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Slow Cooker Chicken Breast

February 18, 2014
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I make this Slow Cooker Chicken Breast every week, so I can add lean and healthy protein to salads and other recipes. It’s so easy!

How to Make Chicken Breast in the Slow Cooker @fifteenspatulas

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.

And even though I always thought this would be a topic too simple to post on Fifteen Spatulas, I think it’s time I finally post it so you know how to do it, because it’s definitely very useful.

I make chicken breast in the slow cooker every week, so I have the option to add 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.

And because the chicken cooks so slowly and gently, you end up with really juicy, tender meat. Win!

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:

How to Make Chicken Breast in the Slow Cooker

Now, sprinkle the chicken breasts generously with salt:

How to Make Chicken Breast in the Slow Cooker Tutorial

And some black pepper too:

Slow Cooker Chicken Breast Tutorial

Then, you can add whatever seasonings you like. Sometimes I do fresh herbs, like thyme:

Slow Cooker Chicken Breast Recipe

And other times if I know I’m using the chicken for something Mexican, I’ll sprinkle the chicken with taco seasoning instead.

You can really add anything you want.

Then, I put the lid on, turn the dial to “low,” and cook for 3 hours, which is how long it takes for a single layer of snug chicken breasts to reach 165 degrees F in my slow cooker.

The particular slow cooker I own is this 4-Quart Slow Cooker that cost me $18 in April 2013 (it now costs $20).

Maybe one day I’ll get a more expensive one, but this one does a great job.

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 is a good start.

Other notes:

  • I don’t add broth or liquid to the slow cooker.
  • I recommend only adding a single layer of chicken breasts (don’t stack them on top of each other).
  • If you really want to do multiple layers of chicken breast, add broth so the chicken cooks more evenly. Otherwise, it cooks unevenly because the top layers won’t have contact with the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • As most slow cookers state, 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

Yield: 3 cooked chicken breasts

Prep Time:5 minutes

Cook Time:3 hours

Total Time:3 hours

This Slow Cooker Chicken Breast is a simple way to add lean and healthy protein to salads and other recipes. It’s so easy!

Ingredients:

  • chicken
  • salt
  • pepper
  • herbs
  • spices

Directions:

  1. 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.

Recipe Notes:

*You will have to learn the time your slow cooker needs to fully cook through. Mine takes 3 hours.

All images and text ©.

Disclosure: this post contains an affiliate link.

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