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This recipe for crockpot chicken breast is the easiest, hands off, way to cook chicken and the results are so tender and moist. The key is adding the easy seasoning blend for a boost of flavor and the chicken is great for an easy dinner or meal prep.
Try my Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken next!
Why We Love This Recipe
- Versatile – Serve with veggies, a salad, rice, pasta, potatoes, or more!
- Meal Prep Friendly – We love to make a batch of crockpot chicken breast to prep for the week.
- Moist and Flavorful – Cooking chicken in the slow cooker helps it stay super moist and all you need to add is a few simple sauces to add flavor.
- Easy Pan Sauce – This is optional, but we love to use the drippings from the chicken to make a flavorful sauce to serve on top.
RECIPE WALK-THROUGH
How To Make Crockpot Chicken Breast
See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions
I love using the slow cooker to make cooking totally hands off!
Prep – Start by trimming any fat off the chicken with kitchen shears or a knife and add to the slow cooker insert. Mix up the seasonings in a small bowl and set aside.
Season Chicken – Spoon the melted butter over the top of the chicken and sprinkle with the seasoning mixture.
Slow Cook – Slow cook on high for 1 – 2 ½ hours or on low for 2 ½ – 4 hours. The chicken is done when the internal temperature reads 165℉. The time will vary based on your slow cooker.
Optional Pan Sauce – Strain ¾ cup of cooking liquid from the crockpot into a heat proof measuring cup. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat, add the butter followed by the garlic and cook until the garlic is fragrant, Add in the reserved cooking liquid and herbs and bring to a boil then simmer to reduce the liquid. Add the cornstarch slurry and whisk into the sauce.
Serve – Slice the chicken and serve with the pan sauce over the top.
Serving Suggestions
Chicken is such a versatile protein that pairs with many side dishes! Our favorite sides to pair with chicken are:
Storage Tips
The Best Way to Store Leftovers
Store leftover chicken breast in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Chicken can be reheated in the microwave or in a pan on the stove (my preferred method).
To freeze, cool completely after cooking, wrap individual breasts tightly in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of foil, then place in a freezer zip top bag. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Recipe Tips
- Cooking Time – Cooking time will vary greatly. Smaller 2-3 quart slow cookers will heat up and cook much quicker than larger slow cookers. Large chicken breasts will take a longer cook time than small chicken breasts. Begin checking the chicken once it has turned opaque, reduced in size and has firmed up to avoid overcooking.
- To Make Shredded Chicken – This recipe is for sliceable chicken breast. To make shredded chicken, increase cook time to 3-4 hours on high, or 4-6 hours on low.
- Pan Sauce – The pan sauce is completely optional, but recommended to get the most out of the flavorful cooking liquids. Customize this sauce by changing up the herbs, adding a pinch of red pepper flake, a tablespoon of pesto, or a splash of heavy cream. You could also add in a few tablespoons of dry wine after the garlic for a more robust sauce.
More Crockpot Chicken Recipes
- Slow Cooker Asian Chicken Drumsticks
- Slow Cooker Crack Chicken Sandwiches
- Crockpot Whole Chicken
- Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
- Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken with Pasta
Crockpot Chicken Breast
Equipment
- 6+ quart slow cooker
Ingredients
- 1 ½ – 2 pounds Boneless skinless chicken breast about 3-4 breasts
- 1 tablespoon Salted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon Ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Onion powder
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
- ¾ cup Low sodium chicken broth or stock
Garlic Butter Pan Sauce (Optional)
- ½ tablespoon Butter
- 3 Small garlic cloves minced or pressed
- 1 teaspoon Finely minced parsley
- 1 Fresh thyme sprig leaves stripped, optional
- 1 teaspoon Cornstarch
- Cold water
Instructions
Chicken
- Trim chicken of all fat using kitchen shears. Mix all seasonings in a small bowl, set aside. Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
- Spoon the melted butter over the top of the chicken breasts. Sprinkle with the seasoning mixture. Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on high for 1 to 2 ½ hours, or on low for 2 ½ to 4 hours, or until an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast reads 165℉. Begin checking the chicken at the one hour mark if cooking on high to avoid overcooking. The size and type of slow cooker you use, as well as the size of the chicken breast will affect the cook time.
- Slice and serve immediately, or make the optional pan sauce.
Pan Sauce
- For the pan sauce: Strain ¾ cup of cooking liquid into a heat proof measuring cup, set aside. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat, add the ½ tablespoon butter followed by the garlic, saute 30 seconds to 1 minute until garlic is translucent and fragrant.
- Add in the reserved cooking liquid and herbs and bring to a boil. Simmer for 3 minutes, reducing the liquid slightly. While the liquid reduces, mix the cornstarch in a small bowl with just enough cold water to dissolve it. Whisk this mixture into the pan and allow to boil 1 to 2 minutes, creating a loose pan sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Serve over the sliced chicken breast.
Notes
- Cooking time will vary greatly. Smaller 2-3 quart slow cookers will heat up and cook much quicker than larger slow cookers. Large chicken breasts will take a longer cook time than small chicken breasts. Begin checking the chicken once it has turned opaque, reduced in size and has firmed up to avoid overcooking.
- This recipe is for sliceable chicken breast. To make shredded chicken, increase cook time to 3-4 hours on high, or 4-6 hours on low.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
