Slow Cooker Chicken Breast

This easy slow cooker chicken breast recipe makes juicy, seasoned chicken. Hands-off meal prep chicken for a variety of meals that’s perfectly cooked every time!

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!

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.

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN BREAST

Slow cooker chicken breast is an absolute lifesaver, and not just because it’s delicious.

• Easy! This slow cooker chicken breast recipe requires only minimal effort to get going, and then it’s hands-off!
• Meal prep. Being able to save time today and get ahead for a busy week means having dinner practically done for you.
• Versatile. Crockpot chicken is big on flavor but still works in a ton of different recipes.
• Frugal. Protein is generally the most expensive part of the meal, so if you can use the same protein in different ways, you’ll be able to buy it in bulk, getting more for your grocery budget.
• Eat at home. Meal-prepped chicken also means you won’t need to turn to takeout or the drive-thru if dinner is running late! You can quickly throw together a meal with your slow cooker chicken breast.
• Freezer-friendly. If you won’t eat an entire batch, you can freeze the extra for later.

SLOW COOKER BREAST CHICKEN INGREDIENTS

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

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

• Chicken Breasts. You can use boneless or bone-in chicken breasts.
• Seasonings. Salt + Black Pepper + Onion Powder + Garlic Powder keep it simple, but still give you good flavor. You can also use a seasoning blend.
• Citrus (optional). I like to add sliced-up citrus to the chicken breasts because the flavor really comes through. Lemons, limes, and oranges are all good choices. Discard after cooking the chicken before shredding it up.

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.

CROCKPOT 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.

HOW TO COOK CHICKEN BREAST IN SLOW COOKER

Step 1: Load the slow cooker with chicken breasts in a single layer. I have a 6-quart slow cooker and can easily fit 3 pounds of chicken breasts.

Step 2: Season chicken breasts as desired. Use the seasonings suggested or your favorite seasoning blend.

Step 3: Cook the chicken breasts for no more than 4 hours on LOW or no more than 2 hours on HIGH, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F.

Step 4: Shred the chicken. There are several ways to shred this chicken in the crockpot recipe. I’ve shared the four best ways below.

HOW LONG TO COOK CHICKEN BREAST IN SLOW COOKER

Chicken breast is a lean protein that 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 crock pot chicken recipe that has more fat, like Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma or Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken. That extra fat gives you grace in the cooking time.

RECIPE CHICKEN IN CROCK POT TIPS

1. Good Quality Chicken. You don’t have to buy the best of the best, but not all chicken breast is created equal. Find the best-quality 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. For this recipe chicken in crock pot, 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 cooking 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 3 pounds of chicken breasts.

3. Skip the Sear. A lot of slow cooker recipes recommend searing meat before putting it in the crockpot. 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 slow cooker 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.

5. Cook Time Hack. Although the cooking time isn’t super flexible, you can adjust it a little bit to make it work for you.

• If you need your chicken to cook a bit faster, you can shave a few minutes by filling your slow cooker less than half full.
• 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 are ready in 15 minutes.

6. Switch Up the Seasonings. I typically use Homemade Blackened Seasoning or Homemade Poultry Seasoning. Both are delicious, but flexible, so you can use them in any recipe.

HOW TO SHRED SLOW COOKER CHICKEN BREAST

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

1. 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 40+ Ways to Use a Stand Mixer for the step-by-step.)
3. Hand Mixer: Similar to the stand mixer method, except you’re using a hand mixer, 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.

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN BREAST RECIPES

Slow cooker chicken breast that’s been shredded is perfect for a simple dinner:

• With side dishes like Brown Rice and Instant Pot Steamed Vegetables
• On top of a salad, like this Southwestern Chicken Salad
• 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.

There are so many slow cooker chicken ideas!

BUILD A PLATE WITH SLOW COOKER CHICKEN BREAST

Obviously, there are a ton of ways you could go with your slow cooker chicken breast. But just having it ready to go is a huge step in meeting your macro goals, especially for protein!

Lean protein is where I always start when I’m putting together a meal. I aim for it to fill ¼ of my plate.

Another ¼ of my plate goes to carbohydrates, preferably unprocessed, complex carbs like brown rice, sweet potatoes, or starchy veggies like corn or peas.

And the other ½ of my plate is filled with produce! Whether it’s fresh cut bell peppers, a side salad, asparagus, or berries, there are always plenty of seasonal produce options to enjoy.

These guidelines are easy to fit when I start with slow cooker chicken breast, and I can enjoy a variety of meals while sticking to my goals.

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN BREAST FAQS

MORE CHICKEN BREAST SLOW COOKER MEALS

• Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
• Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
• Quinoa Chicken Cacciatore
• Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
• Crockpot Mississippi Chicken
• Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma
• Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas