When August gets busy and the kitchen needs to work around garden chores, school preparations, and long hot afternoons, a slow cooker supper like this one earns its place fast. These chicken drumettes cook low and gentle in a simple pantry sauce until they turn tender, savory, and just sticky enough to feel like a real treat, all without much fuss. It is the sort of dependable Midwestern-style supper that reminds me how a handful of humble ingredients can still bring everybody to the table in a hurry.
Serve these drumettes with fluffy white rice, buttered egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or a scoop of simple potato salad to catch all that rich sauce. A plate of green beans, sweet corn, coleslaw, or sliced garden tomatoes makes a fine fresh partner, and if you are feeding a hungry bunch, warm dinner rolls on the side never hurt a thing.
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker August Busy Week Chicken
Servings: 4 to 6
Ingredients
2 1/2 to 3 pounds raw skinless chicken drumettes
1 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons garlic powder
Directions
1. Lightly coat the inside of the slow cooker with a little nonstick spray if you like easier cleanup, then place the raw skinless chicken drumettes in an even layer in the bottom.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the barbecue sauce, soy sauce, honey, and garlic powder until smooth and well blended.
3. Pour the sauce over the drumettes and turn them a bit with tongs so they are well coated.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or on HIGH for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender. If you would like a thicker sauce, remove the lid for the last 20 to 30 minutes of cooking.
5. Serve the drumettes hot with plenty of sauce spooned over the top.
Variations & Tips
Sweeter Supper: If your family likes a sweeter glaze, add an extra tablespoon or two of honey. That little change gives the sauce a stickier finish that is especially good over rice.
Tangier Version: Stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons of yellow mustard or apple cider vinegar with the sauce if you want a brighter, sharper flavor to balance the sweetness of the barbecue sauce.
Keep an Eye on Salt: Since barbecue sauce and soy sauce can both vary quite a bit, use a lower-sodium soy sauce if needed. If your barbecue sauce is already bold and salty, start with 3 tablespoons soy sauce and adjust next time.
Make It a Meal: You can nestle in a few thick onion slices under the chicken or serve the finished drumettes over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes so none of that good sauce goes to waste.
For Easy Browning: If you want a more caramelized look, transfer the cooked drumettes to a sheet pan and broil them for 2 to 3 minutes right before serving. Keep a close watch so the sauce does not scorch.