Slow Cooker Bourbon Glazed Chicken Drumsticks

This slow cooker chicken drumstick recipe is the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it dinner. Juicy chicken and colorful bell peppers are tossed in a sweet bourbon BBQ glaze and left to simmer until fall-off-the-bone tender.

The result is a sticky, caramelized sauce that coats every piece. Serve over creamy mashed potatoes for a complete and satisfying meal. With just 10 minutes of prep, this is a weeknight hero.

Chicken drumsticks are a budget-friendly cut that shines in the slow cooker. The low, gentle heat breaks down the connective tissue, making the meat incredibly tender. The bourbon BBQ glaze adds a sweet, smoky depth, while the brown sugar helps create a lacquer-like coating.

Bell peppers and onions soften and sweeten as they cook, becoming a delicious side dish in their own right. This recipe is perfect for busy days when you want a home-cooked meal without the fuss.

Ingredients

Why this recipe works

The slow cooker's low, steady heat is ideal for chicken drumsticks. It gently renders the fat and breaks down the collagen, resulting in meat that is impossibly tender and falls right off the bone.

Unlike high-heat cooking, there's no risk of drying out the chicken, and the long cooking time allows the flavors of the glaze to penetrate deeply into the meat.

The combination of bourbon BBQ glaze and brown sugar creates a sweet, tangy sauce that reduces and thickens as it cooks. The sugars caramelize slightly, giving the chicken a beautiful glazed finish. The bell peppers and onions release their natural juices, which mix with the sauce to create a rich, flavorful liquid that keeps everything moist and delicious.

Notes and substitutions

Choose drumsticks that are similar in size for even cooking. If you prefer, you can use chicken thighs instead, but adjust the cooking time accordingly. The bourbon BBQ glaze can be substituted with any good-quality BBQ sauce, but look for one with a robust flavor. For a non-alcoholic version, use a smoky regular BBQ sauce and add a splash of apple juice.

A 6-quart slow cooker is ideal for this recipe, but a 4-quart will also work if you arrange the chicken in a single layer. The bell peppers and onion add moisture and flavor, so don't skip them.

If you have time, searing the drumsticks in a hot skillet before adding them to the slow cooker will add extra depth, but it's not necessary for this simple dump-and-go meal.

• bourbon BBQ glaze: Use a regular smoky BBQ sauce mixed with 1 tablespoon bourbon or apple juice.
• dark brown sugar: Light brown sugar or coconut sugar can be used.
• sweet onion: Yellow or red onion works well.
• chicken drumsticks: Chicken thighs (bone-in) can be substituted; adjust cooking time to 4 hours.

Equipment

• 6-quart slow cooker
• cutting board
• chef's knife
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• serving spoon