Crock Pot Dr Pepper Chicken Thighs
These Crock Pot Dr Pepper Chicken Thighs are slow cooked until tender in a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce that thickens into a sticky glaze perfect for spooning over the chicken.
Servings 6
Calories 489kcal
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 Tablespoon oil
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- ¾ cup Dr Pepper
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Optional: (If you want a thicker sauce)
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 Tablespoons water
Instructions
- In a bowl combine 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika and ½ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Season 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs on both sides.
- In a large skillet, heat up 1 Tablespoon oil. Sear chicken (skin-side down) until deeply golden. You’re not cooking the chicken all the way, just browning.NOTE: If using a smaller pan, do this in batches, adding more oil as necessary.
- Transfer browned chicken to a 5-6 quart oval slow cooker, skin-side up.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 cup barbecue sauce, ¾ cup Dr Pepper, ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed, 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard.
- Pour sauce around the chicken (not directly on the skin).
- Cover and cook on low for about 5–6 hours, until chicken is tender and cooked through. It is recommended to only cook on low, not high for the most tender chicken thighs.
- Remove lid during the last 30–45 minutes to allow sauce to thicken and become glossy.NOTE: If you want the sauce even thicker, combine 3 Tablespoons cornstarch with 3 Tablespoons water and whisk until smooth, Add to the crock pot and stir into sauce. Turn the crock pot to the high setting for about 30 minutes. I prefer to do this but it is optional depending if you like the thicker sauce.
- For even more color, place the thighs under the broiler for a few minutes just to caramelize the skin a little. To do this, you would need to take the thighs out of the slow cooker and place on a baking sheet (unless you have a slow cooker insert that can withstand high temperatures).
- Spoon sauce over chicken before serving.
Notes
- Please refer to my FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.
- These will cook for 5-6 hours.
Nutrition
Calories: 489kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 27g | Sodium: 1082mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g
