Slow Cooker Chicken Breast

This easy Slow Cooker Chicken Breast recipe makes juicy, seasoned chicken that’s perfectly cooked – every time. This is my go-to crockpot chicken breast recipe that I use for Meal Prep, or easy dinners like Salads, Soups, and Sandwiches.

Chicken breast has a bad reputation for being dry, overcooked, and boring. But when you can make perfectly tender and juicy chicken breast without even being in the kitchen – that’s not boring… that’s pretty stinkin’ exciting!

Let’s talk about how Slow Cooker Chicken Breast can change your mind when it comes to chicken breasts.

Slow Cooker Chicken Breast

Slow Cooker Chicken Breast is an absolute lifesaver, and not just because it’s delicious. Being able to save time today and get ahead for a busy week means having dinner practically done for you.

Plus, it’s big on flavor but still versatile enough to use in a ton of different ways.

Wouldn’t it be great to whip up BBQ Chicken Sandwiches, Chicken Tacos, or Chicken Salad in just 15 minutes when an appointment runs late, when traffic is heavier than you thought, or when you accidentally burned dinner and still need to feed your family?

Slow Cooker Chicken Breast can make this happen, and it’s easier than you think.

Ingredient(s) for Slow Cooker Chicken Breast Recipes

You really only need one ingredient to make all slow cooker chicken breast recipes: chicken!

Of course, a bit of salt and pepper doesn’t hurt either!

For a couple of meals or a week of meal prep, here’s what you need for slow cooker chicken breast:

• Chicken breasts (boneless or bone-in)
• Salt + Black Pepper + Onion Powder + Garlic Powder
• Citrus (optional)

Tip: If you have chicken THIGHS instead of breasts, make Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs for bone-in thighs, or the method in  Crock Pot Mississippi Chicken for boneless skinless thighs.

Slow Cooker Chicken Breast Recipe: Boneless or Bone-in?

Both boneless skinless chicken breasts and bone-in chicken breasts can be used in this recipe; it all depends on the cut of meat you prefer. Personally, I often make chicken breast in the crock pot because I want to shred the meat. If this is the case, then I’ll use boneless chicken breasts.

Advice for Making Perfect Chicken Breast Crock Pot Recipes

1. Good Quality Chicken. You don’t have to buy the best of the best, but not all chicken breast is created equal. Find a kind of chicken that fits your budget AND that you enjoy, and stick with it.

Tip: Stock up when prices are low to help keep your grocery budget down!

2. Half Full Crock Pot. The size of your crock pot and the number of chicken breasts you cook matter. You want the slow cooker to be at least half full. If your crock pot is filled less than half, the chicken breasts will cook too quickly and be more prone to overcooking (giving you very dry chicken). If your crock pot is filled to the brim with chicken breasts, you may need a longer cook time AND end up with unevenly cooked chicken (some overdone, some not cooked all the way through). I have this 6-quart slow cooker and I can perfectly fit 3lbs of chicken breasts.

3. Skip the Sear. A lot of slow cooker recipes recommend searing meat before putting it in the crock pot. Honestly? There’s not much of a difference. I’ve tried it both ways on nearly every type of protein and the difference is minimal. Keep it simple and skip the sear.

4. Consider Adding Fat. My recipe as written doesn’t include adding any additional fat, but there’s a fine line between “perfectly done” and “overdone” when it comes to chicken breasts. If you won’t be home when the cooking time is over, consider adding one tablespoon of butter or olive oil to the top of the chicken breasts. It will help keep them from drying out. (Read more below about how the “warm” function still cooks your chicken.)

5. Cook Time Hack. If you need your chicken to cook a bit faster, you can shave a few minutes by filling your slow cooker in less than half. If you need your chicken to cook a bit slower, fill it more than half. You can also make my Sheet Pan Chicken Breasts which is ready in 15 minutes.

How to Cook Chicken Breast in a Slow Cooker

Step 1: Place chicken breasts in a single layer (preferably) in a slow cooker. I have a 6-quart slow cooker and can easily fit 3 lbs of chicken breasts.

Step 2: Season chicken breasts as desired. I typically use Homemade Blackened Seasoning or Homemade Poultry Seasoning. Both are delicious but flexible so you can use them in any recipe. I also like to add sliced-up citrus to the chicken breasts because the flavor really comes through. Lemons, limes, and oranges are all good choices.

Step 3: Cook the chicken breasts on LOW or HIGH, depending on how long you cook them. Please keep reading for details on whether it’s better to cook chicken on high or low in a crock pot.

Step 4: Shred the chicken. There are several ways to shred chicken in the crock pot. I’ve shared the four best ways below, and tips for the best way to use each method.

How Long to Cook Chicken Breast in Slow Cooker on Low? On High?

Chicken breast has very little fat and cooks relatively quickly, so unlike a lot of slow cooker meat recipes (like Slow Cooker Pot Roast or Slow Cooker Carnitas), you don’t have a lot of wiggle room on the cooking time.

• Cook Chicken Breasts on LOW for no more than 4 hours
• Cook Chicken Breasts on HIGH for no more than 2 hours

My slow cooker has an “automatic warm” setting that kicks on when the timer is finished. Your food is still cooking while the slow cooker is on “warm,” although it’s at a really low temperature.

If you know you won’t be home for 8+ hours, I highly recommend making a recipe using a protein that has more fat, like Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma or Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken. That extra fat gives you grace in the cooking time.

Can I Cook Frozen Chicken in the Crockpot?

Generally speaking, cooking frozen food in the crockpot is a no-no. It’s not that it CAN’T be done, but your food won’t cook evenly and the cooking time will be off.

If you have frozen chicken, I recommend making Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breasts or thawing your chicken in warm water for about 30-45 minutes.

Tips for Making Crockpot Shredded Chicken

There are a number of ways for making crockpot shredded chicken, and if you have a few kitchen tools, you can make this process quick and easy!

1. Use Two Forks: Hold the chicken with one fork while you use a second fork to pull the chicken away. The easiest method that doesn’t require additional dishes or special appliances. Great when you’re cooking from this AirBnB Meal Plan.
2. Use a Stand Mixer: Place cooked chicken breasts in the bowl of a stand mixer and using the paddle attachment, turn the mixer on low. The mixer will shred the chicken for you! (See 30+ Ways to Use a Stand Mixer for the step-by-step.)
3. Use a Hand Mixer: Similar to the stand mixer method, except you’re using a hand mixer like this one and you can shred the chicken in the slow cooker itself. I don’t own a hand mixer, but this would be my choice if I did!
4. Use the Immersion Blender Whisk Attachment. Use the whisk attachment that comes with an immersion blender and shred the chicken right in the crock pot.

What to Make with Slow Cooked Shredded Chicken?

Slow-cooked chicken that’s been shredded is perfect for a simple dinner with side dishes like rice and steamed vegetable, or on top of a salad or mixed with noodles and a jar of alfredo sauce (if you can’t make my 15 Minute Alfredo Sauce).

But if you have leftovers? That’s where the magic comes into play. Some of our favorite meals start with crockpot chicken that’s been shredded:

30 Minutes or Less:

• Kung Pao Chicken with Vegetables
• 30 Minute Cashew Chicken
• Tortilla Soup

A smidge longer, but absolutely amazing:

• Chicken Spinach Enchiladas with Creamy Salsa Verde Sauce
• Chicken Jalapeno Popper Casserole
• Instant Pot Chicken Detox Soup
• Buffalo Chicken Pizza
• One Pan Buffalo Chicken Potatoes
• Hearty Chicken Pot Pie

Less than 15 minutes, if you have a few other things ready to go:

• Sweet and Sour Chicken
• Chicken Southwest Salad
• Bacon Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap
• Buffalo Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad

And of course, you have the go-to Tacos, Quesadillas, Pulled Chicken Sandwiches, and Chicken Noodle Soup.

FAQs on Slow Cooker Recipes for Chicken Breast

More Chicken Dinner Recipes

• Sheet Pan Chicken
• Chicken Picatta
• Almond Crusted Chicken
• Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili