49 of Our Best Slow-Cooker Chicken Recipes
Updated: Nov. 03, 2023
Stuck in a recipe rut? Have no fear! These slow-cooker chicken recipes showcase a variety of flavors from around the world. From easy weeknight meals to dishes fancy enough for guests, these recipes will keep your slow cooker busy for months.
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White Bean Chicken Chili
A lighter, brighter take on meaty red chili, white chili traditionally includes chicken, white beans and green chiles, which add smoky spice. Reduce the number of chiles if cooking for kids, who usually gobble up chicken chili, especially if served with plenty of cheddar cheese scattered over the bowl.
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Slow-Cooker Chicken Tinga
The secret to our best slow-cooker chicken recipes? Great flavor. This Mexican-inspired recipe packs a punch. Spiced boneless chicken thighs shred easily after cooking low and slow, making the meat ideal for tacos.
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Slow-Cooker Chicken Thighs
One of our most popular slow-cooker recipes ever, these chicken thighs are cooked with a simple sweet-and-savory sauce. Swap out chicken breasts if you prefer. Just keep in mind that slow-cooker chicken thigh recipes can cook all day long, while chicken breast recipes cook more quickly.
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Stuffed Chicken Rolls
Not every slow-cooker recipe is a simple stew; some can even be fancy. Stuffed with ham, Swiss and sage, these chicken rolls will delight dinner guests (or your family).
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Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Everyone’s favorite appetizer (or dinner, let’s be real) is a breeze to make in the slow cooker. It’s a great make-ahead recipe, too: refrigerate and reheat, or even freeze until you want to eat.
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Hearty Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
The only thing better than a cozy homemade chicken noodle soup? An easy slow-cooker recipe for homemade chicken noodle soup! Cook the chicken and veggies first, which flavor a rich broth, then pull out the chicken to shred while the noodles cook in the slow cooker.
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Saucy Chicken Thighs
Bottled BBQ sauce is the base of this sweet-and-spicy chicken recipe, which channels grilled barbecue flavors in the slow cooker. Serve with corn (frozen, if it’s not in season), and imagine that it’s a perfect summer evening, even in January.
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Slow-Cooker Roast Chicken
You can cook a whole chicken in the slow cooker! A quick, hands-free alternative to roast chicken, this recipe is fantastic for the hot summer months, when you don’t want to heat up the house with the oven. Leftover shredded chicken is so versatile: Enjoy in tacos, quesadillas, soups and sandwiches.
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Slow-Cooker BBQ Chicken
One of our top-rated slow cooker recipes, this BBQ chicken goes the extra mile with a homemade sauce that’s sweet with a slight kick. Don’t be scared off—the sauce is simple to make, using ingredients you probably already have in the pantry.
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Filipino Adobo Aromatic Chicken
Skip the takeout! This aromatic dish is slightly sweet, spicy, sour and savory, yet the ingredient list is easy to shop for—no specialty grocery stores required. It tastes even better the day after it’s made.
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Slow-Cooked Lemon Chicken
Served in an herb-scented lemon sauce, this chicken dish is easy enough for a weeknight dinner but special enough for an occasion. In the summer, serve with a fresh salad and boiled potatoes; in the winter, serve over rice with roasted vegetables.
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Forgotten Jambalaya
Few dinners manage to be both energizing and cozy, but jambalaya nails both. There are endless variations on this punchy New Orleans favorite, but this one is simple to make and not so spicy that kids can’t eat it, too.
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Chicken Tikka Masala
It’s easy to make delicious Indian food at home, if you stock a few simple spices. This take on the popular Tikka Masala seasons a tomato-yogurt sauce with warming spices, including garam masala, cumin and ginger.
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Wine-Braised Chicken with Pearl Onions
This homey, old-fashioned classic is still worth making today. Almost every ingredient in this recipe is a simple pantry staple, yet the combination tastes and looks fancy thanks to the adorable tiny onions. Serve with pasta or rice, cloth napkins optional.
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Slow-Cooker Chicken Tacos
Dinner doesn’t get much easier than these chicken tacos. The recipe calls for a jar of salsa rather than demanding that you fuss with a homemade tomato sauce. Serve in a taco bowl, or a hard or soft shell. Delicious.
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Chicken in Sour Cream Sauce
A homemade cream sauce makes this chicken dish impossible to resist. It wins top reviews for flavor and versatility, with cooks adding vegetables to the pot, adjusting seasonings and even swapping out the liquid ingredients to suit their preferences. Looking for more comfort-food dinner ideas? Try our favorite slow-cooker chicken potpie recipe.
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Garden Chicken Cacciatore
Both easy to make and special enough for company, cacciatore chicken is an Italian classic made with fresh vegetables and rich tomato sauce. Serve with couscous or a favorite pasta shape.
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Slow Cooker Cassoulet with Crumb Topping
The slow cooker simplifies notoriously arduous cassoulet, giving all the flavor and little of the work. A crumb topping added after cooking adds texture and crunch.
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Shredded Chicken Gyros
A milder take on classic Greek gyros, this recipe swaps chicken breasts for the traditional lamb. After slow cooking, the chicken shreds easily into a tasty filling for pitas or sandwiches. A lighter dish, it’s a perfect summer slow-cooker recipe.
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Chicken Stew with Gnocchi
How to update a classic chicken stew? Add irresistible, tender potato gnocchi to the pot! It’ll make the house smell wonderful as it gently bubbles in the slow cooker.
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Slow-Cooked Orange Chipotle Chicken
This recipe calls for a homemade sauce that will require you to dig out the blender. But, the sauce is simple as could be, easy to customize for spice and wins rave reviews. A quicker cook time makes this dish easy to put together in the afternoon.
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Sweet & Spicy Chicken Wings
These chicken wings are a totally doable restaurant copycat recipe. The homemade sauce is adaptable to your taste buds and tolerance for spice.
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Chicken Sliders with Sesame Slaw
An Asian-inspired twist on popular BBQ sliders, this chicken slow-cooker recipe is paired with a quick, fresh sesame slaw. The homemade sauce combines surprising ingredients to delicious effect: creamy mayo, spicy-sweet sriracha, sweet-sour dried cranberries and crunchy cabbage.
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Saucy Thai Chicken Pizzas
This recipe can go in two directions. Make the tender, tasty Thai chicken and peanut sauce in the slow cooker. Then, serve it up with rice or give it a modern twist as a pizza topping.
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North African Chicken and Rice
This contest-winning slow cooker chicken is a delicious invitation into a food culture you may not be familiar with. North African food has an aromatic quality similar to Middle Eastern dishes. Raisins, lemon and olives brighten up the rich spices.
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Slow-Cooked Italian Chicken
A cozy, Italian-inspired supper is a snap in the Crock-Pot. The lightly seasoned tomato sauce is a natural fit to serve with spaghetti noodles. Reviewers give the recipe high marks for its adaptability; one cook even enjoyed the leftover sauce as a soup!
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General Tso’s Stew
This recipe twists the popular Asian favorite, both by adapting it for the slow cooker and transforming it into a stew. The sweet and spicy dish is easy to adapt, too: swap out your favorite vegetables, or even different proteins.
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Sweet and Spicy Peanut Chicken
Takeout, made in your kitchen! This peanut-y chicken dish is so versatile. Serve it with rice noodles, in taco shells or in lettuce cups. Fill a pita with the chicken and shredded raw veggies, or scatter leftover chicken over a salad.
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Slow-Cooked Chicken Marbella
Slow-cooked chicken thighs take on bright Mediterranean flavors in this recipe, which includes herbs, capers, olives and plenty of garlic. The addition of prunes might put some people off, but the dried fruit becomes silky and adds a sweetness to the dish.
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Herbed Chicken with Wild Rice
A perfect weeknight dinner, this herbed chicken dish features rich, smoky bacon and sauteed mushrooms. The wild rice cooks along with the chicken; keep an eye on the liquid level and add more water or broth if needed.
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Creamy Chicken Thighs & Noodles
A paprika-scented cream sauce cozies up this simple chicken meal. Consider the noodles and chicken a nice base for whichever vegetables, fresh or frozen, you have on hand—from asparagus to chopped zucchini.
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Slow-Cooker Chicken Parmesan
Cheesy chicken Parmesan is usually served on a bed of steaming angel hair pasta, which is always delicious. Consider changing it up and serving the rich, saucy chicken on a bun to make a hearty sandwich.
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Red Pepper Chicken
Borrowed elements of southwestern cuisine lend subtle spice to this recipe. Lean into the flavor and serve with sliced avocado and rice, or go a bit fancier with rice pilaf and a fresh salad.
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Slow-Cooker Chicken Bog
Ever tried chicken bog? A South Carolina tradition, the dish features sausage, chicken and rice along with a huge variety of herbs or spices, from mild to fiery. This recipe is a great starting point.
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Slow-Cooked Southwest Chicken
From the complexity of the flavor, you’d never guess this dish comes together with just 15 minutes of prep time. Serve over rice, as the chicken has plenty of sauce. Shred leftovers into taco shells or bowls for a super-quick taco Tuesday.
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Tomato Balsamic Chicken
The best slow-cooker chicken recipes should be bright, never boring. What seems like a simple tomato sauce gets an elegant lift with the addition of balsamic vinegar. After cooking, the sharpness mellows, leaving a sweetness that’s perfect for a chilly night.
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Za’atar Chicken
While you can make your own za’atar seasoning, using store-bought makes this meal impossibly quick to prep. Use the rest of the bottle of spice to top popcorn, sprinkle over roasted potatoes or mix with olive oil for a dipping sauce for French bread or vegetables.
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Broccoli-Cauliflower Chicken Casserole
This recipe translates a popular casserole flavor for the ease of the slow cooker. The result is a comforting dish that’s actually quite healthy. Here are a few cooking tips and a step-by-step recipe for making a slow-cooker chicken casserole.
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Saucy Chicken & Tortellini
Can’t decide if you crave red or white sauce? This cozy dish uses both, giving you the brightness of tomatoes and the rich creaminess of Alfredo.
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Herbed Slow-Cooker Chicken
These well-seasoned chicken breasts cook up moist and tender. It only takes 5 minutes to get everything set up in the slow cooker. Serve over rice pilaf with roasted vegetables.
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Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Lasagna
This outside-the-box recipe tastes both comforting and totally surprising. The ratio of pasta sauce and Buffalo sauce is entirely up to you; using just a dash of Buffalo results in a more classic lasagna, or go all-Buffalo for a spicy dish.
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Slow-Cooker Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Pie
Ready to take your slow cooker skills to the next level? Make this enchilada pie! Lining the slow cooker with aluminum foil makes it easy to remove the “pie,” which is made by layering tortillas, chicken, sauce and cheese.
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Casablanca Chutney Chicken
In a chicken dinner rut? Branch out with this bright, Indian-inspired chicken dinner. The ingredients list is admittedly long, filled with dried fruits, spices and nuts, though there’s wiggle room to omit or swap out ingredients. The final dish is sprinkled with fresh herbs, lightening the rich sauce.
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Sunday Chicken Supper
Want a Sunday supper but don’t want to turn on the oven? Make this simple one-pot chicken cooked with vegetables and gravy. It’s a classic for a reason.
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Slow-Cooker Caribbean Moo Shu Chicken
A twist on spiced chicken tacos, this Caribbean-inspired recipe takes a sweet turn, adding dried tropical fruits to the mix. Serve with slaw for a refreshing take on taco Tuesday.
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Chicken & Mushroom Alfredo
A comfort food favorite, rich and creamy chicken Alfredo is a warming winter dinner. The sauce tastes good with just about any vegetable, so feel free to add whatever you have in the freezer or crisper drawer: peas, peppers, corn, broccoli, shredded greens and more.
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Carolina-Style Vinegar BBQ Chicken
Carolina vinegar BBQ is a regional favorite worth trying no matter where you live. If tangy-sweet flavor is up your alley, bookmark this recipe. Serve with green beans, sweet tea and a summer breeze.
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Slow-Cooked Chicken a la King
A simple classic, this recipe cooks chicken in a creamy sauce flecked with onion, green pepper and celery. Peas and pimientos add color and crunch.
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Peachy Serrano Pepper Wings
A jar of peach jam adds an unexpected fruity flavor to these spicy wings. Serve with cool ranch dressing to dip.
Originally Published: February 17, 2017
