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Chicken thighs in slow cooker, fully cooked and ready to serve.
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5 from 1 vote

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

These easy slow cooker chicken thighs take just a few minutes to put together, and then the slow cooker does all of the hard work for a perfect high protein meal that's perfect for busy weeknights and leftovers are excellent for meal prep.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Total Time3 hours 10 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Author: JENNIFER GAMBLE

Equipment

  • 1 Slow Cooker

Ingredients

  • 6 chicken thighs bone-in skin-on
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 6 Tablespoons butter sliced into pats
  • 1 cup chicken broth

Instructions

  • Heat the 1 Tablespoon olive oil and 3 cloves garlic, minced, in a skillet over medium heat. Season the 6 chicken thighs generously with the mixture of 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika, and 1 teaspoon onion powder.
    garlic being heated in the skillet.
  • Sear the chicken in the hot skillet for 2-3 minutes on each side until nicely browned.
    chicken thighs in the skillet
  • Transfer the seared chicken thighs to the slow cooker.
  • Add the pats of 6 Tablespoons butter over the chicken and pour in 1 cup chicken broth to keep everything moist and flavorful.
    chicken thighs in a slow cooker with butter on top.
  • Cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is tender and falling off the bone.
    chicken thigh over the slow cooker in a spoon.
  • Serve over rice or with roasted potatoes.
    chicken thighs over rice.

Notes

Toss in carrots, potatoes, or onions to make it a one-pot meal.
Try experimenting with different spices, such as cumin or coriander, to add additional flavor.
Be careful not to overcook the chicken or it can become too soft. 

Nutrition

Calories: 533kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 212mg | Sodium: 485mg | Potassium: 395mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 907IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg