Saturday, June 27, 2026
HomeBakingCrock Pot Dr Pepper Hen Thighs

Crock Pot Dr Pepper Hen Thighs


Crock Pot Dr Pepper Hen Thighs are tender, flavorful, and gradual cooked in a thick BBQ sauce with a candy glaze for a extra inexpensive dinner.

A Juicy and Flavorful Hen Thigh Recipe

With the costs of groceries nowadays, I’m making an attempt to buy extra inexpensive cuts of rooster. I like experimenting with completely different flavors to vary up the same old recipes that may get a bit boring, proper? I like utilizing bone-in, skin-on rooster thighs as they’re so tender and flavorful however don’t break the grocery price range. Pair it with the truth that the gradual cooker does a lot of the work and I like this recipe much more!

A plate of Crock Pot Dr Pepper Chicken Thighs on top of a bed of mashed potatoes.

Regularly Requested Questions: 

What does the soda do?

The soda is a secret weapon. It tenderizes the meat because it cooks and it provides that “little one thing you’ll be able to’t fairly put your finger on” taste. You don’t style Dr Pepper particularly, but it surely brings flavors to the meat that you would be able to’t simply make up every other means. In case you don’t like Dr Pepper, you could possibly use one other soda however most individuals don’t decide up particular dr pepper flavors however when you’re frightened about that, simply use Coca Cola.

Can I exploit rooster breasts as a substitute?

Sure. It’s possible you’ll not need to cook dinner them as lengthy although as a result of chicken cooks quicker than darkish meat.

Do I’ve to sear the rooster thighs first?

Technically no, however searing provides taste and helps enhance the general texture and coloration of the rooster pores and skin. I simply suppose it makes it look higher. Typically rooster cooked within the gradual cooker can look somewhat bland (despite the fact that it doesn’t style that means.) However if you’re operating quick on time, then go for it!

Can I cook dinner this on excessive as a substitute of low?

Low is strongly advisable for essentially the most tender outcomes. Cooking on excessive could make the rooster much less tender and forestall the sauce from creating the identical texture. I do know cooking on excessive can save time, however, you actually need the additional time for this recipe to be the absolute best.

How do I make the sauce thicker?

Sure. In case you’d like a thicker sauce, whisk collectively cornstarch and water, stir it into the gradual cooker, and cook dinner on excessive for about half-hour till thickened.

Can I broil the rooster after gradual cooking?

Completely. A couple of minutes beneath the broiler helps crisp the pores and skin and caramelize the sauce much more. Simply ensure you broil in a broil-safe pan that may deal with that larger warmth.

Easy methods to retailer leftovers?

Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Reheat gently within the microwave, oven, or on the stovetop with further sauce spooned over the rooster to assist maintain it moist. Freeze for as much as 2 months and thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.

Looking down on a full Crock Pot of Dr Pepper Chicken Thighs.

Substances Wanted: (See Recipe Card Under For The Full Recipe)

  • bone-in, skin-on rooster thighs– Boneless rooster thighs work nicely on this recipe however could cook dinner somewhat quicker than bone-in thighs. Identical with rooster breasts. Keep watch over the cooking time so that they don’t dry out. I like utilizing bone in, pores and skin on rooster thighs as a result of they’re fairly inexpensive and keep very moist and juicy, even when gradual cooked.
  • smoked paprika – I just like the style the smoked taste brings however when you don’t have smoked paprika, you need to use common.
  • garlic powder
  • barbecue sauce– no matter model you like will work. I even like to make use of Home made BBQ Sauce when I’ve some available. I typically use Candy Child Ray’s however Kinders (affiliate hyperlink) has some good BBQ sauce as nicely.
  • Dr Pepper– if in a pinch, you need to use a can of Coke. I haven’t tried this with food regimen or a zero model but it surely ought to work.
  • mild brown sugar – you need to use honey as a substitute of sunshine brown sugar.
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • apple cider vinegar
  • Dijon mustard– Personally, I’d persist with Dijon mustard because it’s extra delicate compared to yellow mustard that’s fairly tangy. However In case you actually don’t have Dijon and want a substitute, I assume you’ll be able to strive the yellow mustard. Remember the fact that the extra that you simply change the unique recipe with ingredient substitutions, the extra you deviate from the supposed flavors. In case you actually like an entire grain mustard, I suppose you could possibly use that.
  • cornstarch and water – that is used to thicken the sauce. You wish to use cornstarch, not flour.
Bone-in skin-on chicken thighs, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, oil, barbecue sauce, Dr Pepper, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, cornstarch, and water.

How To Make Crock Pot Dr Pepper Hen Thighs

Brown the rooster

In a bowl mix all of the seasonings. Season the rooster thighs on either side. In a big skillet, warmth up the oil. Sear rooster (skin-side down) till deeply golden. You’re not cooking the rooster all the best way, simply browning. Switch browned rooster to a 5-6 quart oval gradual cooker, skin-side up.

Put together the sauce

In a separate bowl, whisk collectively barbecue sauce, Dr Pepper, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, and Dijon mustard. Pour sauce across the rooster (indirectly on the pores and skin).

A Crock Pot with browned chicken thighs and a sauce around them.

Cowl and cook dinner

Cowl and cook dinner on low for about 5–6 hours, till rooster is tender and cooked by. It is suggested to solely cook dinner on low, not excessive for essentially the most tender rooster thighs.

Thicken the sauce

Take away lid over the past 30–45 minutes to permit sauce to thicken and develop into shiny. NOTE: If you’d like the sauce even thicker, mix cornstarch with water and whisk till clean, Add to the crock pot and stir into sauce. Flip the crock pot to the excessive setting for about half-hour. I choose to do that but it surely’s as much as you relying on thick you just like the sauce.

Broil the thighs (non-obligatory)

For much more coloration, place the thighs beneath the broiler for a couple of minutes simply to caramelize the pores and skin somewhat. To do that, you would wish to take the thighs out of the gradual cooker and place on a baking sheet (until you may have a gradual cooker insert that may stand up to excessive temperatures. Spoon sauce over rooster earlier than serving.

A bunch of Dr Pepper Chicken Thighs in a Slow Cooker.

Craving Extra Recipes? 

Looking down on a bunch of Crock Pot Dr Pepper Chicken Thighs.

Forestall your display screen from going darkish

Non-compulsory: (If you’d like a thicker sauce)

  • In a bowl mix 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika and ½ teaspoon garlic powder.

  • Season 6 bone-in, skin-on rooster thighs on either side.

  • In a big skillet, warmth up 1 Tablespoon oil. Sear rooster (skin-side down) till deeply golden. You’re not cooking the rooster all the best way, simply browning.NOTE: If utilizing a smaller pan, do that in batches, including extra oil as crucial.
  • Switch browned rooster to a 5-6 quart oval gradual cooker, skin-side up.

  • In a separate bowl, whisk collectively 1 cup barbecue sauce, ¾ cup Dr Pepper, ¼ cup mild brown sugar, packed, 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard.

  • Pour sauce across the rooster (indirectly on the pores and skin).

  • Cowl and cook dinner on low for about 5–6 hours, till rooster is tender and cooked by. It is suggested to solely cook dinner on low, not excessive for essentially the most tender rooster thighs.

  • Take away lid over the past 30–45 minutes to permit sauce to thicken and develop into shiny.NOTE: If you’d like the sauce even thicker, mix 3 Tablespoons cornstarch with 3 Tablespoons water and whisk till clean, Add to the crock pot and stir into sauce. Flip the crock pot to the excessive setting for about half-hour. I choose to do that however it’s non-obligatory relying when you just like the thicker sauce.
  • For much more coloration, place the thighs beneath the broiler for a couple of minutes simply to caramelize the pores and skin somewhat. To do that, you would wish to take the thighs out of the gradual cooker and place on a baking sheet (until you may have a gradual cooker insert that may stand up to excessive temperatures).

  • Spoon sauce over rooster earlier than serving.

  • Please consult with my FAQ’s (Regularly Requested Questions) and ingredient record above for different substitutions or for the solutions to the commonest questions.
  • These will cook dinner for 5-6 hours.

Course: Dinner, Principal Course

Delicacies: American

Energy: 489kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 24g | Fats: 27g | Sodium: 1082mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g

“The Nation Prepare dinner” is just not a dietician or nutritionist, and any dietary data shared is an estimate. If calorie depend and different dietary values are essential to you, we advocate operating the substances by whichever on-line dietary calculator you like. Energy and different dietary values can fluctuate fairly a bit relying on which manufacturers have been used.

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