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Crock Pot Sticky Chicken

Crock Pot Sticky Chicken is a five ingredient weeknight dinner favorite that hits the mark for ease, flavor, and minimal cleanup. This slow cooker recipe is a classic dump-and-go meal that makes chicken anything but boring. Barbeque sauce and preserves on the chicken create a sticky, savory-sweet glaze that clings to every bite.

This easy sticky chicken recipe is perfect for busy nights when you still want a home-cooked dinner. There’s no need to sear, stir, or check on it all day. It’s a no fuss dish that uses pantry staples, requires no chopping, and cleanup is easy.

A piece of crock pot sticky chicken, glazed and sprinkled with sesame seeds, rests on a bed of white rice in a white bowl. Fresh parsley sprigs garnish the dish, which is set against a white marble surface with a black and white striped napkin in the background. The recipe title "Crock Pot Sticky Chicken" is overlaid at the top

Busy schedules need more easy meals, and this Crock Pot Sticky Chicken is one of those simple and delicious dinners that are on repeat. We love using BBQ sauce in slow cooker recipes like this Crock Pot BBQ Pulled Pork or my Slow Cooker BBQ Beer Chicken.

Sometimes these Slow Cooker BBQ Green Beans are made with the sticky bbq chicken just to keep the smoky flavors going throughout the meal. Using the slow cooker just makes life easier to get dinner on the table when you need it to be.

Timesaving Tips and Variations

This recipe is already quick to prep, but a few small adjustments can make it even more efficient for busy days. You can also tweak the flavors without compromising the simplicity of the dish.

  • Skip scrubbing the crock entirely by using a disposable slow cooker liner for fast cleanup.
  • Mix the BBQ sauce, preserves, and the soup mix the night before and store in the fridge.
  • Combine all ingredients in a freezer-safe bag and freeze flat. Thaw overnight and dump into the slow cooker in the morning.
  • This dish also works well with thighs or chicken legs; just add 30–60 minutes to the cook time.
  • Add a tablespoon of hot sauce or red pepper flakes for a kick.
  • Try using peach preserves, pineapple, or orange marmalade; all pair well with BBQ sauce.

These shortcuts can help you stay on track when dinner needs to be low-effort but still feel homemade. The flavor options keep it fresh, so it won’t feel like the same meal every time.

close up of plated crock pot sticky chicken with rice

What to Serve with Crockpot Sticky Chicken?

This sticky chicken recipe is perfect over rice and a side of Green Beans with Toasted Walnuts.  Occasionally, I use a bag of frozen seasoned roasted red potatoes with the meat. Here are a few other tasty sides to serve up:

These sides keep the focus on simple comfort without adding more work to your prep. They pair well with the rich sauce and let the chicken shine. Choose one or two based on what you have on hand, and dinner is covered.

tongs taking a chicken breast from crock pot

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. You can prep everything the night before and add the chicken and sauce mixture to the crock pot, cover, and refrigerate. In the morning, place it in the slow cooker base and start cooking. You may have to add 30 minutes to cooking time.

Let the chicken cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The sauce will thicken a bit as it chills but still tastes great reheated. You can store it whole or shredded depending on how you plan to reuse it. It also works well in wraps or sandwiches the next day.

You can reheat individual portions in the microwave with a spoonful of water to loosen the sauce. Cover loosely to keep moisture in and heat in 30–45 second intervals, stirring in between. For larger portions, warm them in a covered skillet over low heat until fully heated through. Add a splash of water or broth if needed.

Yes, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are an excellent substitute for breasts in this recipe. They’re naturally more moist and flavorful, which works well in slow cooking. Cook time remains about 5 to 7 hours on low. If using bone-in thighs, increase cook time slightly and check for doneness. Chicken drumsticks can also be used.

Ingredients Needed for Slow Cooker Sticky Chicken

This recipe uses a short list of pantry-friendly ingredients to create flavorful sticky apricot chicken. No chopping or marinating is required, which keeps the prep fast and the cleanup easy.

  • Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – A lean protein that cooks up tender and holds its shape well in the slow cooker.
  • BBQ Sauce – Adds bold, smoky, and tangy flavor that forms the base of the sticky glaze.
  • Apricot Preserves – Brings a touch of sweetness and helps create the signature thick, glossy sauce.
  • Dry Onion Soup Mix – Adds depth, seasoning, and a savory onion flavor.

These ingredients work together to create a balanced sauce that’s both sweet and savory. The simplicity of the list keeps prep minimal while still delivering great taste.

ingredients for crockpot sticky bbq chicken

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How to Make Crock Pot Sticky Chicken

Spray the inside of your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray to prevent the sauce from sticking and burning. Alternately, you can use a crock pot liner.

Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker. If they overlap slightly, that’s fine, just try to avoid stacking them. Pour the BBQ sauce over the chicken. Then add the apricot preserves and top with onion soup mix and water.

adding chicken and ingredients to slow cooker

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and set it to cook on low for 5 to 7 hours. The chicken should be tender and easy to shred or slice when done. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking to maintain consistent heat and moisture.

Serve with your favorite sides. Looking for a dessert to go with this meal? Try Homemade Peach Upside-Down Cake or Easy No Bake Cherry Cheesecake in a Jar.

glazed chicken breast over rice on plate
Overhead view of a serving of crock pot sticky chicken on white rice in a white handled bowl. The chicken is coated in a dark, glossy sauce and topped with sesame seeds and fresh parsley. Two black forks and a black and white striped napkin are visible on the white marble background.

Crock Pot Sticky Chicken

Crock Pot Sticky Chicken is a five ingredient weeknight dinner favorite that hits the mark for ease, flavor, and minimal cleanup.
4 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: crock pot sticky chicken, sticky chicken
Prep Time: 5 minutes
5 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Lisa Kerhin

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce (I use Sweet Baby Rays)
  • 1 cup apricot preserves
  • 1 packet dry onion soup mix (do not mix with water)
  • 2 tablespoons water

Instructions

  • Spray your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray. This makes for easy clean up.
  • Place chicken breasts inside the crockpot.
  • Pour barbeque sauce over chicken, top with aprocot preserves.
  • Sprinkle the dry soup mix over the top and then sprinkle the water over the soup mix.
  • Cover with the lid. Cook on low for 5 – 7 hours. Check at the 4 hour mark, some slow cookers cook faster than others. Mine took 5½ hours.

Nutritional Disclaimer

“Blogghetti” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Tried this recipe?I hope you enjoy all the recipes I share with you, including this one! I hope you try it, enjoy it, comment and rate it, and share it with your friends and family!

Enjoy!

4 from 5 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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4 Comments

  1. Lisa Schwenk says:

    Can the chicken breasts be frozen

    1. Hi Lisa, I’ve never made it with frozen Chicken Breasts before and I wouldn’t recommended it. I have in the past used frozen chicken in other crock pot recipes with success, just added to the cooking time. With this recipe, adding cooking time may overcook the sauce and it could burn from the sugars in the preserves.

  2. 5 stars
    made this for the 2nd time, still awesome

    1. So glad you are enjoying the recipe! Thanks!