Slow Cooker Bang Bang Chicken
73 CommentsUpdated May 05, 2026
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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.
Featured Comment
“Very good as written, no need to change a thing. Thank you for your time and effort!”
– kara
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.
Key Ingredients
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.
How to Make Bang Bang Chicken in the Slow Cooker
- Add the drumsticks to the crockpot and coat with half the bang bang sauce.
- Cook until tender and fully cooked through.
- Broil briefly for color, then serve with the reserved sauce.
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.
Serving Suggestions
Rice: 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 which is 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.
Slow Cooker Bang Bang Chicken Recipe
How to Video
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
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
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.If you love easy chicken drumstick recipes, also try my slow cooker chicken drumsticks recipe.
Have everything in my slow cooker. Think I can add some baby new potatoes and if so when do you suggest I do that? Look forward to eating this later
Add them at the beginning and cut them pretty small.
Do you know if the calorie count is per drumstick? Or for the whole 5?
So yummy!! Thank you for sharing!
I believe it’s for 2 drumsticks.
What are some good sides for this?
I would do white rice, or mashed potatoes. A green salad or a steamed green vegetable.
I’m so happy to stumble into your site. I need help when it comes to cooking and cooking it has to be time-saving and delicious. The recipes here are so ideal for what I’m looking for.
How can I make this recipe not spicy so it can be suitable for my 2 small boys, too?
You could try sweet and sour sauce instead of the bang bang sauce, still get a sweet flavor without the spice.
Another idea to reduce spiciness: omit or cut down the sriracha. The sweet chili sauce won’t make it too spicy for kids.
hi why is it that when i try to save your recipes i only get half way then stops . wont let me save it in all
regards
TOMO
Is this sauce ok to pour over ziti pasta once
Done cooking ?
Can I use something else in place of the Chili Sauce? I have Cocktail sauce on hand…
Oh no, JJ.
Can I use boneless chicken breasts for this?
Yes, those will work fine.
Awesome!! My thought was shredding it after it was done & serving it over feticcini.
Would sour cream or yogurt be a suitable substitute for mayonaisse?
Sour cream and yogurt may separate while cooking quite a bit.
Can I grill the drumsticks after instead of broiling?
Yes!
Thanks for a great recipe Sarah. I marinated the chicken overnight in the slow cooker insert in the fridge and slow cooked on low for 5.5 hours the next day. Having the drumsticks precooked before hitting the grill made dinner so much easier. No guessing if the chicken was cooked through or not!
Great to hear!