Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken and Ranch Potatoes
42 Comments Apr 10, 2023
Updated May 27, 2025
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Chicken drumsticks and potatoes are given a tasty new twist with this Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken and Ranch Potatoes recipe. Drumsticks are coated in pantry-staple seasonings just before being smothered in Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce. Red potatoes are quartered and covered in olive oil and ranch seasoning before being slow cooked together for an amazing one-pot meal.
If you want to cook drumsticks by themselves, you’ll love my Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks.
Why this chicken drumsticks and potatoes recipe works
Chicken legs always make a good meal choice, but there only seem to be just a few ways to cook them. In this recipe, a seasoning mixture is applied to give it a flavor similar to roasted chicken drumsticks. And since red potatoes are similar to baby potatoes, they provide just enough servings to feed a small family.
The drumsticks and potatoes are cooked in the same crock pot dish; however, separated by a glass bowl. Everything will cook evenly and maintain great flavor at the same time. If you’re looking for a chicken and potatoes meal to cook on busy nights, this is the one to try. The prep time is quick and the cooking time is reasonable. It’s also versatile and can pair great with different veggies.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken Drumsticks: This recipe calls for about 2 pounds of raw drumsticks; however, you can use as many that will fit. Keep in mind that if you want to add many more, you’ll need to use a bigger slow cooker.
- Red Potatoes: These are always one of the go-to potato types for slow cooking. Instead of adding them into the crock pot with the chicken, they’ll be placed inside a glass bowl to cook separately (but together).
- Seasonings: Salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, ranch seasoning, and olive oil are used to season the chicken and potatoes.
- Water: Water is added to the potatoes to create steam-like cooking.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – Place the quartered cut red potatoes into a large Ziploc bag along with the oil and ranch mix seasoning. Shake until well combined.
Step Two – Place the potatoes in an oven-safe glass bowl with 1/4 cup of water and put the bowl with the potatoes into the slow cooker. Then add the drumsticks around the glass bowl. Season them with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
Step Three – Pour the barbecue sauce on top of the chicken and add another 1/4 cup of water to the slow cooker with the chicken.
Step Four – Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours. Do not open the lid during cooking time. Before serving, stir up the potatoes a bit. Serve with extra barbecue sauce and enjoy!
How to serve
- This meal is perfect to serve as-is. Simply add a drumstick or two to a plate along with a scoop of potatoes.
- You can also tweak the potatoes by adding a little butter, sour cream, and shredded cheese.
- If you want to add more veggies, consider adding steamed carrots or green beans.
Recipe FAQs
I use a one-quart pyrex or a pampered chef quart large glass measuring bowl works well too.
Sure! You can swap out the potatoes for sweet potatoes to add sweetness to the meal. If you want to stick with “white” potatoes, Yukon gold potatoes or russet potatoes work just fine.
If you’d like to add another veggie, you can add onions with the potatoes.
Chicken thighs could work, but you’ll want to make sure the crock pot is big enough for them to fit. The chicken legs are small enough to evenly distribute along with the glass dish.
You can’t go wrong with adding fresh rosemary, smoked paprika, onion powder, and lemon juice.
Place any remaining chicken and potatoes in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, place the leftovers on a sheet pan or baking sheet and reheat in the oven at 350 degrees until warmed throughout.
You can make a “bowl” out of foil.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken and Ranch Potatoes
How to Video
Equipment
- 1 quart oven safe glass bowl such as pyrex or pampered chef
Ingredients
For the Ranch Potatoes
- 1 ½ pounds red potatoes, 1/2 inch dice
- 2 tablespoon olive oil or canola oil
- 1 oz. packet ranch dressing dry mix
- ¼ cup water
For the Chicken
- 2 lbs. raw chicken drumsticks, about 6 drumsticks, though you can use as many will fit.
- 1 cup sweet baby rays bbq sauce, (not need to measure, just eyeball it!)
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. garlic powder, (or onion powder)
- 1 tsp. paprika
- ¼ cup water
Instructions
- Add the potatoes, oil and ranch mix to a large ziplock bag, shake until well combined. Add the potatoes to an oven safe glass bowl, I use a one quart pyrex or a pampered chef quart glass measuring cup works well too. Place bowl with the potatoes into slow cooker. Add a 1/4 cup of water to the bowl of potatoes. If you don't have a bowl that will fit in your slow cooker with the chicken, don't fret; just make a bowl out of foil.
- Season the chicken with the salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika. Place the chicken next to the potatoes in the slow cooker (next to the bowl), add the bbq sauce on top of the chicken, and a 1/4 cup of water to the slow cooker with the chicken.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker.
- Set the slow cooker to HIGH for 4 hours.
- Do not open the lid during the cooking time.
- After cooking time is up, stir up the potatoes a bit.
- When serving, spoon the extra bbq sauce liquid from the crockpot onto the chicken.
- Enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
- You can use any type of potato in this recipe.
- Be sure your glass bowl is oven safe; a too thin bowl may crack and ruin your meal.
- If you want crispy skin chicken, simply put your chicken on a sheet tray and broil for a few minutes in the oven.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
For a comforting all-in-one meal, try Creamy Ranch Chicken and Potatoes—simple and filling.
If you’re craving bold flavors, Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken or Orange Chicken Drumsticks add a tangy twist to dinner.
Love drumsticks? Mix things up with Greek Drumsticks, Buffalo Drumsticks, or classic Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks in the slow cooker.
And for something easy and comforting, you can’t go wrong with Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken.
If I add shredded cheddar cheese to potatoes do I add cheese in beginning?
I personally would wait until the end.
I can’t wait to try this recipe. I just ordered silicone separators from Amazon for my crockpot. I’ve been looking for recipes for two people to make the protein and a side.
Can the chicken only be cooked on low? And how long?
I would try 6 hours on low.
The only mistake I made is I put the water in the bag with the potatoes etc. and then I still added the 1/4 cup of water on the bottom of the bowl. I hope that was OK?
Yes, water in both is right.