Crockpot Chicken Breast
I make this Crockpot Chicken Breast every week so I can add lean and healthy protein to salads and other meals. It’s so easy and no liquid is necessary!
After I posted the Tex-Mex Chicken Casserole last week, I got a ton of emails and comments from you asking exactly how I make chicken breast in the slow cooker. Here’s how! It’s something that I do every week, so I always have the option of adding protein to whatever meal I’m making at the time.
You can dice the chicken and make chicken salad or toss it in pasta, shred it and put it in a burrito or soup, or slice it and layer it in a grilled cheese. It’s extremely versatile and a quick way to make meals healthier and heartier.
Why make chicken breast in the crockpot?
Because I find it makes for the most juicy and tender chicken of any other cooking method I’ve tried.
Sure it takes a few hours, but it’s worth it for the chicken to cook slowly and gently, and it’s completely hands off and simple to get going. I find that with other methods like baking, poaching, and Instant Pot chicken, it’s way too easy to overcook the chicken and end up with a rubbery piece of meat. And I hate dry chicken!
How to Make Crockpot Chicken:
First, you’re going to take a 2-3 lb package of boneless skinless chicken breasts, and snuggle them as evenly as you can into the bottom of your slow cooker:
Now, sprinkle the chicken breasts generously with salt:
Grind some black pepper on top of the chicken too:
Then, you can add whatever seasonings you like. Sometimes I do fresh herbs, like thyme:
And other times if I know I’m using the chicken for something Mexican themed like tacos or burritos, I’ll sprinkle the chicken with taco seasoning instead. You can really add anything you want, and estimate the amounts by eye.
Once you’ve sprinkled on the seasonings, put the lid on, and set the crock into the cooking unit.
How long do you cook chicken breast in the crockpot?
I find about 3 hours on low is just right, with one single layer, for the chicken to fully cook through to 165 degrees F. This time may vary slightly with different brands of slow cookers.
The particular slow cooker I own is this 4-Quart Slow Cooker and costs $15! Maybe one day I’ll get a more expensive one, but this one does a great job and works for our small family.
If you have a different slow cooker, you can use a thermometer to test out how long your particular slow cooker needs to reach the proper temperature, but three hours on low should be close.
Do you have to add liquid to the crockpot?
As long as the chicken is in a single layer, no, it’s not necessary. Each piece of chicken is touching the slow cooker and that’s all you need. If you’re doing multiple layers of chicken, you will need to add liquid to cover all of it, but I don’t recommend this. Because then you will have to add liquid to cover, and the seasonings won’t stick to the chicken breast.
If you really want to do multiple layers of chicken breast, add broth to cover so the chicken cooks evenly. Otherwise, it cooks unevenly because the top layers won’t have contact with the bottom of the slow cooker.
Another tip: No matter what slow cooker you use, try not to take off the lid at all during cooking, as this dramatically lengthens cooking time.
I hope this answers many of your questions, and if you have more, please post them below and I will reply. Happy cooking!
Slow Cooker Chicken Breast
Ingredients
For the Crockpot Chicken
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- salt
- pepper
- herbs
- spices
Ideas for Using the Chicken (optional)
Instructions
- Place a single, even layer of chicken breasts into the bottom of your slow cooker.
- Sprinkle with anything you desire, like salt, pepper, seasonings, herbs, etc.
- Cook on low for approximately 3 hours* until the chicken reaches 165F on a digital thermometer. It is now ready to eat and be used in recipes.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: this post contains an affiliate link.
How do you store it and, how long will they keep in the fridge?
I followed this recipe and cooked the chicken to just over 165 degrees. The chicken cut easily, but could not be shredded. Any idea what went wrong?
If you want it to shred, you have to cook it longer and take it to a higher temperature, probably about 180F. The one thing I don’t like about that is it will be drier, but if you’re planning to add sauce, it’s not as big of a deal.
Made this for the second time today, and it works like a charm. The chicken turns out moist and tender and just right for cutting up in salads, stir-fries or just about anything we might use cooked chicken for. Thank you so much!
I cook cheap steaks like this. When you cool them they’re perfect for slicing thin for sandwiches and salads.
Can this be done with only one chicken breast? Cooking three breasts creates a lot of leftovers for me that I generally can’t finish. Thanks.
Yes, should be fine. Check the temp after 2 hours
Do I need to grease the bottom of the crockpot with an oil spray to make it not stick? Thanks! 🙂
Personally I don’t. The chicken releases a lot of liquid and doesn’t have trouble sticking. The crockpot will need to be scrubbed though.
Use a slow cooker bag. It makes clean up a breeze…
I’m a 68 year old man suddenly on my own. With NO real experience in the kitchen, I bought 4 or 5 lbs of chicken breast ( frozen but thawing). I’m planning on cooking it all at once. I’m sitting outside the grocery store right now. Can anyone help me out with this.
Do you have an instant pot? There are lots of really good recipes. You can also throw it all in the slow cooker and then divide for different meals. Shred the chicken and then divide, use a small jar of salsa and make chicken taco meat. Save some for a salad!
Hi Jesse, my best advice is to google “freezer crock pot meals”. They require freezer bags and a crock pot. You assemble the bag with other ingredients and put it in the freezer. When you are ready, you dump the bag of frozen uncooked food into the crock pot and typically cook on low for 6-8 hours or hi 3-4. There are a lot of really easy, budget friendly recipes out there. Buying crock pot liners will make clean up easier if that’s a concern for you. I would make only what I could eat in a week and freeze the rest for another meal later that can be defrosted In the microwave or stove top. Best of luck & well wishes to you on this new chapter of life.
I prep a week’s worth of chicken for lunches for my husband and me, so I need to cook layers of chicken breasts in the slow cooker. What seasonings should I add with the chicken broth? How long should I cook on low for a full slow cooker?
If I put a little bit of chicken broth in is the cooking time more or less?
When cooking 2 layers of chicken breasts with your recommended liquid to cover all the chicken, do you increase cooking time?