Freezer to Crock Pot

BBQ chicken doesn’t have to be reserved for the summer if you have a slow cooker at home. With the help of this freezer-friendly crock pot BBQ chicken legs recipe, you can enjoy the delicious flavours of grilled chicken without the need for a grill at all. And since this simple recipe can be prepared in a matter of minutes, it’s a great option for a busy weeknight dinner at home.One of our sons is a huge fan of drumsticks, so I was thrilled to figure out a way to cook them at home that allowed them to be that perfect blend of tender and crispy. 

Crock Pot BBQ Chicken Legs Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds chicken drumsticks
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 ¾ cups BBQ sauce, divided

Freezing instructions:

1. Stir together the paprika, cumin, and salt in a small bowl.
2. Place the chicken legs in a large freezer bag and add the spice mixture. Shake the bag to coat the chicken legs in the seasoning.
3. Add the minced garlic and one cup of the BBQ sauce to the bag. Squeeze the bag to combine the ingredients and coat the drumsticks in sauce.
4. Seal the bag leaving a small opening at the end. Remove the excess air from the bag and seal it completely.
5. Pour the remaining BBQ sauce into a medium freezer bag. Staple the bag to the bag with the chicken legs in it above the seal. Place both bags in the freezer.

Serving instructions:

1. Allow the chicken to thaw completely in the refrigerator.
2. Place the chicken in the slow cooker and set it to cook on low for four to six hours.
3. When the chicken is cooked through, transfer the chicken to a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush the chicken with half the reserved BBQ sauce.
4. Place the chicken under the broiler for one to five minutes, until the sauce starts to brown.
5. Remove the pan from the oven and flip the drumsticks over. Brush with remaining sauce and return the pan to the oven to broil an additional one to five minutes.

How Long Do I Cook BBQ Chicken Legs in the Crock Pot?

Cooking chicken in your slow cooker is a great way to help speed up the prep time. But since the chicken cooks slowly, you’ll need reserve several hours for cooking your drumsticks. Depending on how large your chicken legs are, they will be done cooking between four and six hours when cooked on low.

Can You Freeze Chicken with BBQ sauce on it?

Adding sauce and spices to your chicken before freezing is a great way to add some flavour to your drumsticks. That’s because marinade allows the flavours of your sauce to soak into the chicken. To prevent the acid in your sauce from breaking down the meat too much, it’s usually not recommended to marinate chicken for more than 12 hours.

But since the marinating process stops when the sauce is frozen, there’s no reason to worry about the breakdown process occurring in the freezer. That means it’s completely safe to freeze your chicken legs in BBQ sauce.

When you’re ready to cook your BBQ chicken drumsticks, simply transfer the freezer bag to the refrigerator to thaw. After that, you can prepare them on the grill, in the slow cooker, or in the oven.

Can You Cook Frozen Drumsticks in the Crock Pot?

Frozen drumsticks can be prepared in the slow cooker, but the cook time will need to be increased to ensure your chicken is cooked through. If cooking the chicken legs from frozen, allow for 8 to 10 hours of cooking when using your crock pot.

But while it’s possible to cook chicken from frozen in your crock pot, for best results I recommend thawing the drumsticks before cooking them. On top of being a safer method of cooking, giving your drumsticks time to thaw is the best way to ensure that they’re not stringy or rubbery when you’re ready to eat them.

BBQ Chicken Legs Tips & Tricks

This freezer-friendly chicken recipe couldn’t be easier to prepare! And with these baking tips and tricks, you’ll be on your way to prepping a delicious dinner for your family to enjoy in the future.

• Always label your freezer bag. These frozen chicken legs will stay good for up to 9 months. Before you add the ingredients to your freezer bag, make sure to label the bag with the name of the recipe, the date it was frozen, and the estimated expiration date.
• Try different cuts of chicken. These BBQ drumsticks are delicious in the slow cooker, but you can easily adjust this recipe for other chicken cuts. Chicken thighs or boneless breasts are also great options for freezing and cooking in the crock pot.
• Keep an eye on the broiler. As you’re browning the chicken legs in the oven, it’s important that you watch the drumsticks closely as they cook under the broiler. The heat from the broiler can quickly burn your chicken and sauce, so make sure to stay close to the oven during this step of the cooking process.

Drumstick side dish suggestions:

• coleslaw
• garlic mashed potatoes
• dill pickle pasta salad
• jalapeño corn casserole
• baby red potato salad

Print

BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

4 hrs

Broiling

10 mins

Total Time

4 hrs 10 mins

 

Course: Main Course

Keyword: chicken

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 3 lbs. chicken drumsticks
• 1 Tbsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. cumin
• ¼ tsp. salt
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 ¾ cups BBQ sauce divided

Instructions

Assembly instructions:

1. Stir together the paprika, cumin, and salt in a small bowl.
2. Place the chicken legs in a large freezer bag and add the spice mixture. Shake the bag to coat the chicken legs in the seasoning.
3. Add the minced garlic and one cup of the BBQ sauce to the bag. Squeeze the bag to combine the ingredients and coat the drumsticks in sauce.

4. Remove excess air and seal.

5. Pour the remaining BBQ sauce into a medium freezer bag. Staple the bag to the large bag above the seal. Freeze.

Cooking instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. Place the chicken in the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

3. When the chicken is cooked through, transfer the chicken to a foil-lined baking sheet. Brush the chicken with half the reserved BBQ sauce.
4. Place the chicken under the broiler for one to five minutes, until the sauce starts to brown.
5. Remove the pan from the oven and flip the drumsticks over. Brush with remaining sauce and return the pan to the oven to broil an additional one to five minutes.

Finding versatile recipes for your meal prep is a great way to extend your freezer meals for months. That’s why this marinated pork tenderloin recipe is a family favourite. On top of being simple to prepare for freezing, this easy recipe can be cooked four different ways. Whether you’re looking for an oven-baked, slow cooker, stovetop, or BBQ recipe, you’ll love this simple freezer friendly main course.

Pork is a great freezer meal option. Some of our other popular pork recipes include our Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork and our Apple Pork Chops. 

Marinated Pork Tenderloin Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds pork tenderloin
• 3 Tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley

Freezing instructions:

1. Place the pork tenderloin in a large freezer bag. Add the lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, pepper, and dried parsley to the bag. Squish the ingredients together to mix the sauce into the meat.
2. Remove excess air from the bag and seal to close it. Store the pork tenderloin in the freezer until you’re ready to cook it.

Serving instructions:

1. Thaw the pork tenderloin in the refrigerator.
2. To bake the tenderloin in the oven, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Add the tenderloin to the dish and cover the pan. Cook for 50 to 60 minutes until the internal temperature of the roast reaches 155 degrees. Allow the tenderloin to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
3. To make the pork in the crockpot, place the tenderloin in the pot and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or low for 5 to 7 hours.
4. To make the pork tenderloin on the grill, cook the pork over indirect heat until the center of the meat is white and the internal temperature reaches 155 degrees.
5. To prepare the pork on the stovetop, place the pork tenderloin in a large skillet with one tablespoon butter. Brown each side of the tenderloin for 5 to 8 minutes, until the meat is white throughout. Add the remaining sauce to the skillet and bring to a boil. Simmer for three minutes, then pour the sauce over the tenderloin to serve.

Can You Freeze a Marinated Pork Tenderloin?

Freezing your marinated pork tenderloin is a simple way to meal prep. That’s because it’s so easy to prep your pork for cooking later! Just add the tenderloin to a freezer-friendly container and add the marinade. As the pork is stored in the freezer, then sauce will soak into the meat adding flavour while it freezes.

How Long Can You Freeze Raw Pork Tenderloin?

Pork tenderloin is a great option for freezer cooking because it its long freezer life. Although pork is at its best when eaten within three months of being frozen, when stored properly, pork will stay good for up to 12 months in the freezer. To ensure your pork tenderloin stays fresh while it’s being stored, use these simple freezing tips:

• Store it in the right container. Freezer safe containers or zip-top freezer bags are both great options for storing your pork tenderloin.
• Remove excess air from the container. No matter what type of container you use to store your marinated tenderloin, it’s important that all the extra air is removed before you place it in the freezer. This will help the meat stay fresh and prevent freezer burn from damaging your pork while it’s in the freezer.
• Label the container. Before placing your marinated pork in the freezer, make sure to label your container to help you keep track of what you have stored in the freezer. Write the name of the recipe, the date it was frozen, and the expected expiration date on the front of the bag so it’s easy to see.

How Do You Know When Pork Goes Bad in the Freezer?

In spite of its long freezer life, your pork will eventually go bad if you keep it in the freezer too long. There are a few tell-tell signs that your pork tenderloin has gone bad:

• Ice crystals forming around the meat
• The meat’s texture looks different
• It has a strange smell
• The colouring has changed to a shade of brown

What’s the Best Way to Cook a Marinated Pork Tenderloin?

Using a marinade on your tenderloin is a great way to help keep the meat moist and juicy while it cooks. But the cooking method is also important to preparing a delicious tenderloin.

Cooking the tenderloin low and slow is the best way to add flavour to your pork while also keeping its natural juices intact. That means cooking your tenderloin in the oven or slow cooker are both great preparation options.

How Do You Cook a Pork Tenderloin Without Drying It Out?

There is one simple trick you can use to ensure your pork tenderloin stays juicy no matter what method you use to cook it. As you’re cooking your pork, make sure to place it in the pan with the fat side up. As your tenderloin cooks, the fat will drip from the top of the loin onto the meat on the bottom, adding flavour and moisture as it cooks.

Print

Marinated Pork Tenderloin

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

 

Course: Main Course

Keyword: pork

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 lbs pork tenderloin
• 3 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp dried parsley

Instructions

Assembly instructions:

1. Place the pork tenderloin in a large resealable freezer bag. Add the other ingredients. Squish to combine.

2. Remove excess air from the bag and seal. Freeze.

Oven cooking instructions:

1. Thaw.

2. To bake the tenderloin in the oven, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a casserole dish with cooking spray. Add the tenderloin to the dish and cover the pan. Cook for 50 to 60 minutes until the internal temperature of the roast reaches 155 degrees. Allow the meat to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Slow Cooker Instructions

1. Thaw. Cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or low for 5 to 7 hours.

Grilling instructions

1. Thaw. Cook the pork over indirect heat until the center of the meat is white and the internal temperature reaches 155 degrees.

Stovetop cooking instructions

1. Place the pork tenderloin in a large skillet with one tablespoon butter. Brown each side of the tenderloin for 5 to 8 minutes, until the meat is white throughout. Add the remaining sauce to the skillet and bring to a boil. Simmer for three minutes, then pour the sauce over the tenderloin to serve.