14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (2024)

  • Chicken Mains
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Pull out your slow cooker and make one of these easy and delicious meals.

By

Cathy Jacobs

14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (1)

Cathy Jacobs

A freelance journalist and avid home cook, Cathy Jacobs has more than 10 years of food writing experience, with a focus on curating approachable menus and recipe collections.

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Updated on 02/8/24

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14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (2)

As much as we love our Instant Pots and air fryers, nothing can replace the slow cooker when it comes to easy, cozy dinners. Add one of the most popular dinner proteins to your Crockpot—or whatever brand of slow cooker you prefer—and weekday meals are a breeze.

Each of these fuss-free and delicious slow-cooker chicken dinners requires just tossing a few simple ingredients into the slow cooker and letting dinner bubble away to perfection while you get on with other things.

  • 01 of 14

    Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

    There's nothing quite like a bowl of classic chicken noodle soup to warm you up on a chilly day or to make you feel better when you have a cold. In this easy recipe, everything but the noodles goes into the slow cooker at the same time, which means prep is as simple as chopping up some carrots, celery, and parsley. After that, all you have to do is add the noodles towards the end of the cook time, then serve it up and enjoy.

  • 02 of 14

    Lazy Crock Pot Chicken with Mushrooms

    14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (4)

    Why not be lazy when you can do so and turn out a delicious dinner by simply adding chicken breasts and a few convenience ingredients like cream of mushroom soup and canned sliced mushrooms to your slow cooker? Serve the chicken and saucy mushrooms over rice or mashed potatoes for a creamy, comforting dinner.

  • 03 of 14

    Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

    14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (5)

    Homey crockpot chicken and dumplings has big grandma energy but without the need to hover over a hot stove for hours. Simply let the chicken and veggies cook all day, for tender, saucy results. You'll drop in an easy dough mixture near the end of cooking for perfectly fluffy dumplings on top.

  • 04 of 14

    Crock Pot Chicken Supreme

    14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (6)

    The term "supreme" in this recipe comes from the Frenchsuprêmede volaille, which refers to chicken breasts—a top cut of protein. But this combo of boneless breasts, a creamy sauce, bacon, mushrooms, and cheese is also supremely delicious. Plus, this slow cooker chicken feels awfully fancy for something that requires just 15 minutes of active prep time.

    The Best Slow Cookers for Set-It-and-Forget-It Soups and Stews

    Continue to 5 of 14 below.

  • 05 of 14

    Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Veggies

    14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (7)

    This creamy chicken and veggies recipe could hardly be easier. Just load up the appliance with chopped potatoes, carrots, and onions, lay chicken on top, and leave it to cook all day long. Right before serving, add the sauce ingredients, and cook to heat through. It also freezes well for a make-ahead family meal.

  • 06 of 14

    Hearty Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

    14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (8)

    This hearty chicken and vegetable chili is a fabulous one-dish meal that's loaded with chicken, two kinds of beans, and plenty of veggies, including tomatoes, corn, onions, and bell peppers. Top bowls with shredded cheddar cheese or a scoop of sour cream for added creaminess and set out bottles of hot sauce or some salsa for those who like a little more of a kick.

  • 07 of 14

    Crock Pot Chicken Chow Mein

    14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (9)

    If your slow cooker has a sauté function, use it to brown the chicken before you add the other ingredients to this simple chow mein-inspired dish that gets plenty of flavor from carrots, green onions, celery, ground ginger, garlic, and soy sauce. While the term chow mein refers specifically to stir-fried noodles, the chicken and veggie mixture is just as tasty served over rice.

  • 08 of 14

    Slow Cooker Chicken Paprika with Dumplings

    14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (10)

    Sour cream and sweet Hungarian paprika make this simple paprika chicken with dumplings rich and flavorful. Pillowy three-ingredient drop dumplings complete this tasty dish. Add a fresh green salad or some steamed or roasted vegetables for an easy dinner.

    Continue to 9 of 14 below.

  • 09 of 14

    Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken

    14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (11)

    You don't need a grill to produce the tender, juicy barbecue chicken of your dreams. All you need are chicken, onions, and bottled or homemade BBQ sauce (a great recipe is included), and your slow cooker. Add corn on the cob, potato salad or macaroni salad, and some watermelon and your backyard feast is complete.

  • 10 of 14

    Crockpot Pizza Chicken

    14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (12)

    What is pizza chicken, you may ask? A protein-rich vehicle for your favorite pizza flavors: tomato sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni. The chicken is cooked with the pepperoni, which infuses the meat with flavor. Cheese is sprinkled on top at the last minute and left just long enough to melt. Can't forget the iconic pizza cheese pull!

  • 11 of 14

    Crockpot Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

    14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (13)

    This wholesome crockpot chicken and sweet potatoes always hits the spot on chilly or rainy days. Loosely inspired by Indian cuisine, the chicken is cooked in a sweet, spicy, and super-flavorful sauce that includes ginger, curry powder, and peach preserves. Serve it over rice or with naan to complete the meal.

  • 12 of 14

    Crock Pot Portuguese Chicken

    14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (14)

    Spicy pork sausage, chicken, canned tomatoes, garlic, artichoke hearts, and olives are combined in this bold, saucy slow cooker Portuguese-inspired chicken. For this dish, use Spanish or Portuguese chorizo (chouriço), which is different from Mexican chorizo. This is an all-in-one meal, though rice and crusty bread are nice additions.

    Continue to 13 of 14 below.

  • 13 of 14

    2-Ingredient Crock Pot Barbecued Chicken Legs

    14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (15)

    This BBQ chicken recipe really couldn't be easier: Simply nestle chicken legs into the slow cooker with some store-bought or homemade barbecue sauce and let it cook while you get on with your day. Serve the chicken with coleslaw, potato salad, or any of your other favorite barbecue sides.

  • 14 of 14

    Easy 2-Ingredient Salsa Crockpot Chicken

    14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (16)

    You quite literally can't make it much easier than this 2-ingredient salsa chicken (it's more effort to order takeout!). Chicken breasts and store-bought salsa go into the slow cooker and perfectly seasoned, saucy chicken comes out. If you want to dress it up a little more, throw in a sliced onion and a couple sliced bell peppers or shred some Monterey Jack and sprinkle it on top to melt. Serve the chicken with tortillas or tostadas, and use leftovers as a clutch nacho starter.

29 Easy and Satisfying Crockpot Dinners

14 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to put raw chicken in slow cooker? ›

Yes, you most certainly can cook raw meat in the slow cooker! You put it in “cold”, with whatever liquid your recipe calls for, turn it on either “low” or “high” depending on your recipe (I usually start it on “high” for a couple hours, then turn it to “low”), and in 6–7–8 hours, it's now COOKED meat!

How long does it take for chicken to cook in the crockpot? ›

Sprinkle the chicken breasts with plenty of salt and pepper. Cover your crock pot and cook chicken breasts on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Chicken is done when the internal temp reaches 165 degrees F. Use chicken in your favorite recipes.

Does cooking chicken in the crockpot longer make it more tender? ›

Long and slow produces a more tender finished product. You want to bring your crockpot up to temp quickly even when you are going to cook at low.

What makes chicken tough in a crockpot cooking? ›

Aside from accidentally overcooking the meals, the most common reason we see for tough, rubbery, or overdone chicken is customers using a Crockpot that is far too big.

Should chicken be covered in liquid in slow cooker? ›

Water or liquid is necessary to create steam. When cooking meat or poultry, the water or liquid level should cover the ingredients to ensure effective heat transfer throughout the crock. Some manufacturers of slow cookers recommend adding liquid to fill the stoneware 1/2 to 3/4 full.

Do you have to seal chicken before putting in slow cooker? ›

Tips for Slow Cooking Chicken
  1. Sear the Chicken Before Adding It to the Slow Cooker. Pre-cooking seals in the juices in the poultry and makes it even more tender as you cook it. ...
  2. Don't Use Frozen Chicken. ...
  3. Use Chicken Thighs or Legs. ...
  4. Don't Wait Until the End to Add the Sauce. ...
  5. Layer the Chicken on Top of Other Ingredients.
Jan 18, 2022

How long can you leave chicken in the crockpot on low? ›

You certainly can, the meat will simply fall to bits, which might be desirable for some recipes like “Chicken and Dumplings” which will take 8–12 hours on “Low” setting. As long as the temperature remains above 140 F you can leave your chicken in the cooker all day but try to avoid more than 12 hours…

How do you keep chicken from drying out in the crockpot? ›

Chicken pieces, particularly chicken thighs and legs, will dry out less quickly and maintain their texture best when layered on top of other ingredients. Plus, this helps to flavor the entire dish as the chicken cooks and releases juices.

Can I put frozen chicken in the crockpot? ›

It is best to thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker. Frozen pieces will take longer to reach a safe internal temperature and could possibly result in foodborne illness. Frozen or partially frozen foods can also cool everything else in the slow cooker.

Is 3 hours in slow cooker enough for chicken? ›

For a whole chicken – Place it in your slow cooker breast side down. Cover with the lid and cook on High for around 4-5 hours or Low for 6-8 hours. For bone-in pieces - Arrange chicken pieces in a single layer in the slow cooker. Cover with the lid and cook on High for around 3-4 hours or Low for 4-6 hours.

Why does chicken get rubbery in slow cooker? ›

It's easy to throw in an Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup or shred it in Healthy Chicken Enchiladas. Rubbery chicken is usually an indicator of overcooked chicken. The longer the chicken cooks, the more moisture it loses, and without moisture, the protein fibers become elastic, AKA rubbery.

Why is my chicken rubbery after crockpot? ›

Chicken becomes rubbery/chewy when it's overcooked. So in general, including in a slow cooker, don't cook as long. There are lots of recipes online, they can give you a good place to start.

How do you know when chicken is done in the crockpot? ›

If the chicken is cooked too long, it will become dry (even if you use broth or water) and tough. That means the best way to keep chicken from drying out in a crockpot is to stop cooking it as soon as it reaches the proper internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Can I overcook chicken in crockpot? ›

Can you overcook chicken in the slow cooker? Yes, it is possible! If the meat is cooked too long it could end up dry and not juicy and tender. The recommended times in my recipe are ideal for juicy results, but if you use less chicken than the recipe calls for I would recommend checking it sooner.

How do you make chicken not rubbery and tender? ›

Brines and marinades help tenderize the meat by bringing more moisture in the protein. With that extra moisture, you lose less when you cook. The simplest way to do this is with a dry brine — unwrap the chicken breasts, salt them on both sides and let them sit in the fridge for at least an hour.

Why can't you put raw meat in a slow cooker? ›

If you simply pop some raw meat in your slow cooker, it won't have a chance to brown, which adds some much-needed flavor and cuts down on plenty of unappealing grease. Instead, you're better served by browning raw meat in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker with your other ingredients.

Do you have to brown chicken before putting it in a slow cooker? ›

You do not need to brown meat before you place it into the slow cooker. By browning meat, you will cause the meat to intensify the flavor. That will make the meat taste so much better. By adding onions, carrots & celery, that will also help to flavor the meat taste.

What should you not cook in a slow cooker? ›

​11 things you shouldn't put in your slow cooker
  1. Lean meats. ...
  2. Raw meat. ...
  3. Too much liquid. ...
  4. Delicate vegetables. ...
  5. Too much spice. ...
  6. Dairy. ...
  7. Too much booze. ...
  8. Meat that has the skin on.
Oct 12, 2022

Is it OK to cook vegetables with raw chicken? ›

Yes, if two raw foods touch that will be cooked to the recommended temperature, the foods will be safe.

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