As the season approaches in the South where smothering food becomes the norm, I’m excited to share a super simple and delicious recipe: Crockpot Smothered Chicken Legs. This effortless slow cooker dish features tender, juicy chicken paired with a rich and savory gravy that infuses every bite with flavor. Ideal for busy weeknights or a comforting Sunday supper, this recipe lets you enjoy a homemade meal without any hassle. Just toss in your ingredients, set your Crockpot, and let it work its magic while you go about your day.
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Chicken
- Convenience: This recipe is super easy to prepare. Just toss the ingredients in the Crockpot, set the timer, and go about your day. It’s perfect option for busy schedules or when you want a hassle-free meal.
- Ultimate Comfort Food: This easy chicken recipe is a comforting meal that warms the heart and satisfies the soul, making it a great recipe for fall and winter.
- Fall Off The Bone Chicken: Slow cooking ensures that the chicken legs become incredibly tender and juicy. The low and slow method allows the flavors to meld, resulting in melt-in-your-mouth chicken.
- Budget-Friendly: Chicken legs are a very affordable cut of meat, making this recipe a cost-effective way to feed a family without sacrificing any flavor.
- Home-Cooked Feel: Despite its simplicity, this dish has that homemade southern style feel that the whole family loves, bringing warmth and comfort to the dinner table.
Simple Ingredients
- Chicken Drumsticks (Legs)
- Brown Gravy Packet
- Water
- Seasoned Salt
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Paprika
- Italian Seasoning
How To Make Crockpot Smothered Chicken
Add water and brown gravy mix to crockpot and stir to combine. Add the chicken legs into the crockpot and season generously with seasoned salt, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and paprika.
Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours. Serve and enjoy!
Tip and Tricks for Delicious Crock Pot Chicken
- Season Well- Don’t skimp on seasoning! Be sure to season the chicken well with all spices listed on the recipe card, or in combination with other spices of your choice to enhance the overall flavor of the dish.
- Cook Low & Slow- For the most tender chicken, cook on the low heat setting. While high heat will cook the chicken faster, cooking on low allows the meat to become more tender and juicy.
- Use Different Cuts Of Chicken- While this recipe calls for drumsticks, feel free to use your favorite cut of chicken. Boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs or any other cut will substitute just fine for this recipe.
- Avoid Overcooking- While the Crockpot meals are forgiving, leaving the chicken in for too long can cause it to dry out.
How To Store Leftovers
- Cool the Chicken: Allow the chicken to cool to room temperature before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can lead to soggy skin and excess moisture.
- Store in an Airtight Container: Place the chicken legs and any leftover gravy in an airtight container to keep them fresh.
- Refrigerate: Store the leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Make sure the container is tightly sealed to avoid absorbing any other fridge odors.
FAQ
- Can I use boneless chicken instead of bone-in? Yes, you can use boneless chicken thighs or boneless skinless chicken breasts if you prefer. However, bone-in chicken legs tend to retain more moisture and flavor during slow cooking.
- Can I add veggies to the crockpot? Yes! Feel free to throw in chopped onions, bell peppers or even mushrooms for added flavor.
- What can I serve with smothered chicken legs? Smothered chicken legs go well with rice (white rice or brown rice), mashed potatoes, or toasted bread to soak up the delicious gravy. You can also serve them with a side of green beans or roasted carrots.
If you gave this recipe a try, drop a comment below! I love reading your feedback!
Still hungry? Check out a few more of my favorites:
Bacon Wrapped Garlic Parmesan Chicken
Adjust Servings people
Ingredients
- 8 Chicken Drumsticks Legs
- 1 Brown Gravy Packet
- 1 cup Water
- 1 tablespoon Seasoned Salt
- 2 teaspoons Onion Powder
- 2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
Instructions
- Add water and brown gravy mix to crockpot and stir to combine. Add chicken legs into crockpot and season with seasoned salt, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and Paprika.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours. Serve and enjoy!
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Can I double this recipe?
Depending on your crockpot size, you may be able to fit more than the suggested amount but I wouldn’t “stack” the chicken or overcrowd the crockpot due to concerns of uneven cooking.
This was fall off the bone delicious! 😃
I think the next time I will not use the Italian seasoning and use chicken flavored gravy to see how that turns out!
I literally have made this every week since coming across it. Its so easy and delicious!! I did use chicken broth and added white onions. So delicious. I have never liked chicken thighs before this recipe.
1 T. of seasoned salt seems excessive. Can I use 1 t. instead?
You can do as much or as little as you like. In my opinion, 1 tablespoon is not excessive for this dish for the amount of chicken and gravy.
Amazingly delicious! I had gotten a real bargain on chicken legs (69 cents a pound) and really stocked up! Luckily I found this recipe. Family really loved it!