My church friend swears by this sticky, sweet 3-ingredient method for late summer cookouts. The meat slow-cooks all afternoon to create a rich, dark glaze that falls right off the bone.

This slow cooker 3-ingredient Amish root beer chicken is the kind of low-effort recipe that earns a permanent spot in late-summer dinner rotation. It leans on a simple sweet-and-savory combination to create tender chicken with a rich, sticky glaze, and it is especially handy on busy days when you want something cookout-worthy without standing over the grill. The root beer helps build that deep color and caramelized flavor as everything slowly simmers together all afternoon.

Serve this chicken with creamy mashed potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or a simple scoop of rice to catch the extra sauce. For a cookout-style spread, add coleslaw, baked beans, corn on the cob, or potato salad, and round things out with sliced pickles or a crisp green salad to balance the sweetness of the glaze.

Slow Cooker 3-Ingredient Amish Root Beer Chicken

Serves 6

Ingredients

3 pounds chicken drumsticks or bone-in chicken thighs
1 (12-ounce) bottle root beer
1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce

Directions