Slow Cooker Chicken Dinners - PinkWhen (2024)

If your evenings feel like a whirlwind of tasks and the constant dilemma of what to cook for dinner, I’ve got a solution that’ll make your life easier. Let’s shine a spotlight on the unsung hero of the kitchen – the slow cooker. Imagine this: you throw a handful of ingredients into this magical pot in the morning, and by the time you navigate through your hectic day, dinner is almost magically prepared. No need for culinary expertise, just the ability to press a button. In this article, we’re delving into the world of slow cooker chicken dinners – they’re simple, flavorful, and nearly foolproof. Get ready to add a dash of excitement to your weeknights with minimal effort and a burst of deliciousness. Let’s fully embrace the art of set-it-and-forget-it dinners!

Slow Cooker Chicken With Olives And Peppers

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Slow Cooker Chicken with Olives and Peppers is a set it and forget it weeknight dinner the whole family will love. The chicken gets so tender and the sauce is full of salty flavor from the olives. {gluten free}
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken With Olives And Peppers

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Soup

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This Mexican Chicken Soup is packed with spicy Mexican flavors. It’s also incredibly easy to prepare, making it an ideal choice for busy weeknights or laid-back weekends for a football-watching crowd or when you simply want to enjoy your time without spending hours in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Soup

Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

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These slow cooker chicken drumsticks are coated in a spice rub and barbecue sauce, then cooked to tender perfection in the crock pot. A super easy 3 ingredient dinner option that takes just minutes to assemble.\
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

Crockpot Bbq Chicken

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This crockpot BBQ chicken is chicken breasts coated in a homemade spice rub and barbecue sauce, then simmered in the slow cooker until tender. Shred your chicken, then serve it on sandwich buns, over a salad or on top of pizza or pasta!
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Bbq Chicken

Crock Pot Mexican Chicken

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Crock Pot Mexican Chicken is an easy, healthy crock pot chicken meal that turns chicken breast into a yummy slow cooker dinner.\
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Mexican Chicken

Slow Cooker Creamy Ranch Chicken

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Slow Cooker Creamy Ranch Chicken is cheesy, delicious, and very easy to make. This 5-ingredient crockpot shredded chicken recipe is very versatile. Make shredded chicken tacos, chicken sliders, or serve with rice.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Creamy Ranch Chicken

Crockpot Marry Me Chicken

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It doesn’t have to be a special occasion for you to enjoy this Crockpot Marry Me Chicken recipe. It’s a delicious and easy dinner worthy of a marriage proposal that is easy to prepare as a bonus!
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Marry Me Chicken

Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken

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This Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken recipe is so incredibly easy, it’s perfect for really busy weeknights – just a 5 minute prep with minimal ingredients! Juicy chicken thighs are combined with apricot jam and sesame oil for a sweet and sour flavor.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken

Slow Cooker Maple Dijon Chicken

Slow Cooker Chicken Dinners - PinkWhen (9)

This crockpot maple Dijon chicken is an easy, hands-off dinner made with boneless, skinless chicken breasts and a few kitchen staples.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Maple Dijon Chicken

Slow Cooker Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken

Slow Cooker Chicken Dinners - PinkWhen (10)

I was having one of those days today, y’all. The kind where your have a mile long to-do list but your body is just telling you to curl up and watch Netflix all day. You know those days. But I still needed to eat, so I threw together the easiest thing possible, this Slow Cooker Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken

Crock Pot Hawaiian Chicken

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This Crock Pot Hawaiian Chicken recipe is bursting with tropical flavor. Chicken breast and pineapple chunks are slow-cooked in a sweet and savory sauce and served over your favorite white or brown rice. This is the perfect easy, weeknight, family dinner recipe!
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Hawaiian Chicken

Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole

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Chunky vegetables and shredded chicken, all in a deliciously creamy mustard sauce – a slow cooker chicken casserole is total comfort food, and perfect for a cold night. This slow cooker dish is SO easy to prepare, by just dumping everything in with no pre-cooking needed. A great batch cooking meal, as it freezes well and the whole family loves it.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole

Crock Pot Chicken And Noodles

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Chicken breasts are slow-cooked in a quick and creamy sauce. We add in mixed vegetables and tender egg noodles to make a complete meal.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken And Noodles

Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Whole Chicken And Vegetables

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Keep your Thanksgiving dinner simple this year, and make a whole chicken with veggies and the works right in the crockpot! This slow cooker Thanksgiving chicken is perfectly tender and moist thanks to the long cooking time and will keep your oven free for all your sides and pies! {Gluten-free}
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Thanksgiving Whole Chicken And Vegetables

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

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Even better than takeout, this slow cooker teriyaki chicken is made with simple ingredients for an unbelievably easy recipe. Pair it with all your favorite sides for a filling weeknight meal!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

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Saucy tender shredded chicken is what these Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos are all about. Pop them under the broiler with cheese before serving!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Slow Cooker Bbq Chicken Thighs

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Slow cooker bbq chicken thighs are the perfect easy weeknight dinners. Savory and tender, these delicious chicken thighs are flavorful and easy to pair with a quick side. Your whole family will love the bbq flavors, and you’ll love letting the slow cooker do the work!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Bbq Chicken Thighs

Juicy Slow Cooker Chicken Breast Recipe

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This Slow Cooker Chicken Breast Recipe comes out tender, juicy and perfectly seasoned every time! Learn how to make the best crockpot chicken breast in the world and use it in any of your favorite chicken recipes.
Get the Recipe: Juicy Slow Cooker Chicken Breast Recipe

Crockpot Butter Chicken (Easy Recipe!)

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This crockpot butter chicken recipe is the slow cooker version of our popular easy butter chicken. It’s a simple recipe that is a guaranteed winner!
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Butter Chicken (Easy Recipe!)

Slow Cooker Chicken Stew Recipe

Slow Cooker Chicken Dinners - PinkWhen (20)

Slow Cooker Chicken Stew with juicy chicken and tender vegetables in a light creamy broth. Cozy, easy dinner with just 15 minutes of prep!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Stew Recipe

Crockpot Thai Chicken Curry

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Crockpot Thai chicken curry is one of the easiest meals to make and is so tasty. Curry paste, coconut milk, and ginger add a ton of flavor to this healthy dinner recipe. Put everything into your crockpot then walk away until dinner!
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Thai Chicken Curry

Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

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This Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs recipe will show you how to cook chicken thighs in your crock pot! The result is juicy, tender and flavorful chicken that falls right off the bone.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

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I love simplifying recipes and making them accessible for the average everyday American cook, with simple ingredients and simple prep, but I think went too far with the original version of this Slow Cooker Tikka Masala recipe. When I made it again recently I thought, “yeah, I can do better than this.” So I got back in the kitchen and started tweaking and testing. I’m happy to say that this new and improved version is richer, has more spices, a more complex flavor, and is far less “tomato-y.” But don’t worry, if you’re a fan of the original, there is a link to download the old version of the Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala below. 😉
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

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Karen Kelly

Karen Kelly, a food and travel writer, is the founder of Seasonal Cravings. She is also a health coach certified by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the AP Wire and MSN.

Slow Cooker Chicken Dinners - PinkWhen (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to brown chicken before putting in 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."

Does chicken get more tender the longer it cooks in a slow cooker? ›

That is why tough meats become “fork tender” in the slow cooker. 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.

Is it safe to cook raw chicken in a slow cooker on low? ›

Research conducted by USDA FSIS indicates it's safe to cook large cuts of meat and poultry in a slow cooker.

Is it better to slow cook chicken on high or low? ›

Low and High settings on most crock pots only determine the amount of time it takes for the crock to reach maximum temperature. The safe temperature for chicken is 165°F. Low and slow typically results in better flavors. But as long as the chicken reaches 165 it doesn't really matter.

What happens if you don't brown meat before slow cooking? ›

The meat will still become moist and fall-off-the-bone tender. However, the slow cooker will never be hot enough to brown the meat, so if you decide to skip this step be aware that the finished dish may look paler than expected.

Can I 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.

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 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.

Why does chicken get rubbery in slow cooker? ›

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.

Can you leave chicken in crockpot on low for 8 hours? ›

As a good rule, you will cook chicken on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 4-6 hours. Those slow cooker cook times tend to work for the proper cook time, but every slow cooker runs a bit differently so you'll need to adjust for yours. But, I will say chicken (and most other meats) do best when cooked on LOW.

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.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

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

To prevent poultry from drying out, use chicken thighs—they have more fat and won't dry out as quickly, says Finlayson. Cook thighs for about 6 hours and breasts for a maximum of 5 hours on low heat.

Can I leave chicken in slow cooker overnight? ›

Most appliances will automatically shut off after 20 or so hours on this setting, but you shouldn't leave food in a slow cooker for an extended length of time. 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.

What happens if you don't brown chicken before cooking? ›

Skipping browning isn't a shortcut, but is instead another path to delicious results. Think about chicken soup: Because the chicken isn't browned, it's spoon-tender with a delicate flavor. The same goes for chicken mafe, chicken tinga, khao man gai and so many other classic dishes.

Is it better to brown the meat before putting in a slow cooker? ›

Browning Is Better

You should always brown ground beef or any ground meat in a skillet before adding it to your slow cooker to prevent the meat from clumping up or from adding excess grease to your cooked dish.

Should I brown chicken before cooking? ›

Browning chicken is a crucial component to many chicken recipes. Browning, also called “searing,” is often a primary step that helps to improve the flavor of chicken before it is baked, braised, or simmered.

Why is my slow cooker chicken not tender? ›

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. Each of our meals comes with a recommended slow cooker size.

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