Slow Cooker Bang Bang Chicken

By Sarah Olson

73 Comments

Dec 16, 2020Updated Jun 02, 2025

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These slow cooker bang bang chicken drumsticks are bold, creamy, and perfect for spooning over rice with an extra drizzle of sauce.

If you love easy chicken drumstick recipes, also try my slow cooker chicken drumsticks recipe.

chicken drumsticks cooked in bang bang sauce in slow cooker

If you’ve never tried Bang Bang Chicken, you’re in for a treat—the sauce is bold, creamy, and totally addictive. It’s amazing on these slow-cooked drumsticks, but it’s also the same sauce that makes bang bang shrimp so popular.

chickendrumsticks and bang bang sauce on white table

Ingredients for Bang Bang Chicken

Here’s what you’ll need to make these saucy, flavorful drumsticks:

  • Chicken Drumsticks: Budget-friendly and perfect for slow cooking—they soak up the sauce and stay tender.
  • What Makes Bang Bang Sauce So Good: A bold combo of mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, and sriracha creates a creamy, sweet-heat glaze that caramelizes beautifully under the broiler.
  • Salt & Pepper: Simple seasoning that balances the richness of the sauce.
  • Green Onions: A fresh, crisp topping that adds color and contrast when serving.
drumsticks in bang bang sauce in slow cooker before cooking.

Cook’s Tips & Variations

Optional Marination: You can marinate this chicken in the sauce the night before (be sure to only use half of the sauce, the other half is for serving).

Spicier: Double the sriracha in this recipe or add a few shakes of Tabasco. Additionally, you can add red pepper flakes if desired; approximately a half teaspoon will do.

Other cuts of chicken: Bone-in Chicken thighs work well too. If you choose to use boneless chicken (thighs or breasts), there is no need to brown the chicken before serving.

bang bang chicken with sauce, cooked in slow cooker

Serving Suggestions

These bold drumsticks are perfect over white or jasmine rice to soak up the flavorful sauce. Right before serving, sprinkle with sliced green onions and don’t forget that extra bang bang sauce on the side—cool, creamy, and perfect for dipping.

Other Sides we love with this dish are crockpot mac and cheese, slow cooker collard greens, crockpot cabbage and our favorite is crockpot corn on the cob.

bang bang chicken on sheet pan, browned with green onions on top.

Featured Comment

five stars

“Very good as written, no need to change a thing. Thank you for your time and effort!”

– kara
73 More Reviews
cooked bang bang chicken in slow cooker

Slow Cooker Bang Bang Chicken

5 from 14 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 5
By: Sarah Olson
Creamy sweet and spicy chicken drumsticks cooked until tender in the slow cooker then broiled in the oven to make a crispy skin.
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How to Video

Equipment

Ingredients 
 

  • 2-3 lbs. chicken drumsticks
  • 2 tsp. sriracha
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 cup sweet chili sauce, I use Frank's Red Hot brand sweet chili sauce
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 bunch green onions, for serving

Instructions 

  • Add the drumsticks to the slow cooker.
  • In a medium-sized bowl, add the mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha, salt and pepper. Stir.
  • Place half of the sauce in another bowl and place in the fridge for serving. Pour the other half of the sauce over the chicken.
  • Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 3.5-4 hours or LOW for 5 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to broil.
  • If you have a wire rack, place that on a sheet pan. When the cooking time is up place the chicken on the wire rack that is on the sheet pan (or directly on the sheet pan if you don't have a rack).
  • Broil for about 5 minutes or until browned. Keep an eye on them so they don't burn.
  • Sprinkle the green onions over the chicken when serving.
  • You can serve the chicken with the hot sauce poured over the chicken (great over rice). And also serve it with a side of the cold reserved bang bang sauce. We love these drumsticks with rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 626kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 146mg | Sodium: 1359mg | Potassium: 424mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 123IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

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More chicken recipes

Thai Peanut Chicken and Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken both bring bold, saucy flavors with an easy prep.

If you like a little heat, try Buffalo Ranch Drumsticks or Orange Chicken Drumsticks—both are full of flavor and perfect for busy weeknights. For something sweet and tangy, Pineapple Chicken Drumsticks hit the spot.

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73 Comments

  1. Kathy says:

    All recipes sound yummy want to try them all

    Reply
  2. Laurel Parker says:

    The answer to my question may be a flat out no, and that’s okay, but . . . Can you recommend a substitute for the mayonnaise in this recipe?

    Regardless of your answer, please know that I look forward to getting your wonderful recipes in my email. I’ve made wonderful use of both my slow cookers this summer and now I’m looking forward to an autumn filled with delicious, EASY, nutrition. PEACE

    Reply