor in these crock pot chicken legs.
Recipe Tip
Add some chopped-up fresh Italian parsley (the kind with flat leaves) when you serve this. This garnish adds a flash of beautiful green color, dresses up this busy weeknight dinner, and makes it seem a little more special!
How to Make this Crock-Pot Chicken
This recipe works best in a larger crockpot. You’ll need to be able to fit a couple of whole chicken legs in it.
Otherwise, you can use chicken thighs for this slow cooker chicken recipe. It only has a few steps, making it one of the easiest family dinners you’ll ever find!
- Place the pieces in your crockpot, skin-side up.
- Add the remaining ingredients. Place the cover on your slower cooker and select low setting for 6 to 7 hours.
How simple is that?!
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Once this is finished cooking, you’re going to place each piece on a sheet pan and brown it under your oven broiler for just a couple of minutes. Doing this will give it a nice caramelized finish and taste.
Water is cooked out during the process, so reducing the quantity of barbecue sauce and honey will help reduce the amount of liquid when the meat is finished cooking.
You can also reduce the extra liquid by just removing the cover toward the end and allowing it to evaporate. In cooking, this is called “reduction.” The reduction will often add a ton of flavor as the tasty ingredients are no longer diluted with water.
I suggest you save the liquid and make some delicious crockpot chicken gravy. I’ll show you how to do that as well!
Crock Pot Chicken Gravy
I grew up loving gravy, and that is one thing that hasn’t changed. I will actively seek the chance to make gravy anytime in the kitchen.
My all-time favorite is this rich roasted turkey gravy, but our southern gravy recipe with giblets is pretty darn delicious too!
While the pieces in the oven are browning, you can make good use of the leftover liquid. It’s time to make a flavorful slow cooker chicken gravy with the juices.
Your mom would be so proud of you for not wasting a drop of this recipe!
- Turn the crockpot to a high setting which will help reduce the liquid.
- Then, put a tablespoon or two of flour in a small fine-mesh strainer.
- Then, use your finger to tap-tap-tap a little flour into the liquid, a little at a time, while continuously stirring with a fork. This will give you a nice gravy with no lumps!
Expert Tips: If you’re wondering how to make good gravy, learn how to Make a Roux. You can use this same technique for other sauces and easy family meals, like our rigatoni mac and cheese!
We love to serve this easy family dinner with green beans and crispy potatoes.
Food Safety Tip: Chicken should have an internal temperature of 165° F before eating it. I love this instant-read thermometer, and it is the one I always recommend using.
Recipe Questions and Answers
If you want to assemble and freeze the ingredients for this slow cooker meal, it’s easy to do. Simply put them in a freezer bag and be sure to freeze them flat, allowing for even defrosting.
Allow them to thaw and defrost for 24 hours before cooking and follow the recipe card below.
You can use this recipe using boneless breasts or thighs.
Absolutely. Just be sure that you are using keto-friendly barbecue sauce and keto-friendly ketchup.
Our favorite things to serve with these crock pot chicken thighs are oven-roasted maple rainbow carrots, potato croquettes, homemade crusty bread, this fried cabbage recipe as a side dish, and Amish shoofly pie for dessert!
Ways to Use Leftover Chicken
If you’re wondering how to use leftover chicken, there are many great ways to use it. You can also check out our diced chicken cooking guide. Here are some of our favorite ways to use leftover chicken.
- Easy chicken salad
- Add it to Liption noodle soup.
- Make a cheesy, leftover chicken casserole
- Use it to make Buffalo chicken dip
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Honey Garlic Crockpot Chicken Leg Quarters
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 Chicken leg quarters, Bone-in, skin on.
- 2 tbsp Barbecue Sauce, Spicey flavored.
- 2 tbsp Honey
- 5 cloves Garlic, Minced
- 2 tbsp Ketchup
- 2 tbsp Low Sodium Soy Sauce
- Salt and Pepper, To taste.
Instructions
- Place chicken quarters, skin side up, in a single layer of your crock pot. Add remaining ingredients, cover, and cook on low for 6-7 hours.
Notes
- Leave the chicken skin on for a juicer result.
- Be sure your chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°.
- When the chicken thighs are done, brown it for a minute or two, under your oven broiler.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Updated from the original post of September 27, 2018.
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Can this recipe be cut in half? Does the cooking time change?
Yes — you can cut the recipe in half. The cooking time in the slow cooker generally does not change much. Slow cooker recipes are more forgiving with time as long as the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (for safety) and the meat is tender.
Here are a few tips if you do halve it:
Skip lowering the temperature — keep it at the same setting (low or high) as original.
Check for doneness a bit earlier, especially if you’re using boneless thighs or smaller pieces — they might finish a little sooner.
If using bone-in thighs, they still might take nearly the full time because of the bone and size.
Excellent recipe! We really enjoyed it. Thanks!
Thanks for the great feedback; we’re thrilled that you enjoyed this recipe of ours!
I would like a copy of this ck recipe so I can try it
Kathleen, you should be able to view the recipe here: https://www.plattertalk.com/slow-cooker-chicken-thighs/#wprm-recipe-container-21813
Let us know if this doesn’t work for you.
Hi there!!! I’m really excited to try this recipe today, I’m
Trying to cook more home foods for my husband and less time eating out especially since I’m pregnant! At the end for the crispy skin part, what should I set my over to and how long? Would a skillet also work? Thank you so much!!!
Hi there and congratulations on your exciting news! 🎉 I love that you’re cooking more at home—this slow cooker chicken thighs recipe is a great place to start.
For the crispy skin finish:
Option 1 – Set your oven to 425°F and pop the cooked chicken thighs under the broiler for about 2–3 minutes, skin-side up. Just watch them closely so they don’t burn!
Option 2 – Yes, a hot cast iron skillet will work too! Just sear the skin side for 2–3 minutes over medium-high heat until it crisps up.
Let me know how it turns out, and if you’re up for it, tag us with #plattertalk so we can see your finished dish. Wishing you all the best in your pregnancy journey and kitchen adventures! 🧡👶🍗
Hi guys.
I really want to make this today but I am out of ketchup. Could I substitute it with tomato paste? Maybe put a tiny bit of honey in the paste as ketchup is a little sweeter than paste? If you have any other suggestions, let me know. I know this is going to be delicious!
Thanks for your reply. We normally only have a small bottle of ketchup, and I must have thrown the bottle away.
Hi there!
Thanks so much for your kind words—we’re thrilled you’re excited to try this one! You’re totally on the right track with the ketchup swap. Tomato paste can work in a pinch, especially with a little honey or even a splash of vinegar to mimic the tang of ketchup. You might also stir in a touch of water to thin it out a bit since paste is thicker.
Let us know how it turns out—we’d love to hear!
—Dan & Scott
New Family favorite!! We all loved this. Fall off the bone tender with crispy skin and good flavor. Kids asked to make this again within the first 2 bites. Low prep time and time in the kitchen, but tastes like it was tended to all day.
Hello Nicci!
What a fantastic comment—thank you for taking the time to share this! I’m so glad to hear this recipe hit the mark with your whole family (especially when the kids are asking for a repeat after just two bites—that’s the ultimate compliment!).
We’re all about making low-effort meals that taste like you spent hours in the kitchen, so your feedback means a lot. And that fall-off-the-bone tenderness with crispy skin? Music to my ears. 😊
Thanks again for trying it out—and here’s to many more easy, delicious dinners your crew will love!
Nice recipe ! I have no oven currently so how about finishing in an air fryer ? I am not experienced with the air fryer and dont know if the chicken is too wet to put 8n there..thanks !!!
Great question! You can finish the chicken in the air fryer to get a nice crispy skin, and it’s actually a great alternative to using the broiler. Since the chicken has been slow-cooked and is already tender, here’s how to do it:
How to Finish in the Air Fryer:
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for a few minutes.
Remove the chicken from the crockpot and pat the skin dry with paper towels—this helps it crisp up better.
Place the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket, skin side up.
Air fry for 4-6 minutes or until the skin is crispy and golden brown. (Check after 4 minutes to avoid overcooking.)
Brush with a little extra sauce if you like, then serve!
Since the chicken is already cooked, the air fryer is just for crisping, so it won’t dry out. Hope this helps—let me know how it turns out! 😊🍗
Can I cook on high setting for 2-3 hours?
Thank you for your question! Yes, you can cook the chicken leg quarters on the high setting for 2-3 hours, but keep in mind that slow cooking on low for 6-7 hours is ideal for achieving tender, juicy chicken that falls off the bone. Cooking on high will result in a faster cook time but might slightly compromise the texture and juiciness of the meat.
If you decide to use the high setting, I recommend checking the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure it reaches at least 165°F for safe consumption. And don’t forget to brown the chicken under the broiler afterward for that crispy, golden finish!
This recipe sounds yummy AND simple!! Will it be ok to place the chicken on a rack in the crockpot?
Yes, that should be fine. Just be sure to serve all of the yummy juices with the chicken.
Hi! This sounds delicious! I am wondering if this recipe is something I can prep now and make later? I am almost ready to have my baby, and I am looking for freezer prep, crock pot recipes and this sounds so delicious and easy!!
Hi Cassie,
Congrats in advance on your new baby! We don’t recommend prepping this recipe ahead of time. The good news is that it only has a prep time of 10 minutes! Thanks for the great question!