cheap slow cooker meals to affordable and easy meals
Fall-off-the-bone slow cooker BBQ chicken with just six pantry staples. Ready when you are, no babysitting needed.
Chicken thighs stay moist in the slow cooker better than breasts. They're cheaper, too.
This cooks in 6 hours on low or 3 on high. The sauce thickens as it goes.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
About the Ingredients
2 lbs (900g) bone-in chicken thighs
Skin-on keeps them juicy. Substitute drumsticks if that's on sale.
1 cup (240ml) BBQ sauce
Store-bought works fine. Thin with 1/4 cup water if it's very thick.
1 onion, sliced
Yellow or white. Frozen onion works in a pinch.
2 cloves garlic, minced
Or 1/2 tsp garlic powder if you're out of fresh.
1 tbsp brown sugar
Helps balance the vinegar in BBQ sauce. Skip if your sauce is already sweet.
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
Gives that grilled flavor. Regular paprika works too.
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prep the slow cooker
Spread sliced onions in the bottom. This keeps the chicken from touching the hot surface.
2. Mix the sauce
Whisk BBQ sauce, garlic, brown sugar, and paprika in a bowl. Thin with water if needed.
3. Add chicken
Place thighs on top of onions, skin side up. Pour sauce over evenly.
4. Cook low and slow
Cover and cook on low 6 hours or high 3 hours. No peeking – it slows cooking.
5. Check doneness
Chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) inside. Meat will pull away easily from bones.
6. Thicken sauce
If too thin, transfer liquid to a pot. Simmer 15 minutes to reduce.
7. Serve
Spoon sauce over chicken. Goes great with mashed potatoes or coleslaw.
How to Store cheap slow cooker meals to affordable and easy meals
Refrigerator
3 days in airtight container
Freezer
2 months, but sauce may separate when thawed
Reheating
Microwave covered or warm in a saucepan with a splash of water
Tips & Tricks
- Don't stir until serving – it breaks up the tender chicken
- If the sauce is too thin, simmer uncovered for 15 minutes after cooking
- Shred some chicken into the sauce for sandwiches
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use boneless chicken?
Yes, but reduce cooking time by 1 hour. Boneless dries out faster.
Q: Why won't my sauce thicken?
Some slow cookers trap more steam. Simmer the sauce separately to reduce.
Q: Can I make this gluten-free?
Use a GF BBQ sauce. Most major brands have GF options now.
Q: How do I prevent dry chicken?
Don't overcook. Check at 5 hours on low. Thighs are forgiving but have limits.
Delicious Variations
- Add 1 cup pineapple chunks for Hawaiian style
- Swap half the BBQ sauce for ranch dressing
- Stir in canned beans during the last hour
This is the kind of meal that makes slow cooker fans. Set it before work, come home to dinner done.
Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken – Tender 6-Ingredient Meal
Fall-off-the-bone slow cooker BBQ chicken with just six pantry staples. Ready when you are, no babysitting needed.
🧂 Ingredients
- 2 lbs (900g) bone-in chicken thighs
- 1 cup (240ml) BBQ sauce
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
📋 Instructions
- 1Prep the slow cooker — Spread sliced onions in the bottom. This keeps the chicken from touching the hot surface.
- 2Mix the sauce — Whisk BBQ sauce, garlic, brown sugar, and paprika in a bowl. Thin with water if needed.
- 3Add chicken — Place thighs on top of onions, skin side up. Pour sauce over evenly.
- 4Cook low and slow — Cover and cook on low 6 hours or high 3 hours. No peeking – it slows cooking.
- 5Check doneness — Chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) inside. Meat will pull away easily from bones.
- 6Thicken sauce — If too thin, transfer liquid to a pot. Simmer 15 minutes to reduce.
- 7Serve — Spoon sauce over chicken. Goes great with mashed potatoes or coleslaw.
