SEVEN simple slow cooker chicken recipes that have a lot of flavor for very little effort! Easy to prepare and made with wholesome ingredients, these crockpot chicken recipes are meal prep friendly and can be frozen as crockpot freezer meals!
When it comes to easy dinners, you really can’t beat the convenience of a slow cooker, especially ‘dump and go’ dinners which do not require a sautee step. Today’s 7 slow cooker chicken recipes are such lifesavers because not only do they skip the sauteeing step, but they are easy to assemble and can even be frozen!
Like the viral 7 Chicken Marinade Recipes you can Freeze, these 7 Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes are also going to make your dinners exciting and delicious with very little effort.
The next time boneless skinless chicken breast (or boneless skinless chicken thighs) go on sale, stock up and assemble a few of these crockpot chicken recipes. Freeze for later and you are going to be so happy to have easy dinners waiting for you!
This post covers a LOT! Click on any of the links below to go directly to that section
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Watch the video below to see exactly how I prepped these recipes. It’s so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.
Tools & Ingredients
- 6 quart slow cooker (for a full batch)
- 2.5 quart slow cooker (for a half batch)
- 1/2 gallon Stasher bags
- 1.5 L silicone bags from this set of 6 (cheaper than stasher and work great)
- gallon sized freezer bags
- Jokari bag holders (optional but makes filling the bags so easy!)
How to cook these recipes
1. Place all your ingredients into the slow cooker- Because these recipes require no sauteeing, you can simply dump all your ingredients into the slow cooker and press start!
2. Cook! In my experience, using Crock Pot brand slow cookers, I can cook chicken breasts for no longer than 3-4 hours on low. After that, they are completely disintegrated. If you know your slow cooker and it cooks lower or slower than this, you may be able to leave your slow cooker on for longer. Use your judgement when it comes to cook times!
Need to start dinner earlier? Swap for boneless skinless chicken thighs. You can cook them for 4-6 hours!
3. Add veggies during the last hour of cooking- If you are looking to turn these recipes into well-rounded meals, you can certainly add some veggies. In fact, we always add bell peppers and onions to the fajitas. You could also turn the teriyaki and honey garlic chicken into a ‘stir fry’ by adding veggies during the last hour of cooking.
I recommend adding the veggies during the last hour of cooking so they don’t end up mushy.
How to Make Freezer Crockpot Meals
- Label bags with recipe name, date, and instructions. We use dry erase markers on our silicone bags.
- Use these handy baggie holders
to hold open your freezer bags
while you portion out the ingredients.
- Squeeze out as much air as possible.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
To cook
- Thaw completely before cooking.
- Dump everything into the slow cooker and select appropriate cook time.
- Enjoy!
FAQ:
- Can I cook these recipes from frozen? No. If you read your slow cooker manual, they say that you cannot cook meat from frozen, as they cannot guarantee that the internal temperature will get high enough to prevent food borne illnesses. Want food poisoning? I didn’t think so 😉 Make sure you thaw these freezer packs before cooking.
- Can I half this recipe? Yes! These recipes have been tested halved but cooked in a small (2.5 quart slow cooker
). If you are cutting these recipes in half, you will need a smaller slow cooker, as the liquid will be spread too thin on larger (5 or 6 quart slow cookers).
- How long do I cook them? I always cook boneless skinless chicken breasts for 3-4 hours on low. If you know your slow cooker and it cooks faster or slower than this, use your judgement and adjust the cook time accordingly.
- Can I use chicken thighs? Yes, boneless skinless chicken thighs would be great in all of these recipes! Adjust the cook time to 4-6 hours on low.
- Can I use these recipes without freezing them? Yes, absolutely! You can put them straight in the slow cooker, or assemble ahead and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours before cooking.
- What if my chicken is already frozen? Do not thaw your chicken if you are going to freeze again. Add the sauce ingredients to already frozen chicken and freeze.
). If you are cutting these recipes in half, you will need a smaller slow cooker, as the liquid will be spread too thin on larger (5 or 6 quart slow cookers).7 Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
GRAB THE PRINTABLE SLOW COOKER BBQ CHICKEN RECIPE HERE (or scroll to the bottom for the recipe card)
1. Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
This simple crockpot chicken recipe combines bottled barbecue sauce with maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and chili powder. It is tangy, sweet and savory.
How to serve this slow cooker BBQ chicken:
- on a sandwich topped with crunchy cabbage or slaw
- on a pizza with extra BBQ sauce, red onions and pineapple
- stuffed into sweet potatoes (cook them in your Instant Pot!), and smothered with cheese
GET THE PRINTABLE SLOW COOKER HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN RECIPE HERE (or scroll to the bottom for the recipe card)
2. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
A mix of sweet and savory Asian flavors, this recipe makes a sauce that is perfect for spooning over rice and vegetables! We also like to add small broccoli florets to the slow cooker at the same time as a cornstarch water slurry about an hour before serving. Works great with chicken breasts or chicken thighs.
How to serve this slow cooker honey garlic chicken:
- serve with rice (find 7 Easy Rice Recipes here!)
- goes great with broccoli! See How to Cook Broccoli, or Grilled Broccoli
- you can add sliced veggies to the slow cooker an hour before serving and turn it into a ‘stir fry’
GET THE PRINTABLE SLOW COOKER LEMON GARLIC CHICKEN RECIPE HERE (or scroll to the bottom for the recipe card)
3. Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken
This recipe is great with chicken breasts or thighs, and has a delicious buttery/garlicky sauce that is perfect for spooning over rice and vegetables.
How to serve this slow cooker lemon garlic chicken:
- serve with Fluffy Parmesan Mashed Cauliflower
- serve with our Staple Kale Salad
- serve with Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic Butter
GET THE PRINTABLE CROCKPOT SALSA CHICKEN RECIPE HERE (or scroll to the bottom for the recipe card)
4. Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
This is a super simple way to cook your chicken in the slow cooker; all you need are three ingredients! This slow cooker salsa chicken absorbs a surprising amount of flavor during the cook time and can be kicked up a notch with some extra jalapenos or some cayenne.
How to serve this slow cooker salsa chicken
- use it as a filling for tacos
- use it as a protein in a lunch bowl
- eat it straight up with cilantro lime rice or cilantro lime cauliflower rice
Find the printable slow cooker teriyaki chicken recipe here (or scroll to the bottom for the recipe card)
5. Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
Sweet, savory with ginger and garlic flavors, this slow cooker teriyaki chicken is a great kid-friendly dinner option, and comes with a delicious sauce for drizzling over rice and vegetables. Like the honey garlic chicken, you can add some extra veggies towards the end of cooking and turn it into a ‘stir fry’. This one is also great with chicken thighs.
How to serve this slow cooker teriyaki chicken:
- add some veggies in the last hour of cooking and turn it into a ‘stir fry’
- serve with turmeric rice or cauliflower rice
- serve over zucchini noodles for a low carb option (see how to cook zucchini noodles)
GET THE PRINTABLE SLOW COOKER CILANTRO LIME CHICKEN RECIPE HERE (or scroll to the bottom for the recipe card)
6. Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken
This slow cooker recipe is a bit different from others you’ll find because we blend our cilantro right up with some lime zest and spices. This means you don’t get soggy chunks of cilantro, but you still get that fresh, herby cilantro flavor. You can also add onions and corn to make it more substantial (directions are in the link above).
How to serve this slow cooker cilantro lime chicken:
- in tacos (click the link above to see full instructions)
- as is, served with Mexican rice and salad
- on a taco salad smothered with this cilantro lime dressing
GET THE PRINTABLE SLOW COOKER CHICKEN FAJITA RECIPE HERE (or scroll to the bottom for the recipe card)
7. Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
You might notice the bell peppers and onion slices are missing from the bag…that is because we prefer to add them towards the end of the cook time so they don’t get soggy. This slow cooker chicken fajita recipe is cooked in fire roasted tomatoes for some extra flayvah.
How to serve these slow cooker chicken fajitas
- don’t forget to add some veggies during the last hour of cooking
- we serve ours in tortillas topped with greek yogurt and avocado (see how to cut an avocado)
- you could also use this in a meal prep bowl like these Chicken Fajita Lunch Bowls
Recipe card
This post was originally published in 2018. It has been rephotographed and republished in 2019 with new tips and a recipe video. Same great recipes!
7 Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
Ingredients
Lemon Garlic Chicken
- 2 lb boneless chicken breasts
- 3/4 cup chicken stock
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chicken bouillon (optional)
- 3 tablespoons butter (cut into cubes)
- 3 tablespoons white wine
After cooking
- 1/2 lemon (juiced)
Cilantro Lime Chicken
- 2 lbs boneless chicken breast
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 lime (zested)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
BBQ Chicken
- 2 lbs boneless chicken breast
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
- 2 lbs boneless chicken breast
- 1/2 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup water
- 1/4 cup mirin
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons ginger chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon powdered)
After cooking
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch in cold water
- 2-3 tablespoons water
Honey Garlic Chicken
- 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
After cooking
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2-3 tablespoons water
Salsa Chicken
- 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts
- 2 cups salsa
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
After cooking
- salt to taste
Fajita Chicken
- 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup diced tomatoes (I recommend fire roasted)
1 hour before serving
- 1 lime juiced
- 4 bell peppers sliced
- 1 red onion sliced
Instructions
Lemon Garlic Chicken
- Place all ingredients not marked 'after cooking' in the base of a 5 quart slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
- In a small pan, melt the butter. Stir in the lemon juice and cornstarch and mix until well combined. Stir into the slow cooker.
- Turn slow cooker to high and cook for 30 minutes, or until cooking liquid is thickened. Add salt to taste.
Cilantro Lime Chicken
- Combine all ingredients except for chicken breasts in a blender or the jar that comes with an immersion blender. Blend until smooth.
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
- Shred chicken between two forks and toss in the cooking liquid.
BBQ Chicken
- Combine all ingredients in the base of a 5 quart slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
- Shred the chicken with two forks and toss in the cooking liquid.
Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
- Place all ingredients not marked 'after cooking' in the base of a 5 quart slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
- Stir together the cornstarch and water, then add to the slow cooker.
- Turn slow cooker to high and cook for 30 or so more minutes, until cooking liquid is thickened.
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
- Place all ingredients not marked 'after cooking' in the base of a 5 quart slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
- Stir together the cornstarch and water, then add to the slow cooker.
- Turn slow cooker to high and cook for 30 or so more minutes, until cooking liquid is thickened.
Salsa Chicken
- Combine all ingredients in the base of a 5 quart slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
- Shred the chicken with two forks and toss in the cooking liquid.
Fajita Chicken
- Place all ingredients not marked 'after cooking' in the base of a 5 quart slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours.
- Add lime juice and vegetables to the slow cooker. Cover and cook for another hour.
- Shred chicken between two forks and toss in the cooking liquid before serving.
To assemble ahead and freeze
- Combine all ingredients not marked 'after cooking' in a gallon-sized freezer bag.
- Squeeze out extra air.
- Freeze flat for up to 3 months.
Lee
Hi Denise are all your 7 slow cooker chicken recipes 175 calories each because I am going to start making these my self for my meal prepping ideas thanks
Denise
Hi Lee! No, they are not each 175, you can click through to the individual recipes and the nutritional info for the individual recipe will be listed on the recipe cards. I hope this makes sense, let me know if you need me to clarify 🙂
Cynthia Parish
I am cooking for myself and a senior, I just got your tips and tricks for meal prep over this last week, but have been following you on youtube for several weeks. I love the fact that you are not only ordinary and have the same ordinary needs as your followership , but also you are extraordinary! Your dishes are terrific and accomidating for those with different tastes. I too love my instant pot and these chicken dishes work great for both of us. I just dump my frozen in for 25 min. or dump my fresh for 20 min. either way these are delicious, thanks for your hard work in putting these great recipes together and sharing your time with us.
Denise
Aw Cynthia, you’ve totally just made my day with your kind comment. I am so happy that the recipes are helpful to you. Just a note- I typically do 8 minutes max for chicken breasts in the Instant Pot. I worry that 20 minutes might overcook them? But sounds like you’ve enjoyed. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave such a kind review.
Bekah
My question is about timing. i would probably set this to cook before i leave for work in the morning. My CrockPot has a timer so that when time is up it switches to warming and then it will eventually turn itself off (i’ll be home by then). My question is… should i reduce the cooking time so as not to overcook the chicken? if so… by how much?
Denise
Hi Bekah! Unfortunately this is one of the limitations of the slow cooker; you don’t want to cook the chicken longer than 5 hours or it will dry out and not be good, even if it just switches to ‘warm’. The Instant Pot is a great alternative for those working outside of the home as it can cook a chicken breast in 8 minutes + pressurizing time. If you would like tried and true Instant Pot recipes, you can find them at: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/instant-pot-chicken-breast-recipes/ I also have some freezable chicken marinades which can bake in the oven in 25 minutes at: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/7-chicken-marinade-recipes-freezer-friendly/
Bekah
agreed… unless it’s thighs, i don’t cook chicken in the slow cooker for this exact reason. i have a pressure cooker… i’ll use that instead. thanks!!!
Sophie
Hi there;
I’ve been following your You Tube channel and just realized you have a blog as well. YAY!!!! I was just wondering if I can substitute extra firm tofu for the chicken. I do know that freezing tofu gives it more of a meaty texture but I’m not sure on its ability to be used in a slow cooker. Same time????
Thanks for all you do
Denise
Hi Sophie! Thanks for following along! I am not sure if you can use tofu in these recipes, however some readers have had success in using tofu with my chicken marinades. Here’s the link: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/7-chicken-marinade-recipes-freezer-friendly/
SHARI
I love your site. I’ve been wanting to badly to try the 7 slow cooker chicken recipes. But all your measurements are so obscure. I tried checking them on Google to get some help . .25 cup chicken stock (is the 3/4 cup)? .06 teaspoons. How much is that? I’ve got everything out and ready to go…and bam…i can’t figure out the measurements. The ONLY one that made any sense was for 8 people. I’ll just use that and then figure it out based upon two people.
Do love your site though. I made the IP asian hamburger mixture and wow that is amazing. Making some more today.
Thanks so much! I’ll keep watching and making!
Denise
Hi Shari, these recipes are designed to use 2 lbs (8 servings) of chicken. If you change the serving size, the measurements of the recipes will all be weird. I don’t advise cutting the recipes in half unless you have a small (2.5 quart) slow cooker as it is possible that the sauce will over-reduce and burn if you try in a larger (6 quart) slow cooker.
If you are looking for recipes that serve 2, you should check out the chicken marinades! https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/7-chicken-marinade-recipes-freezer-friendly/
laura
I know this is a silly question but could these recipes be cooked in my instapot on the slow cook setting?
Denise
Hi Laura! It would probably work, however I am not an expert on this and have heard that the Instant Pot ‘slow cooker’ setting is not the same as crockpot brand. Here’s an article a friend of mine wrote on it: https://mealplanaddict.com/2019/05/how-to-use-your-instant-pot-as-a-slow-cooker/ I hope this helps and if you try, I’d love to hear how it goes for you!
Heather
Hello! I found you on Instagram and I’m so excited to give these a whirl. This weekend I am teaching my son how to use a slow cooker now that has moved into his first apartment. These are great recipes to start with! One question – Are the veggies you add during the last hour fresh or frozen? Is there much of a time difference for frozen?
Denise
Hi Heather! I hope your teaching session went well! You can add either fresh or frozen, I think they would both take about the same amount of time since the frozen veg have to thaw completely and then keep cooking. Of course it really depends on the type of veggie so if you have a specific one in mind I can give a better answer.
Amanda
For each recipe how many chicken breast are there in a bag?
Denise
Hi Amanda, it’s going to depend on the size of your chicken breasts. For me, 2 lbs of chicken breasts is roughly 4-5 large chicken breasts. Hope this helps!
Elena
Hi there, would halving the recipe affect the cooking time?
Denise
Hi Elena, if you half the recipe, you will need to cook in a smaller crock pot (2.5 quart). That being said the cook time will stay the same.
Whitney
I have tried almost all of your marinaded frozen chicken breast recipes, oh my they are a life saver! Do you have more of these freezer to slow cooker chicken breast recipes? Thanks!
Denise
I am so happy you enjoyed! Here is my freezer slow cooker category! https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/category/freezer-slow-cooker/
Brian P
I just wanted to say it’s great to see such kind, thoughtful people suck as yourself taking time out of your busy life to help others. Since my mom lost her eyesight I’ve had to take up cooking for her and I since I now moved in taking care of mom. I’m trying your chicken garlic tonight. Just bought the slow cooker and ingredients. Fingers crossed. Again thank you from all of us who are trying to make a great meal for their lives ones.
Denise
Hi Brian, thank you so much for your kind comment, and I hope you and your mother enjoyed the recipe!
JoEllen
Hi Denise! I just found your website today and am anxious to try your recipes. I’ll be making the Lemon Garlic Chicken today. I noticed in your pictures that you have an amazing ziplock bag holder. Will you please tell me where you purchased it? I’ve struggled for years trying to add ingredients to a bag on my own and half the stuff ends up on my counter 😛 Thanks! JoEllen
Denise
Hi JoEllen! It’s my Jokari Baggy Holder! LOVE it!
Jo Ellen
Thanks Denise, I just ordered them 😃
Felicity
Hi there, do you need to change the time if the chicken is frozen? Or still 4-5 hours?
Thanks
Denise
Hi Felicity! It is not recommended to cook frozen meat in your slow cooker for food safety issues.
susan
hi there, there isn’t any liquid for the fajitas. Where does the moisture come from for this recipe?
Denise
Hi Susan! The liquid comes from the diced or fire roasted tomatoes!
Maris
These are LIFESAVING! We love them all but the teriyaki is my fave!
Denise
So happy you enjoyed! Thanks so much for your review!
Ian
Hi Denise
Quick question, could I modify these recipes to be used in a 7 quart cooker? And if so, how would I go about doing this?
Thanks for the delicious recipes!
Happy holidays!
Denise
Hi Ian! I think these should work just fine as written in a 7 quart slow cooker 🙂 I hope you enjoy!
Rachael
Sorry if this is a a silly question but do you clean and reuse the plastic bags afterwards? If so, any tips? Especially if they have had raw chicken?
Denise
Hi Rachael! I don’t reuse plastic bags but I’ve discovered reusable silicone bags which are perfect for these recipes! I soak them in soapy water then put them through the dishwasher on the top rack. Works great! THe only downside is you have to make sure they stay upright in freezer as the seal is not 100%. https://amzn.to/2R1k9IM
Sue
Hello! I was wondering whether you have nutrition info for your recipes. I’m particularly interested in carb count. Thanks!
Denise
Hi Sue! I do have nutrition for each recipe, if you click through the links to the individual recipes, the nutrition including carbs should be listed. Hope this helps!
Amanda
Hello can these be cooked in the instant pot? If so how long? Can I cook from frozen? Thank you!
Denise
Hi Amanda! These were tested for the slow cooker, but I have seven Instant Pot Chicken Breast Recipes here https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/instant-pot-chicken-breast-recipes/
Rhonda
Nice list!
Master Cakes
Thanks for sharing new recipes love it
Regards Mastercakes.com
Amanda
For the cilantro lime chicken, are you only using the lime zest? Or do you also use lime juice?
Denise
Just the zest!
Jessica
I’m new to slow cooker cooking and I wanted to ask the reason for the cornstarch and water? I’ve never used cornstarch for anything and just wanted to know it’s significance and if it had to be used! Thanks for all the recipes can’t wait to start cooking!
Denise
Hi Jessica! The cornstarch thickens the sauce up so it sticks to the chicken and gives it more flavor. You need to stir it up in a small amount of water because otherwise it can clump if you add it right in. Hope you enjoy!
Leslie
I realized the cook time on these too and for as long as I’m at work they won’t work for me. They look delicious though. Can I put them in the oven? If so, for how long?
Denise
Hi Leslie! I haven’t tested these particular recipes in the oven, however I’d try baking at 400 for 30-40 min. If you are interested in Instant Pot recipes (which cook quickly for weeknights), try this post: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/instant-pot-chicken-breast-recipes/ and if you are interested in oven-baked recipes (that I’ve actually tested), try this post: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/7-chicken-marinade-recipes-freezer-friendly/
Denice Hook
I prepped a few of the receipes which sound great. When I went to cook them today I realized the cook time. I am out of the house from about 8-5. It got completely overcooked . Do you have any suggestions for how to avoid this from happening in the future. Thanks.
Denise
Oh no! That’s the problem with chicken in the slow cooker, you can’t really cook more than 5 hours, 6 absolute max. You could try swapping for bone in chicken thighs? I think they *might* be able to last that long, but they might also be over-done. Otherwise, the Instant Pot is going to be your best friend. Some of these recipes will work in the IP, or you can check out this post here: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/instant-pot-chicken-breast-recipes/
Elizabeth
How much cornstarch and water in Honey Garlic Chicken?
Denise
Thank you for noticing that omission! It’s 1 tbsp in 2-3 tbsp water. Thanks Elizabeth and I hope you enjoy!
Jada
Hi Denise, thanks for the recipes. I just bought some Chicken Breasts with bone since they were on sale. Should I cook them longer?
Denise
Hi Jada! You may need to cook for longer. I’d try low 4-5 hours and see how they go. Let me know how they turn out for you!
Rebekah
Thank you so much Denise! I found your website a month ago and you have gotten me out of a major meal prep rut. Your time saving ideas are invaluable and your recipes are always so full of flavour. Thanks again!
Denise
I am so happy to hear this, Rebekah! Let me know if you ever have any recipe requests!
Jackie Wilde
Thanks for the new recipes! ?
Denise
My pleasure!