Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks

Coated in tangy buffalo sauce and cooked to juicy, fall-off-the-bone perfection, these Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks are perfect for game day, family dinners, or anytime you need an easy, crowd-pleasing recipe!

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A blue platter with Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks stacked on it with sliced scallions and blue cheese crumbles garnished on top

Whether they’re for game day or an easy dinner, these Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks will be a crowd favorite!

These drumsticks have everything you love about Buffalo chicken wings – the piquant wing sauce, the tender meat, but in a meatier version that makes a super easy meal, thanks to the slow cooker!

Slow Cooker Buffalo Drumsticks are great because they require so little prep and barely any hands-on cooking! 

Just season the chicken, cook them in the slow cooker, and pop them under the broiler to get crispy.  That’s it!  Just add your favorite garnishes!

If Buffalo sauce is your love language, Buffalo Wing French Bread Pizza Sticks and Buffalo Chicken Enchilada Casserole should be next on your menu!

Ingredients needed for this recipe (scroll down to recipe card for complete recipe):

  • Chicken drumsticks
  • Buffalo wing sauce
  • Seasonings – garlic powder, black pepper
  • Optional garnishes (blue cheese crumbles, scallions, ranch dressing)

Side-by-side photos showing chicken in a slow cooker, then with Buffalo sauce poured over it.

How to make Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks

  1. Season chicken with garlic powder and black pepper, then place them in a slow cooker.  6-quart or larger is best.
  2. Pour Buffalo wing sauce over the chicken and place lid on slow cooker.
  3. Cook according to directions on recipe card at bottom of post.
  4. To crisp up the chicken skin, place cooked drumsticks on baking sheets and place under the broiler for a couple minutes.
  5. Feel free to garnish with blue cheese crumbles, sliced scallions, an extra drizzle of Buffalo sauce, or ranch dressing.

📍The full recipe with exact ingredient amounts and instructions is on the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks after they are done cooking in the slow cooker, but before they go under the broiler.

How to serve Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks

Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks are great served family-style on a platter garnished with blue cheese crumbles, sliced scallions, and drizzles of Buffalo wing sauce, ranch dressing, or blue cheese dressing.  

Alternatively, you could serve all the garnishes on the side and your guests and customize their drumsticks as they wish.

Some great side dishes to serve with Buffalo chicken:

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks on a baking sheet after they were under the broiler

Tips & Tricks

Here are a few tips to make sure your chicken drumsticks turn out perfectly:

  • Slow Cooker: Slow cookers should not be more than 2/3 full for even cooking.  I recommend a 6-quart or larger for this recipe.
  • Heat level: Choose the right wing sauce for your taste.  Sauces range from mild to super spicy!
  • No Soggy Skin: Yes, you can crisp up the skin of your drumsticks!  Simply put them under the broiler of your oven for a couple minutes!
  • Frozen chicken: The USDA says to thaw chicken first. 

How to store leftovers

Store leftover drumsticks in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Cooked drumsticks can be frozen in freezer-safe containers for up to 4 months.  

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks on a platter with garnishes

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A blue platter with Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks stacked on it with sliced scallions and blue cheese crumbles garnished on top

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks

Flavorful Eats
Coated in tangy buffalo sauce and cooked to juicy, fall-off-the-bone perfection, these Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks are perfect for game day, family dinners, or anytime you need an easy, crowd-pleasing recipe!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
0 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 5 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 5

Equipment

  • 6-quart slow cooker or larger

Ingredients
  

  • 3.5-4.5 lbs chicken drumsticks
  • garlic powder to taste
  • black pepper to taste
  • 2/3 cup Buffalo wing sauce plus more for serving
  • optional additions blue cheese crumbles, sliced scallions, ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing

Instructions
 

  • Sprinkle chicken with your desired amount of garlic powder and black pepper. Place the drumsticks in your slow cooker and pour Buffalo wing sauce over them. Cook for 6-8 hours on low or 4 hours on high.
  • To crisp up the skin after cooking, place drumsticks on a baking sheet and pop them under the broiler for a couple minutes. Check them often as they can burn easily!
  • You can serve them family-style on a platter with garnishes or plate individually with your favorite garnishes on the side. Enjoy!

Notes

  • The "5 servings" is based on a serving of 2-3 drumsticks per person.  
Keyword Buffalo sauce, Chicken, Chicken Drumsticks, Chicken Legs, Slow Cooker
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1 thought on “Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks”

  • 5 stars
    These Slow Cooker Buffalo Drumsticks are so flavorful and easy to make! We love them with blue cheese crumbles, scallions, and wing sauce drizzled over the top!

5 from 1 vote

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