12 Slow-Cooker Chicken Recipes You and Your Family Will Love (2024)

FAQs

Is it OK to put raw chicken in slow cooker? ›

Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!

Aside from accidentally overcooking the meals, the most common reason we see for tough, rubbery, or overdone chicken is customers using a Crockpot that is far too big.

We found that the only way to cook chicken (and turkey) in a slow cooker is on the low setting and for a relatively short amount of time.

Sear the Chicken Before Adding It to the Slow Cooker

Pre-cooking seals in the juices in the poultry and makes it even more tender as you cook it.

Water or liquid is necessary to create steam. When cooking meat or poultry, the water or liquid level should cover the ingredients to ensure effective heat transfer throughout the crock. Some manufacturers of slow cookers recommend adding liquid to fill the stoneware 1/2 to 3/4 full.

Season both sides of the chicken. Add chicken broth and butter to slow cooker, and stir to combine (mash the butter up a bit to disperse if you can). Add the chicken to the slow cooker, overlapping only as much as necessary. Cover and cook on low for 3 hours or until an internal temperature of 165 degrees F is reached.

You can only use fully-thawed raw chicken in the slow cooker safely. Avoid Overcooking. If the chicken is cooked too long, it will become dry and tough. Check your chicken for doneness early, especially if it is one of your first times making it.

Yes, chicken breast will get softer the longer you cook it. However, if you cook it for too long, it will become dry and tough. The best way to ensure that the chicken breast stays juicy and tender is to cook it until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

If a dish usually takes: 15-30 mins, cook it for 1-2 hours on High or 4-6 hours on Low. 30 mins – 1 hour, cook it for 2-3 hours on High or 5-7 hours on Low. 1-2 hours, cook it for 3-4 hours on High or 6-8 hours on Low.

Should you flip chicken in a slow cooker? ›

Should you flip the chicken in the slow cooker? No, all you need to do is add all the ingredients into the slow cooker, cover and cook. Chicken is such a delicious, versatile and healthy option and there are a variety of ways to cook it.

Use a Meat Thermometer

The USDA's recommended safe minimum internal temperatures are as follows: 145°F for beef (steaks and roasts), veal, lamb and pork, as well as fish; 160°F for ground beef; and 165°F for poultry.

Here's why. When rinsing chicken, bacteria such as salmonella can be transferred via the water to your kitchen surfaces, leading to potential cross contamination of other ingredients. Bacteria was found in the sinks of 60% of cooks who rinsed raw chicken as part of a 2019 USDA study.

You do not need to brown meat before you place it into the slow cooker. By browning meat, you will cause the meat to intensify the flavor. That will make the meat taste so much better.

Our tests show they reach their internal safe temperature anywhere from 3-4 on LOW. However, America's Test Kitchen (a source we really trust!), says they can withstand cooking times of up to 4-6 hours on LOW. It's still not that all day recipe but might be a great meal to throw in the slow cooker around lunch time.

You can sear it for flavor and to help keep it moist but you can throw raw chicken in the crockpot. One of my favorite quick recipes is seasoned onions, carrots, potatoes and green beans on the bottom and seasoned chicken on top. You can do a whole chicken or just chicken breasts. You can add a little water for steam.

This is because cooking the chicken at high heat in a slow cooker can quickly dry out the meat, resulting in a tough and unappetizing texture.

If you're wondering whether you can cook raw meat and vegetables together in a slow cooker, the answer is yes! This method of cooking is convenient and hassle-free, and it's a great way to infuse your food with flavor.

Dredge the chicken in a bit of flour before placing in the bottom of the slow cooker. There's no need to brown the chicken. Just dredge the chicken in the flour and stick it in the slow cooker.