Busy day? Let your slow cooker take the stress out of dinner! These Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes deliver big flavor with minimal hands-on time—perfect for meal prep, family dinners, or weeknight wins. From cozy soups and veggie-packed meals to global flavors like Mexican and Indian, every recipe here is delicious, comforting, and easy to make.
Email Me the Recipe!
From time to time, we'll send you Well Plated emails. You can unsubscribe anytime. Have an account? Log In.
Slow cooker chicken recipes make healthy weeknight meals a breeze!
This collection of simple, flavorful, and comforting slow cooker chicken recipes will help keep your evenings running smoothly and allow you to sit down and enjoy a healthy, delicious meal at the end of a busy day.
I love using my crockpot for dinner because it helps keep prep and cleanup a breeze. Plus, hours of cooking give the flavors ample time to come together and creates delectable results (just like with these Crockpot Soups).
In this collection of healthy crock pot chicken recipes, you’ll find everything from soups to casseroles to takeout-inspired dishes. Each has been a hit in our home, and as the reviews can attest, many of yours too!
To make browsing these slow cooker chicken recipes as easy as possible, I have organized them into categories for you. If you would like to quickly jump to any given section, simply click the appropriate link below. Otherwise, keep scrolling to see them all!
When done correctly, slow cooked chicken is delicious! It will soak up any sauce that you cook it with and become tender and moist. Follow these tips to make sure your chicken turns out perfectly cooked and juicy every time.
Can You Put Raw Chicken in a Slow Cooker?
It is safe to cook raw chicken in your slow cooker, but you must thaw the chicken first. Do not put frozen chicken in a slow cooker. During cooking, it could spend too long at room temperature, which could render it unsafe to eat.
If you have no choice but to cook with frozen chicken (I know the feeling of panic when you forget to thaw the meat beforehand), try one of my Instant Pot chicken recipes, which are safe to make with frozen chicken.
No Instant Pot? To quickly and safely thaw chicken, fill a bowl with cold water, place your chicken in a ziptop bag, and submerge the bag into the water for 15 to 30 minutes (if your water warms up, refill with fresh cold water). Repeat until the meat is thawed.
How Long Does it Take to Cook Chicken in the Slow Cooker?
While I suggest referencing each specific recipe for the best timing, boneless, skinless chicken breasts typically needs about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours cooked on HIGH or 6 to 8 hours cooked on LOW.
The cook time will vary based upon the size of your pieces of chicken. Most of these recipes use 10-to-12 ounce boneless skinless chicken breasts or 6-ounce boneless, skinless thighs.
Timing will also depend on whether you choose to make bone-in or boneless chicken recipes. Slow cooker boneless chicken breast recipes are usually the fastest; Chicken thighs (especially bone-in thighs) will take longer to cook than a chicken breast.
The best way to check your crock pot chicken for doneness is by using an Instant Read Thermometer. When the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, it’s safe to eat.
Tips to Store, Reheat, and Freeze Crock Pot Chicken Recipes
To Store. Each recipe will have specific storage instructions and recommendations, but most of these healthy crock pot chicken recipes can be stored in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To Reheat. In general, you can usually gently rewarm a slow cooker chicken recipe in a medium-sized saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat, adding a splash of broth or milk as needed if the recipe seems to be drying out. You can also reheat them in the microwave on a microwave-safe plate until heated through.
To Freeze. Place cooked and cooled leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. (Most of these healthy crock pot chicken recipes can be frozen, but I suggest checking your specific recipe for instructions and tips.)
Slow Cooker Chicken and Vegetables Recipes
Each of these chicken dishes includes vegetables and chicken for a well-rounded, healthy lunch or dinner. Make these recipes ahead for easy and budget-friendly meal prep!
Crockpot Chicken and Rice
This creamy crockpot chicken and rice casserole is loaded with veggies and tender chicken. An easy, kid-friendly slow cooker recipe!
Healthy Crockpot Chicken and Broccoli features juicy chicken and broccoli cooked in a flavorful Asian ginger sauce. Serve with rice for easy, yummy dinners!
When you’re craving Mexican flavor, these crock pot chicken recipes are the healthy answer! Each recipe can be customized to include your favorite mix-ins and toppings.
Crockpot Mexican Casserole
This easy Crockpot Mexican Casserole is packed with quinoa, black beans, and ground chicken or turkey, then finished with a cozy layer of melted cheese for a satisfying, all-in-one meal.
These healthy crockpot stuffed peppers are one of the best easy slow cooker recipes! The delicious, hearty filling takes less than 10 minutes to prepare.
An easy, healthy recipe to make the best crockpot Mexican chicken. See the blog post for 10 ways to use it to make fast, wholesome meals any night of the week!
Skip takeout and try one of my lightened-up versions of your favorite chicken dish at home. Healthy swaps make each one better for you without sacrificing the flavors you love. These are always a hit!
Crockpot Sweet and Sour Chicken
This Crockpot Sweet and Sour Chicken is made with simple, healthy ingredients like juicy chicken, bell peppers, and pineapple. Quick, easy and so delicious!
This healthy slow cooker honey garlic chicken is made with just 8 simple ingredients and features juicy chicken thighs or breasts simmered in a sticky, sweet-savory honey garlic sauce.
This healthy slow cooker Thai peanut chicken is made with a rich coconut milk peanut sauce, tender chicken, and plenty of vegetables for a dinner that’s both comforting and full of flavor.
You can make delicious Indian food with rich flavors in your own home with these easy crock pot chicken recipes. Serve with rice or naan for a restaurant-quality meal!
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
This rich, creamy Slow Cooker Butter Chicken has the taste of authentic Indian butter chicken, made easy and healthy with everyday ingredients and veggies!
This slow cooker chicken curry features juicy chicken thighs and vegetables simmered in coconut milk with a warm blend of Indian spices for an easy, deeply flavorful dinner.
Family Friendly Slow Cooker Chicken Dinner Recipes
These healthy and popular crock pot chicken recipes were made for easy dinners! From family favorites like buffalo chicken and BBQ chicken to restaurant-worthy Greek chicken, readers rave about how simple and delicious these are.
Pulled Chicken Sandwich
These BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches are made extra juicy in the slow cooker and topped with creamy slaw, making them perfect for feeding a crowd or prepping ahead for the week.
This crockpot BBQ chicken recipe couldn’t be easier, using just chicken and barbecue sauce to create tender, flavorful pulled chicken every single time.
Juicy slow cooker buffalo chicken is served over tender sweet potatoes and finished with a creamy yogurt drizzle for an easy, healthy dinner that hits all the right notes.
These slow cooker buffalo chicken meatballs are juicy, spicy, and always a hit, whether you’re serving them as a party appetizer or an easy low-carb dinner.
This slow cooker Greek chicken is moist and flavorful, with bright Mediterranean seasonings, roasted red peppers, and feta for an easy, healthy dinner that tastes anything but boring.
This slow cooker chicken shawarma is yogurt-marinated, tender, and packed with warm spices, making it perfect for stuffing into pita with fresh veggies and tzatziki.
Cozy crock pot chicken soups are the best recipes for hectic days. Life seems to slow down with each warm bite of these scrumptious soups. I love making a big batch and freezing them for later.
Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings
This easy crock pot chicken and dumplings recipe cooks tender chicken in a rich, creamy broth with fluffy biscuit dumplings on top. So good!
Hi, I’m Erin Clarke, cookbook author and the home cook behind Well Plated. I’ve helped millions of people cook healthier meals that actually taste amazing and sold over 190,000 books! I’m here to help you save time, dirty fewer dishes, and feel great about what you’re eating, without overthinking it. Welcome!
I used chicken thighs and added a bit of vegetable stock before cooking for 4 hours on high. I didn’t measure the veggie stock but I added just enough to cover the veggies in the crock pot. I did stir in the chicken with veggies at the 3 and 4 hour mark. I think that helped to ensure the chicken got cooked through. We loved it! If I make again, I would add more salt and pepper because Italian seasoning was a bit overpowering. Or perhaps change up my spices by doing thyme and paparika instead of Italian seasoning. Overall, very happy after trying new recipe for the first time!
A healthy and delicious recipe..!!!
Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review, Nisha! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!
I used chicken thighs and added a bit of vegetable stock before cooking for 4 hours on high. I didn’t measure the veggie stock but I added just enough to cover the veggies in the crock pot. I did stir in the chicken with veggies at the 3 and 4 hour mark. I think that helped to ensure the chicken got cooked through. We loved it! If I make again, I would add more salt and pepper because Italian seasoning was a bit overpowering. Or perhaps change up my spices by doing thyme and paparika instead of Italian seasoning. Overall, very happy after trying new recipe for the first time!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Lindsey! Thank you for sharing this kind review!