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

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

By

Cathy Jacobs

15 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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15 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 15

    Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

    15 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (3)

    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.

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  • Lazy Crock Pot Chicken with Mushrooms

    15 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.

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  • 03 of 15

    Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

    15 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.

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  • 04 of 15

    Crock Pot Chicken Supreme

    15 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.

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

    Continue to 5 of 15 below.

  • 05 of 15

    Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Veggies

    15 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.

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  • 06 of 15

    Hearty Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

    15 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.

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  • 07 of 15

    Crock Pot Chicken Chow Mein

    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.

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  • 08 of 15

    Slow Cooker Chicken Paprika with Dumplings

    15 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.

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    Continue to 9 of 15 below.

  • 09 of 15

    Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Casserole

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

    Inspired by enchiladas, this easy slow cooker chicken casserole includes layers of cut-up tortillas, shredded or chopped chicken, cheese, ripe olives, and chopped onions. The recipe includes an enchilada sauce, but you can use store-bought enchilada sauce instead to make it even easier. Serve the casserole with salsa, sour cream, and guacamole and let everyone top their own portions.

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  • 10 of 15

    Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken

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

    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.

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  • 11 of 15

    Crockpot Pizza Chicken

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

    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!

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  • 12 of 15

    Crockpot Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

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

    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.

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    Continue to 13 of 15 below.

  • 13 of 15

    Crock Pot Portuguese Chicken

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

    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.

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  • 14 of 15

    2-Ingredient Crock Pot Barbecued Chicken Legs

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

    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.

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  • 15 of 15

    Easy 2-Ingredient Salsa Crockpot Chicken

    15 Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight (17)

    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.

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29 Easy and Satisfying Crockpot Dinners

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

FAQs

Can you put frozen chicken in a slow cooker? ›

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.

What makes chicken tough in a crockpot cooking? ›

In addition, chicken breast has less fat and can become dry (chewy or rubbery) if cooked for too long. Without moisture, the protein fibers in the chicken become elastic.

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.

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

Chicken breasts have very little connective tissue; that means they can be cooked quickly because the long cooking time needed to soften connective tissue isn't necessary. They also have little fat, which means they can become dry if cooked too long. So that is the science behind it. I hope this helps.

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

Cooking raw chicken in a crock pot is a foolproof way to get juicy, tender meat every time. Remember, start with thawed chicken, season generously, and don't rush the cooking process. Low and slow is the secret to unlocking all the flavors while ensuring the chicken is cooked safely to 165°F.

How long does it take for chicken to cook in a 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.

Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in the crockpot? ›

Always cook your boneless skinless chicken breasts on LOW for the best results. I do not recommend cooking boneless chicken breast on HIGH, as it will become very dry and tough, even if you check it early. On high, the chicken turns out drier; I consistently have the best results with low.

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

By regularly spooning the juices over the chicken, you are essentially marinating it in its own flavorful liquid, which helps to retain moisture and enhance the taste. This method also helps to prevent the chicken from drying out as it slow cooks over a longer period of time.

Why is my crockpot chicken mushy? ›

Most of the time mushy Crock Pot chicken is a result of cooking it too long. As you cook meat, the collagen breaks down into a gelatin. The longer chicken is cooked, the more this process happens. Do it right and you have perfectly tender meat; too long and your chicken becomes mushy.

Is 3 hours on high the same as 6 on low crockpot? ›

Change cooking times depending on your schedule. One hour on HIGH generally equals two hours on LOW.

Can I leave food in a slow cooker overnight off? ›

On some occasions, you'll want to leave food in the slow cooker to keep warm, during Thanksgiving or Christmas Dinner, for example, or any other event or holiday. While it's perfectly ok to use your crock pot in this way, try to avoid leaving food on the warming setting for more than four hours.

How to tell if slow cooker chicken is done? ›

  1. The best and safest method is to stick a thermometer in the thickest part of the best away from the bone and check the temperature. ...
  2. If you don't have a thermometer, cook it until the juices run clear. ...
  3. If there's any doubt, it's usually safe to leave it on the crock pot another hour.
Jul 18, 2023

What makes chicken rubbery in the crockpot? ›

Overcooking chicken and buying woody chicken breast are two of the main causes behind rubbery chicken. You can stop this from happening by: buying “slow-growing” chicken. cooking your chicken in moisture.

How do chefs get chicken so tender? ›

Low and slow cooking methods like braising, stewing, or smoking are most effective when trying to create tender, succulent chicken.

Can I leave chicken in the slow cooker overnight? ›

The general rule of thumb is that 2-4 hours is the maximum length of time you can leave food in a slow cooker on warm. After this, it needs to be cooled and transferred into the refrigerator.

Do you need to thaw chicken before slow cooking? ›

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), slow cookers' max temperatures generally reach between 170 and 280 degrees F (77 and 138 degrees C). That's high enough to kill most bad bacteria, but the USDA still recommends thawing all foods completely before placing them in a slow cooker.

How to quickly thaw frozen chicken? ›

Defrosting chicken in the fridge overnight resulted in perfectly thawed chicken that was ready to cook, but if you want to speed up the process I suggest defrosting it in a bowl of cold water changed out every 30 minutes.

Can you cook a full chicken from frozen? ›

Aside from the 50 percent longer cooking time, there is very little difference between roasting a whole chicken from fresh and frozen. To balance the extended cooking time, we suggest roasting at a slightly lower temperature when cooking from frozen in your oven (about 180°C).

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