These Easy Crock Pot Chicken Recipes are ready to come to the rescue on busy weeknights. Give your oven the night off, because I’m sharing some of my best healthy chicken recipes that you can make in your slow cooker.
Healthy Crock Pot Chicken Recipes
I’m always looking for new crock pot and slow cooker recipes, and chicken is one of my most-loved ingredients. Whether I’m buying chicken breast, chicken thighs, or drumsticks, chicken is lean, it’s cheap, and it always comes out of the crock pot ultra tender and juicy. Below, I’ve rounded up my best crock pot chicken recipes for you to try. Add your ingredients to the pot, set it to cook, and come home to the coziest home-cooked chicken dinner. It’s perfect for weeknights!
Why You’ll Love These Easy Crockpot Recipes
I like to think of slow cooking as the culinary equivalent of the saying “Look, ma, no hands!” And I always turn to my crock pot whenever I’m after the juiciest chicken with the least amount of effort. Here’s why you’ll love these recipes:
- Time-saving. Slow cooker chicken recipes are a great way to gain back hours of your day. Come home to a warm chicken dinner that’s ready to serve, without even having to touch a pot or pan. Using the slow cooker also means there’s hardly any cleanup.
- Great for meal prep. A crock pot is the best appliance to have when it comes to weekly meal planning. You can even prepare and store recipe ingredients ahead of time using airtight containers or bags. Then just dump and cook!
- Freezer-friendly. Did I mention that crock pot recipes are a dream for meal prep? Many of the chicken dinner ideas below are perfect to make in bigger batches, and leftovers are easy to freeze for future meals.
Crock Pot vs. Slow Cooker: What’s the Difference?
So, “crock pot” and “slow cooker”, potato, potato, am I right? Well, not quite. It’s true, both terms are often used interchangeably, and both appliances have very similar MOs: slow cookers and crock pots cook food by simmering over long periods. The main difference is that Crock-Pot® is a brand name for a style of slow cooker. Not all slow cookers are Crock-Pots.
Crock pots have a stoneware crock, whereas a slow cooker is a pot that sits on top of a heating element. Crock pots also have two settings: High and Low, while slow cookers sometimes have multiple. No matter which type of slow cooker your countertop is rocking, it’s more than perfect for the chicken recipes below.
23 Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
You’re sure to find a new family favorite in the chicken recipes below. These crock pot recipes are healthy and full of flavor (I won’t settle for anything less!), and ready for a spot at your dinner table.
Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili
This hearty and healthy chicken chili is one of my most-requested recipes. And it’s no wonder why – toss all the ingredients in the crock and leave it to cook low and slow. Come back to the most flavorful homemade taco chili!
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Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos Recipe
Make the most flavor-filled chicken tacos with the least amount of prep. Toss tender chicken breast into the crockpot along with salsa and taco seasoning, and within hours you’ll have succulent, shreddable chicken that’s ready for tortillas!
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Slow Cooker Chicken and Sausage Creole
Bring the taste of New Orleans to your table with this easy slow cooker recipe brimming with Creole-inspired flavors. Made with chicken simmered for hours along with juicy Andouille sausage in a rich and zesty tomato broth. Serve it for Mardi Gras celebrations, or anytime you’re craving a southern kick!
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Crock Pot Maple Dijon Chicken Drumsticks
For a kid-friendly, easy chicken dinner, look no further than this recipe for chicken drumsticks slow cooked in a mouthwatering maple Dijon marinade. The meat literally falls off the bone, and you barely have to lift a finger!
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Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken & Olive Tagine
Enjoy all the rich, savory flavors of a traditional North African dish, made right in the slow cooker. We love the contrast of sweet prunes, briny olives, garlic, and ginger in this easy homemade tagine with fall-apart chicken thighs.
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Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken
Get a load of the Asian-inspired flavors in this honey sesame chicken recipe! This easy crock pot chicken is sweet, savory, spicy, and perfect to serve over rice for a tasty dinner that basically cooks itself.
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Crock Pot Chicken a la Criolla
The crock pot is my first choice when making this insanely flavorful chicken a la criolla. This is a traditional Latin recipe made from boneless chicken thighs stewed with veggies, olives, herbs, and spices in a savory tomato broth. Cozy and comforting!
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Slow Cooker Lemon Feta Drumsticks
Prepare your tastebuds for a Mediterranean vacation! These easy crock pot chicken drumsticks are slow cooked with fresh lemon and herbs, then topped with salty feta cheese. It’s a simple recipe with only 5 ingredients, but it’s anything but simple in terms of flavor.
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Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken
This is another Southwestern-style slow cooker chicken recipe that you’ll want to make on repeat. Basic pantry ingredients come together in this flavorful Santa Fe chicken loaded with sweet corn, beans, and spices.
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Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore
A classic Italian dish gets a weeknight makeover with this delicious crock pot chicken cacciatore. Slow cooking really lets all those delicious, saucy tomato flavors develop, rounded out with tender bell peppers, onion, and herbs. Serve this easy chicken recipe over pasta or rice and dig in. Prego!
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Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup
All the spicy flavors you love about an enchilada, wrapped up in a cozy chicken soup recipe. This recipe combines chicken, chipotle, and veggies into a savory, warming crock pot soup that’s nourishing to boot.
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Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Instead of wrapping your chicken enchilada fillings up in tortillas, wrap them up in a baked sweet potato! These low-carb loaded sweet potatoes are easy to make, topped with juicy chicken slow-cooked in spicy enchilada sauce, plus sour cream, chives, and cheese.
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Easy Shredded Harrisa Chicken
This easy chicken recipe cooked in jarred Moroccan harissa sauce comes out perfectly every time in the crock pot. Set your ingredients to slow cook in the morning, and have the most savory, aromatic chicken ready to shred in the evening!
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Crock Pot Salsa Chicken Thighs
I call this recipe embarrassingly easy, but there’s absolutely no shame in this 2-ingredient, zesty crock pot salsa chicken! It’s the perfect family-friendly weeknight meal that comes together with zero effort. Serve this chicken over salads or rice, in tacos, or as-is. You can’t beat it.
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Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken
I never run out of ways to turn this crock pot salsa verde chicken into delicious, healthy meals, whether it’s tacos, burrito bowls, tostadas, and more. This recipe couldn’t be easier to make, too. Simply throw chicken breasts into the crock with jarred salsa and spices, cook, and enjoy!
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Buffalo Chicken Dip
This spicy crock pot buffalo chicken dip is exactly what your next game day party or happy hour needs! A few health-conscious ingredient swaps make this easy dip recipe a low-carb appetizer that’s perfect for dipping everything from crackers to crudités.
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Braised Chicken Drumsticks in Tomatillo Sauce
There are many ways that you can make this simple yet savory braised chicken recipe, but the crock pot is by far my favorite! Combine your chicken drumsticks in the slow cooker with tomatillo sauce, jalapeños, herbs, and seasonings, then let the magic happen.
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Chicken Ropa Vieja
Ropa vieja is Spanish for “old clothes” – one look at this classic Cuban dish made from shredded meat and vegetables tossed together in a colorful heap, and you’ll see why! I’ve traded traditional shredded beef for lean chicken, and kept all those healthy, tender-crisp vegetables in this easy crock pot chicken dinner.
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More Common Questions
Most chicken recipes will take between 6-7 hours to cook on low, and 3-4 hours on high. Low and slow is always the first choice, especially with cuts like boneless chicken breast. Your chicken is done cooking when the internal temperature reaches 165ºF at the thickest part of the chicken.
No, you should never use frozen chicken when slow cooking. While it’s safe to cook raw (thawed) meat in the slow cooker, the frozen chicken won’t come to temperature quickly enough, risking foodborne illness. Always, always defrost your chicken pieces completely prior to placing them into your crock pot.
Yes, that’s what it’s made for! It’s safe to switch on your crockpot in the morning before you leave the house, or before you head to bed at night, and leave it to cook unattended. That’s the beauty of the slow cooker.
Healthy Side Dishes for Slow Cooker Chicken
Turning these easy crock pot chicken recipes into a satisfying family dinner is easy. Here are some of my best chicken sides: