Crockpot Chicken Breast Recipe

Learn how to use your slow cooker to make crockpot chicken breasts for easy weeknight dinners. This slow cooker chicken breast recipe is easy and perfect as a base for a meal or for meal prepping!

overhead sliced crockpot chicken breasts with spice rub on white plate

What’s in Crockpot Chicken?

This delicious crockpot chicken breast recipe is a great base for a ton of different lunches, dinners or for weekly meal prep. Just a handful of ingredients, set the cooker, and it’ll come out deliciously juicy!

Chicken: This slow cooker recipe is best for boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
Olive Oil: This coats the chicken and helps the spices adhere while cooking.
Chicken Broth: This is my preferred liquid when cooking chicken in a Crockpot because it adds extra flavor and juiciness.
Herbs & Spices: I used a mix of onion and garlic powder, dried thyme, paprika, and salt and pepper for a simple flavor that works for every day meals.

Pro Tip: You can easily switch out all of the herbs and spices to create any flavor you like. Try ranch seasoning or taco seasoning if you want a quick flavor swap for your chicken.

Can I use other cuts of chicken in this slow cooker recipe?

While this Crockpot recipe works best with boneless chicken breasts, you can use the same ingredients and instructions to make boneless, skinless chicken thighs.

While you can also cook bone-in and/or skin-on chicken breast and thighs, the cooking times may change. Make sure to check the internal temperature of any chicken you cook, and be sure it reads 165°F before consuming.

cooking chicken breasts in a slow cooker.

Can I cook frozen chicken breasts in a crockpot?

Unfortunately, it’s not best to cook frozen chicken breast in a slow cooker. The temperature of the crock pot doesn’t get high enough fast enough for the bacteria to be killed. It’s best to only use freshly thawed chicken or thaw them in the microwave before adding them to the crockpot.

How long do I cook chicken in the crock pot?

Crockpot chicken cook time will depend on the setting you want your crock pot on. If you are like me, you like to add everything to the crockpot in the morning and let your crockpot cook on low. If you decide to let it cook on low all day, it will need to cook for 4 to 6 hours. If you want to wait till later in the day to get your crockpot chicken breasts cooking, you can cook on high for 2 to 4 hours.

What’s the best spice rub for chicken breasts?

You can add/remove ingredients as you see fit but I use salt, onion powder, dried thyme, paprika, pepper and garlic powder. Feel free to adjust the spices to your personal preferences.

seasoned chicken breasts cooked in a crockpot.

How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover Crockpot chicken in an airtight container, and keep in the refrigerator for 4-5 days.

Reheat in a pan set over medium-low heat, or in the microwave in 30-second increments until warmed through.

How to Freeze

After removing chicken breasts from the Crockpot, let them cool. Store them in freezer-safe, resealable bags or containers, and keep them in the freezer up to 3 months. You can wrap pieces in foil or plastic wrap if you want extra protection from freezer burn.

Let chicken defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating and eating.

Serving Suggestions

The best thing about this slow cooker chicken recipe is how versatile it is! It makes a healthy and tasty main dish for any dinner or lunch, and pairs well with all kinds of side dishes. Serve it with mashed potatoes, creamed green beans, cucumber salad, and Hawaiian rolls.

You can also use leftovers to make pulled chicken sandwiches, chicken noodle soup, or chicken fajitas. The possibilities are endless with this amazing chicken breast recipe!

up close crockpot chicken breasts on white platter

More Crockpot Chicken Recipes We Love

5-Star Review

“So juicy! My new favorite way of cooking chicken!” – Nikki