12 Slow-Cooker Chicken Recipes You and Your Family Will Love
Lennart Weibull
The slow cooker is a great tool for cooking chicken—but not for the same reasons you'd list when it comes to cooking, say, pork shoulder or beef short ribs. Poultry is generally a quick-cooking protein, so there are more efficient ways to get a chicken dinner on the table when time is of the essence. So, why make quick chicken in the slow cooker? Easy answer: It does almost all the work for you, especially if you set it up in the morning and come back to eat later in the day.
Even better? It's reliably delicious. Dark meat lends itself particularly well to the the low, gentle heat of the slow cooker, staying moist and flavorful; it turns so tender, you don't even need to cut it with a knife. Though cooking chicken in this appliance is a no-brainer, following a recipe will only elevate the result. The options we've gathered here take inspiration from Indian, Mexican, French, and other cuisines, but one thing they all have in common is their ease, simplicity, and approachability. We think—no, we know—you'll love them.
Related: Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes
Slow-Cooker Chicken with 20 Cloves of Garlic
This classic French fricassee typically calls for 40 cloves of garlic, but the slow cooker intensifies flavors so much that 20 is all you need for a rich, garlicky taste. Serve with the braised garlic, the cooking liquid, and bread. Pro tip: Spread the softened garlic on the bread and dip it in the juices.
Slow-Cooker Sweet-and-Spicy Chicken
Here's a slow cooker recipe that's a snap to make. You combine cumin, cinnamon, salt and pepper in a large zip-top bag. Add chicken and toss to coat—then cook the chicken in a skillet for a few minutes until it's golden. Into the slow cooker it goes, along with onion, garlic, ginger, tomatoes and raisins. The result? A comforting meal that hits so many notes.
Slow-Cooker Garlic Chicken with Couscous
This simple chicken dinner is tasty and extremely gratifying. It has a gentle, comforting taste thanks to garlic, thyme, and white wine. With some couscous and a salad, it makes for a satisfying dinner any time of year.
Slow-Cooker Spicy Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
Here's a great party dish to have in your repertoire. You brown chicken pieces to build flavor, then sauté peppers, onions, and garlic; a tomato-y, peppery sauce pulls everything together. Four hours later, you shred the chicken and layer it into buns along with pickled vegetables for a cool crunch.
Chicken Cacciatore with Cremini Mushrooms
A hearty dish for a cold winter's day, this hassle-free one-pot meal can be prepped quickly. Simply stir together chicken, mushrooms, tomatoes, flour, wine, celery, onion, a sprig of rosemary, and some salt and pepper. Let the slow cooker work its magic, and you'll have tender chicken and a delicious sauce that's great for mopping up with crusty bread.
Slow-Cooker Chicken Mole
The Mexican chile sauce, mole, has a taste that's spicy and bittersweet, with earthy undertones. Thanks to dark chocolate and spices, it lends a rich taste to chicken thighs in this warming weeknight dinner. Serve it alongside a pot of white or yellow rice.
Chicken Curry
Put in 10 minutes of work for this recipe, and you'll be rewarded with a hearty dinner rich with spices. It's especially good when served with toasted cashews and cilantro leaves.
Slow Cooker Soy-Ginger Chicken
A tasty soy-ginger sauce—and about six hours in the slow cooker—transforms chicken and carrots into a sweet, spicy, and just salty enough dish that's delicious over white rice. Garnish the finished meal with cilantro sprigs and thin slices of scallion for a little zip.
Slow-Cooker Chili Chicken Tacos
It doesn't get easier than this streamlined taco night option. Combine chicken thighs, sliced garlic, a half-cup of salsa, chopped canned chipotle chiles in adobo, and chili powder—then cook and shred with forks. You can moisten the meat with some of the cooking juices, and then pile it into taco shells with whatever toppings your heart desires.
Slow-Cooker Cilantro-Chutney Chicken
To make this delicious chicken dish, it's helpful to sauté the onions first—it adds sweetness and an extra layer of richness. Then, towards the end of cooking, stirring in a chutney made from cilantro, peanuts, brown sugar, and lime juice keeps the flavors bright and fresh. Rice, yogurt, jalapeno, cilantro, chopped peanuts, and lime wedges make perfect accompaniments.
Slow-Cooker Tex-Mex Chicken and Beans
Here's another Mexican-influenced chicken dish that calls on salsa for flavor. The other ingredients—dried pinto beans, chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, flour, red onion, chopped red bell pepper—are equally unassuming. When the stew is finished, top it with sour cream, chopped jalapeño, hot sauce, and tortilla strips or chips.
Spiced Chicken Stew with Carrots
Sweet spices (like cinnamon and cumin) and golden raisins complement the carrots in this tagine-inspired chicken stew. With such aromatic flavors, the dish needs just a simple accompaniment: think plain couscous and sliced, toasted almonds.
