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

These meals practically cook themselves!

By Kara Zauberman and Nitya RaoPublished: Dec 11, 2023

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

If you're anything like us, mac and cheese and buffalo chicken dip rank high on the comfort food hierarchy. This dump-and-go recipe marries both dishes to make a delightfully spicy, creamy, cheesy mac that's so easy to make.

Get the Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese recipe at Britney Breaks Bread.

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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

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

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

Adding some liquid to the slow cooker is an essential step, and ensures that the chicken is tender and juicy.

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How do you make crockpot chicken not tough? ›

Avoid Overcooking.

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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Is slow cooker good for chicken? ›

Yes, but the solution is extremely simple. Follow the recipe and manufacturer cooking time guidelines to ensure your chicken comes out juicy and tender every time. Chicken thighs take much longer to overcook in a slow cooker, so try them if you need a foolproof cut.

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Does the chicken have to be covered in water in a slow cooker? ›

Place your chicken breasts in the bowl of a slow cooker with enough room so that they're not on top of each other. Step 2: add liquid. Pour water over the chicken breasts so that it just barely covers them.

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Does chicken need to be submerged 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.

Why does chicken get rubbery in a slow cooker? ›

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.

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Does chicken get more tender the longer you slow cook it? ›

Yes, chicken breast will get softer the longer you cook it. However, if you cook it for too long, it will become dry and tough. The best way to ensure that the chicken breast stays juicy and tender is to cook it until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

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.

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What is the difference between a slow cooker and a crockpot? ›

However, Crockpots generally have ceramic or porcelain pots, while most slow cookers have a metal pot. As with a lot of cooking appliances, the biggest difference comes from the distribution of heat.

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

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.

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

Over and over AND OVER again, we have found that chicken breast registers at 165° F (the FDA recommended safe temp) right around 3 hours on LOW. Sometimes less, sometimes more depending on the size of the breast or other ingredients in the slow cooker.

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Does chicken need to be fully cooked before slow cooker? ›

Totally up to you. While chicken is meant to be slow cooked from raw, many do like to just brown or sear it first. This can help to lock in moisture, speed up cooking time or simply to improve visual appearance of the finished dish. Keep in mind that chicken will release a lot of liquid during cooking.

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Is it okay to put raw meat in a slow cooker? ›

Technically you can cook raw meat in a slow cooker, but it's tricky and requires a bit of preparation in order for it to be really worth it. 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.

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Does chicken dry out in slow cooker? ›

This is because cooking the chicken at high heat in a slow cooker can quickly dry out the meat, resulting in a tough and unappetizing texture.

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Can you cook raw chicken in liquid? ›

It involves submerging skinless, boneless chicken breasts in a liquid at a low temperature (read: not boiling), allowing them to cook slowly and evenly. Though poaching in seasoned water is the simplest strategy, you can also use oil, milk, broth, wine, or a combination as your poaching liquid.

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