How to Cook Chicken in Crock Pot
Learn how to cook chicken in a crock pot and fill your menu plan with Easy Chicken Recipes. Not only is it simple to make, but it also yields tender, moist, and juicy chicken every time.
Plus, crock pot chicken is perfect for meal prep. Cook bulk chicken ion the weekend and have everything you need for weeknight dinners – just throw everything in the slow cooker in the morning and you’ll have a delicious dinner ready when you get home from work.
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We use chicken as the base for so many recipes. It is so much easier to work with when it shreds easy and is super tender. To get a large amount of chicken workable this way, I cook it in a slow cooker.
How to cook chicken in a crock pot?
Cooking chicken in a slow cooker is super easy. You just set it and forget it, for about six hours anyway. The chicken comes out easy to work with and ready for any casserole recipe. You can cook a whole chicken in a slow cooker, but I like to use boneless skinless chicken breasts.
Crock Pot Gear You Might Need
If you take your slow cooker to-go like we do for church on Wednesdays, an insulated carrier for the crock pot portion like this one works great and looks cute!
If you like to keep your kitchen counters looking clean and uncluttered, a decorative crock pot cover like this one is a good idea.
I love these personalized kitchen utensils for pot luck dinners, tailgate parties or anywhere I take my own utensils with a dish. This ensures that my utensils come home with me!
Can you put raw chicken in a crockpot?
Cooking raw chicken in a slow cooker is perfectly acceptable. Cover the bottom of your slow cooker with raw chicken. I prefer to use chicken breast in crock pot because they are easier to work with when the chicken is cooked, but you can use any raw chicken and make something like crockpot chicken thighs or crock pot chicken tenders.
No matter the cut of chicken you use, you can always find some easy chicken breast crock pot recipes.
Hamilton Beach Portable Slow Cooker Travel Bag, Insulated Carrier Case for 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 Quart Crock, Internal Mesh Net Holds Pot in Place, Compatible with Other Brands, Black (33002)6 Quart Oval Slow Cooker Liners Compatible for Crock Pot 6 QT, Easyjoy for Crock Pot , Reusable Silicone Divider Insert, Dishwasher Safe BPA Free
Prepara Oven Safe Flexible Nonstick Kitchen Meat Roasting Rack, Red
ChefAid Slow Cooker Liners, 100% Silicone Reusable Crock Pot Insert Accessories for 6-8 Oval or Round Quart Slow Cookers, Food Safe & Dishwasher Safe (Black-Grey)
Silicone Roasting Rack for Baking Canning Cooking Steaming, Crock Pot Pressure Cooking Rack for 6 Qt 8-Quart Slow Cookers, Oval-Green-2Set
Lid Pocket, Organizer Pot, Slow Cooker-Unique Kitchen Lid Holder-Keep Your Countertop Free & Clean-Works With Most Crock, 1 Pack,
TAYDOIBAN Silicone Slow Cooker Liners Compatible With Crock Pot 6-8 QT,Slow Cooker Divider Allows Cooking Two Different Meals At Once Time, Reusable Silicone Divider Insert, Dishwasher Safe, BPA Free
Golkcurx Double Layer Slow Cooker Bag for 6-8 Quart Oval CrockPot and Hamilton Beach Models, with Padded Adjustable Strap, Top Zip Compartment, and Front Pocket for Utensils(Bag Only)
Reynolds Kitchens Slow Cooker Liners, Regular (Fits 3-8 Quarts), 20 Count
How much chicken can you cook in a slow cooker?
You can put as much chicken in your crock pot as will cover the bottom. You do not want to layer in chicken as it will not cook through properly. You also want to be able to get plenty of water in your slow cooker to cover the chicken. I do, however, recommend standing the chicken breasts up on their sides to allow you to get more chicken in the crock pot.
Can I get fresh chicken delivered to my door?
You absolutely use a fresh chicken delivery service and get delicious, healthy chicken delivered right to your door to use in all of your crock pot chicken recipes. You can find all cuts and quantities of fresh chicken from boneless skinless breasts, to tenders shipped fresh to you.
Do you need to put water in a slow cooker with chicken?
You must add water to the raw chicken to cook it properly in a slow cooker and to get the easy shred consistency you want for using the chicken in casserole recipes or freezing.
How much water do I use?
Use enough water to cover the chicken in the crockpot well, but not so much that the water comes over the top grove of the slow cooker where the lid sits. You might also consider making sure you have enough water to produce any amount of chicken broth you might need.
How do I keep chicken from drying out in a crock pot?
To keep your slow cooker shredded chicken moist, make sure you have plenty of water and also make sure you do not over cook your chicken. Your crock pot should be set on low for cooking raw chicken. This make take some extra time, but the result is worth it.
How long should you cook chicken in a crockpot?
For average size chicken breasts, you should cook them on low for six hours in your slow cooker. After six hours, cut one open to make sure it is done all the way through and not pink in the middle. If you have smaller pieces of chicken, like chicken tenders, check them after four hours on low. Cook for additional time as needed to ensure chicken is fully cooked.
How to choose the best slow cooker
Choosing the best slow cooker for your kitchen may not be as easy as you think. There are so many brands and options out there. You need to consider things like family size and counter space.
How do I shred the chicken?
After cooking on low in a crock pot, remove the chicken from the broth and the chicken breasts easily shred with a fork or you can shred them with your hands once they have been allowed to cool. You can also use a set of multi blade kitchen sheers to shred your chicken.
Can you freeze chicken from the crock pot?
I like to batch cook and meal prep as much as possible, so I always cook enough chicken to freeze. Once the chicken is cooled and shredded, I pack the amount I want to freeze into freezer bags: one or two pounds to a bag and label the bag accordingly. This method allows me to quickly pull out the amount of chicken I will need for a slow cooker recipe.
What do I do with leftover chicken broth?
The leftover chicken broth from cooking the chicken in a slow cooker is an added bonus. You can use the broth immediately in a chicken casserole or to cook noodles in for an easy chicken and noodles dinner. You can also freeze the chicken broth in storage bags or plastic freezer containers for use in holiday cooking.
Tip: I always like to save large amounts of thick chicken broth with meat pieces for my Thanksgiving Cornbread Dressing.
Side Dishes for Crock Pot Chicken
- Corn Side Dish Recipes
- Panera Greek Salad Copycat Recipe via The Wooden Spoon Effect
- Creamy Bacon and Tomato Pasta Salad
- Oven Sweet Potato Steak Fries via 3 Boys and a Dog
Shredded Crock Pot Chicken Recipes
- Easy Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
- Chicken Casserole
- Crock Pot Crushed Tomato and Chicken Soup via Crystal and Co.
- Crock Pot Chicken Tenders
How to Cook Chicken in a Crock Pot
You can easily cook chicken in a crock pot for meal prep or to freeze for other meals or to include in a salad.
Ingredients
- 1. 3 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2. 8 cups water (enough to cover the chicken plus some for evaporation)
Instructions
- Put raw chicken breasts in the crock pot covering the bottom.
- Pour water in crock pot over chicken making sure to cover the chicken in water.
- Cook on low for 6 hours.
- Shred and serve or freeze.
Notes
Cook as much chicken as your crock pot will hold and freeze some.
chicken breast in crock pot
chicken thighs in crock pot
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slow cooker beef
soy sauce
Thanks for the tip on how long to cook the chicken in a crock pot. Mine always seem dried out so now I know to cook it in less time. Thanks for sharing. #HomeMattersParty