Grab Your Slow Cooker To Make These Easy Chicken Dishes (2024)

Grab Your Slow Cooker To Make These Easy Chicken Dishes (1)

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In the era of meal prep, the words "chicken dinner " might conjure up images of bland chicken and dry rice. But contrary to popular belief, you don't have to sacrifice flavor when you're short on time with these easy slow cooker chicken recipes! These yummy chicken dishes practically cook themselves thanks to the magic of the slow cooker (you simply set it and forget it). Plus, they result in the tastiest weeknight dinners that your whole family will love. Whether you're looking to make chicken wings, chicken curry, or chicken soup, this list has it all. There's even a recipe for making a whole chicken right in the slow cooker! So, if you're looking for a new and easy way to cook chicken, try a slow cooker chicken recipe tonight, then check out our list of air fryer chicken recipes, too!

Of all our favorite slow cooker recipes, we especially love the ones that are simple enough to whip up on a weekday, yet cozy enough for your Sunday night dinner. Here, you'll find chili recipes, rice dishes, chicken thighs, and so much more—all made in your handy slow cooker. For a Pioneer Woman classic, try Ree Drummond's slow cooker chicken tortilla soup. It's what Ree calls her "favorite kind of slow cooker recipe in that it requires no pre-cooking or sautéing or browning. You literally throw everything in, turn it on, then go live your life until it's done." Sounds like the perfect dinner, if you ask us! 🙌

Crock-Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip

A game day favorite—buffalo chicken dip is even better when it's made in a slow cooker. That's because you can keep it warm and creamy up until the final touchdown. Serve it up with carrot and celery sticks or tortilla chips for dipping!

Get the Crock-Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Seasoned chicken breasts cook right in your slow cooker before shredding it up and making the soup. You can also use leftover rotisserie chicken if you want to make it even easier.

Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe.

Slow-Cooker White Chicken Chili

This creamy white chicken chili combines pantry ingredients like canned white beans, masa harina, and dried spices with frozen corn and shredded chicken. All you need are some fresh toppings, like avocado and lime wedges to finish the meal.

Get Ree's Slow-Cooker White Chicken Chili recipe.

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Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs

If tender, fall-apart chicken and tangy-sweet BBQ sauce aren’t enough to make your mouth water, let the minimal prep time influence you to add this recipe to your weeknight dinner lineup. This dish requires only 10 minutes of prep before the slow cooker works its magic.

Get the Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs recipe at Joyous Apron.

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

This easy butter chicken recipe lets you prep the chicken thighs in savory, creamy sauce during the day and enjoy it with naan or rice by the evening. Plus, it features the subtle addition of cauliflower for a healthy twist.

Get the Slow Cooker Butter Chicken recipe at Well Plated by Erin.

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Slow Cooker Sriracha Chili Chicken Wings

These wings are sugar, spice, and everything nice! You only need five ingredients — honey, sriracha, Thai sweet chili sauce, butter, and chicken wings — to pull together this easy crowd pleaser.

Get the Slow Cooker Sriracha Chili Chicken Wings recipe at Just One Cookbook.

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken

This tropical-inspired chicken dinner is the perfect weeknight dinner that will transport you to Hawaii in no time! It only takes 15 minutes to prep this flavorful dish, which yields crispy chicken thighs coated in a sweet and sour sauce along with fresh pineapple chunks, onions, and bell peppers.

Get the Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken recipe at Dinner Then Dessert.

Crock-Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup

What better way to embrace cozy season than with a bowl of luscious, creamy chicken gnocchi soup? This hearty recipe only has three steps, as the chicken and gnocchi are cooked and shredded directly in the Crock-Pot. Pair it with crusty bread or a green salad for the ultimate comforting dinner.

Get the Crock-Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup recipe at Pinch of Yum.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl

This Chipotle-inspired dish is perfect for busy evenings, meal prepping, or when you just need your weekly burrito bowl fix! Flavorful, shredded chicken is slow-cooked in a Crock-pot and then served over rice with your choice of toppings, like avocado, beans, corn, and tangy cilantro lime dressing.

Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl recipe at Joyous Apron.

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Slow Cooker Moroccan-Spiced Chicken Thighs

Moroccan chicken tagine without a tagine may sound counterintuitive in theory. But in practice, it's delicious and easy, thanks to the slow cooker, which infuses Moroccan spices and harissa into tender chicken thighs.

Get the Slow Cooker Moroccan-Spiced Chicken Thighs recipe at Dash of Jazz.

Slow Cooker Chicken Pumpkin Curry

This Thai-inspired chicken dish packs in all the flavor thanks to spicy red curry paste, creamy coconut milk, and fresh pumpkin. It'll give your local takeout spot a run for its money!

Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Pumpkin Curry recipe at The Modern Proper.

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Slow Cooker Korean Spicy Braised Chicken

The classic pairing of chicken and potatoes gets a spicy twist thanks to a flavorful Gochujang marinade. It's sure to raise the heat on colder nights.

Get the Slow Cooker Korean Spicy Braised Chicken recipe at My Korean Kitchen.

Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas

You can make the chicken and bean filling for these enchiladas way in advance. Then just roll it up in corn tortillas, stick it in a casserole, and broil for a couple of minutes to melt the cheese on top.

Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas recipe at Britney Breaks Bread.

Slow Cooker Honey Buffalo Wings

A homemade spice rub and honey buffalo sauce makes these wings totally irresistible. They're just waiting to be dipped in blue cheese or ranch dressing.

Get the Slow Cooker Honey Buffalo Wings recipe at The Chunky Chef.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

This recipe makes a big batch of comforting chicken noodle soup. It's perfect for snowy winter days, but it can also be stored in the freezer for quick weeknight meals.

Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup recipe at Budget Bytes.

Slow Cooker Whole Chicken

If the thought of cooking a whole chicken intimidates you, try making it in a slow cooker! The method is simple, impressive, and completely foolproof.

Get the Slow Cooker Whole Chicken recipe at Immaculate Bites.

Slow Cooker Chicken Queso Dip

For another slow cooker dip, try making a heartier version of queso with shredded chicken. There's also green chiles, tomatoes, green onions, and lots of spice!

Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Queso Dip recipe at Sugar and Soul.

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Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken

This chicken recipe is made with all the flavors of the Mediterranean, like roasted red peppers, olives, capers, and garlic. You can serve it up with rice, pasta, or roasted veggies.

Get the Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken recipe at Creme de la Crumb.

Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

There's no lacking in flavor when it comes to this chicken dinner. It's loaded with chilis, garam masala, coriander, turmeric, onions, and garlic. Your family will love it served over rice or with garlic naan.

Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Curry recipe at My Food Story.

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Grab Your Slow Cooker To Make These Easy Chicken Dishes (2024)

FAQs

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

Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!

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Why is my chicken tough after cooking in crockpot? ›

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.

Do you need to put liquid in the slow cooker when cooking chicken? ›

Do You Need to Add Liquid? As long as the breast pieces are in a single layer, in contact with the slow cooker, then no, it's not necessary to add any chicken broth or chicken stock. If you're doing multiple layers, you will need to add liquid to cover the meat, but I don't recommend this.

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How do you keep chicken from drying out in a slow cooker? ›

Chicken breasts are a lean cut and the key to slow cooking them without drying them out involves the right amount of moisture. Add just enough liquid to come 1cm up the side of the bowl. Cover and cook on High for 2 ½-4 hours or on Low for 4-6 hours.

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

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. Perfect for shredding!

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

"Browning, or caramelizing, meat before putting it into a slow cooker isn't 100 percent necessary, but it is well worth the effort for the most flavorful and full-bodied end result," he says. "The caramelized surface of the meat will lend rich flavor and color to the finished dish."

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

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. For optimal results, it's generally recommended to cook chicken on the low setting in a crockpot.

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

We found that the only way to cook chicken (and turkey) in a slow cooker is on the low setting and for a relatively short amount of time.

Can you overcook chicken in a slow cooker? ›

You can overcook chicken in a slow cooker. If the chicken is cooked too long, it will become dry and tough. Check your chicken for doneness early, especially if it is one of your first times making it.

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How long to cook 2 chicken breasts on low in a crockpot? ›

With the exception of larger recipes (like 8+ servings), It only takes 2.5-3.5 hours on LOW for boneless, skinless chicken breast to be fully cooked in the slow cooker.

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How long does it take for chicken breast to get tender in the crockpot? ›

Add the chicken to the slow cooker, overlapping only as much as necessary. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours or until an internal temperature of 165 degrees F is reached. If you're hoping for clean slices, remove to a cutting board and cover to keep warm. Let sit for 10 minutes before slicing.

Do you put hot or cold water in a slow cooker? ›

The cooking time should not be effected if you don't take too long. Adding cold water will slow down the cooking process so add hot water, but not boiling water.

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How long can you leave chicken in a slow cooker on low? ›

In general, it's best to stick to the indicated cook time on the recipe you're following. Most slow cooker meals take 8-12 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high, but there are also recipes for slow-cooked meat that take up to 24 hours.

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Can you slow cook chicken for 8 hours? ›

Place chicken breasts in slow cooker, and sprinkle with seasonings (and liquid, if using). Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or until the chicken shreds easily with a fork. (*If making a smaller batch, keep an eye on your slow cooker as the chicken will likely need less cooking time.)

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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.

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Can you cook from raw in a slow cooker? ›

Can raw meat be cooked in a slow cooker? Yes! that is one of the best way to cook meats! Put in some raw beef brisket, leave it in for the 6+ hours, and once it is ready…it is so tender! Slow cookers are so great as you can just throw everything in and no need to worry about it.

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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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Can I put everything in the slow cooker raw? ›

For many dishes, particularly soups and stews, you really can just throw all the ingredients in. It can be nice to cook the onions beforehand, as the flavour is different to when you put them in raw, but experiment both ways as you may find you prefer one.

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