Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken

Slow-Cooker Ranch Chicken Tips

Can you put frozen chicken in the slow cooker?

Slow cookers are built to warm up and cook food slowly. Frozen chicken in a slow cooker sits for a longer time as it heats, thereby permitting potential bacteria to form (yuck!). To be safe, always let your chicken thaw completely in your refrigerator before using, or opt for your preferred way to defrost chicken. If you are in a pinch for time, place the frozen chicken in a sealable plastic bag and submerge it in a bowl of cold water in your sink, changing out the water every 30 minutes until completely thawed. Keep these other slow cooker safety tips in mind as you make this recipe.

How else can you serve slow-cooker ranch chicken?

While slow-cooker ranch chicken is great by itself or served with noodles or rice, try using it in a taco, in a sandwich using leafy lettuce and a bakery roll, or even as a baked potato topping!

Can you cook this slow-cooker ranch chicken on high for less time?

The great thing about slow cookers is that you can place all of your ingredients in and let them cook for several hours unattended. If you need to get your slow cooker meal on the table more quickly, however, there are a few conversions you can make. When a recipe calls for 7 hours on low, you can set it for 3 hours on high instead; when it calls for 8 hours on low, set it for 4 hours on high; when it calls for 9 hours on low, set it for 5 hours on high, and so on. Following these conversions, you can cook your chicken, broth and dressing mix for 2 hours on high before proceeding with the rest of the recipe.

—Mark Neufang, Taste of Home Culinary Assistant