Slow Cooker Chicken Legs with Maple BBQ Glaze

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Sweet, sticky, and savory—these Slow Cooker Maple BBQ Chicken Legs are fall-apart tender with a finger-licking glaze made from real maple syrup, BBQ sauce, and soy sauce. This is an easy, family-friendly dinner with minimal prep!

A white plate filled with cooked slow cooker chicken legs sits on a light surface, with a blue slow cooker visible in the background.

🍗 The combination of pure maple syrup and BBQ sauce creates the most incredible sweet and tangy glaze that transforms ordinary chicken drumsticks into something truly special!

My 2 Best Tips For Making Slow Cooker Chicken Legs
Slow Cooker Chicken Legs with Maple BBQ Glaze Recipe
How To Make Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs
Recipe FAQs
More Delicious Chicken Recipes To Try

My 2 Best Tips For Making Slow Cooker Chicken Legs

Use Quality BBQ Sauce: Since the sauce is a major flavor component, choose a BBQ sauce you actually enjoy eating. Whether you prefer smoky, spicy, or sweet varieties, your favorite bottled sauce will work perfectly in this recipe.

Easy Caramelizing: For the most restaurant-quality finish, transfer your cooked chicken to a baking sheet, brush with extra sauce, and broil for 2-3 minutes. This creates a beautiful caramelized glaze that takes the dish to the next level.

🩷 Melissa

With just five simple ingredients for the sauce, you can have this recipe ready for the slow cooker in under 10 minutes. It’s perfect for those busy mornings when you want dinner sorted before you even leave the house!

You can easily adjust the sauce ingredients to match your family’s taste preferences — switch up the BBQ sauce for more savory, sweet, or even spicy.

Since chicken legs are one of the most affordable cuts of meat, this recipe is perfect for feeding a family without breaking the bank. Three pounds easily serves 4-6 people with leftovers.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Legs with Maple BBQ Glaze

By: Melissa Griffiths

Prep: 15

Cook: 5

Total: 5 15

Servings:

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Ingredients

Instructions

In a small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, onion powder, and garlic powder.
Place the chicken legs in the slow cooker.
Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.
Cover and cook on Low for 5–6 hours or High for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through (165°F internal temperature).
Optional but recommended: Transfer the cooked chicken to a baking sheet, brush with extra sauce from the slow cooker, and broil for 2–3 minutes until caramelized.
Serve warm with the extra sauce spooned over the top.

Notes

Slow Cooker Size: 6-quart

Caramelized Finish: For a sticky glaze, transfer the cooked chicken to a baking sheet, brush with extra sauce from the slow cooker, and broil for 2–3 minutes until caramelized (optional but recommended). Use maple syrup instead of BBQ sauce for the caramelization and you’ve got a pretty yummy maple glazed chicken meal.

Change the Flavor: Use your favorite BBQ sauce to change the flavor profile—smoky, spicy, or sweet all work great.

Easier cleanup: For easier cleanup, line the slow cooker with a liner or lightly grease before adding the chicken.

Serving Suggestions: These pair wonderfully with mashed potatoes, rice, roasted vegetables, or a simple green salad. They’re also good served alongside coleslaw and cornbread for the perfect comfort food spread.

Storing Leftovers: Leftover chicken legs keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store them with some of the cooking sauce to prevent them from drying out. They reheat beautifully in the microwave or oven.

Nutrition

Serving: 2chicken legs, Calories: 404kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 120mg, Sodium: 861mg, Potassium: 425mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 24g, Vitamin A: 172IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 56mg, Iron: 1mg

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How To Make Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs

Raw chicken drumsticks in a plastic tray, with small bowls of barbecue sauce and soy sauce, a teal spatula, and containers of garlic powder and onion powder on a granite countertop.

Step 1: In a small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, onion powder, and garlic powder.

Raw chicken drumsticks coated in a marinade are placed inside a white slow cooker, which sits on a gray granite countertop.

Step 2: Place the chicken legs in the slow cooker. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.

A white slow cooker filled with cooked chicken drumsticks in a dark sauce, viewed from above on a light marble surface.

Step 3: Cover and cook on Low for 5–6 hours or High for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through (165°F internal temperature).

A white plate filled with several cooked chicken drumsticks, arranged in a pile on a light-colored surface.

Step 4: Transfer the cooked chicken to a baking sheet, brush with extra sauce from the slow cooker, and broil for 2–3 minutes until caramelized. Serve warm with the extra sauce spooned over the top.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use boneless chicken thighs instead of legs?

Yes, boneless chicken thighs will work well in this recipe, though you will need to lower the cooking time. Reduce the cooking time to 3-4 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high, as boneless cuts cook faster than bone-in pieces.

How do I know when the chicken is fully cooked?

The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the meat easily pulls away from the bone. If you don’t have a meat thermometer, the juices should run clear when you pierce the thickest part of the leg.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the sauce mixture and coat the chicken legs the night before. Store everything in the refrigerator, then transfer to your slow cooker in the morning.