I keep forgetting how awesome slow cookers are, but I’m reminded of the fact every fall when I start seeing Crock Pot recipes pop up all over the place. Any contraption that lets me chuck ingredients into a big pot, walk away for a few hours (maybe watch a few episodes of Castle), and then come back to find a hot, delicious, perfectly-cooked meal is a big time win in my book. Crock Pots – best human invention ever? Probably, yes. Definitely top 10.
These hot and sticky wings, made in a slow cooker, are about as easy as you’d expect. Mix up a quick sauce, pour it over some raw chicken, set everything to cook low and slow in your Crock Pot, head to bed (or whatever)…and voila! Spicy, sticky, tender, flavorful chicken that is quite literally falling off the bone.
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Spicy Crock Pot Drumsticks
- Total Time: 370 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6-8 1x
- Diet: Omnivore
Description
Fall-off-the-bone tender chicken drumsticks with a sweet and spicy sauce. Perfect for a crowd!
Ingredients
- 2-3 lbs (907-1361 g) chicken drumsticks (or wings)
- 1/3 cup sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2-3 tsp Sriracha (adjust to taste)
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground pepper
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp water
- Sesame
Instructions
- Whisk together soy sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, honey, minced garlic, Sriracha, ground ginger, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder in a large bowl.
- Place drumsticks in a slow cooker.
- Pour sauce over the drumsticks and toss to combine.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 6 hours (or high heat for 3-4 hours). Turn drumsticks in the sauce every few hours to ensure even cooking.
- Whisk together cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl.
- Pour the cornstarch slurry into the slow cooker and stir gently.
- Cover and cook on high heat for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
- Serve immediately, garnished with sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
- For deeper flavor, brown the drumsticks in a pan before adding them to the slow cooker.
- If you prefer a less spicy dish, reduce the amount of Sriracha or omit it altogether.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and reheated in the microwave or oven.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 360 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Braising
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 drumsticks
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
- Cholesterol: 100
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do the drumsticks need in the crock pot?
Cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 3 to 3.5 hours. The meat should pull away from the bone easily when done. 
Can I brown the drumsticks before adding them to the slow cooker?
A quick sear in a hot skillet builds a slightly deeper flavor and improves the color, though it is not required for the recipe to work.
How spicy does this dish get?
The heat level depends on the chili sauce or spice blend used. Taste the sauce before it goes in and reduce the amount if you want a milder result.
Frick yeaH!
These are FIRE, so delicious!
oh my goodness.. this recipe is awesome, it is so flavorful. I was out of Worcestershire sauce so I use steak sauce instead. My husband loves it..says it’s the best tasting chicken recipe that I’ve ever made and I made a lot..!! I’m making it for the second time, I’ve got it in the crock pot right now cooking. And I’ve used thighs both times.. so delicious.. thank you so much.?
I may be a little tipsy, but I just dug into the final product of this recipe and it is truly dank as shit. So good, fo real tho.