What Can I Cook with Chicken in a Slow Cooker?

Your Slow Cooker & A Pack of Chicken: The Only Meal Prep Combo You’ll Ever Need

So, you’re staring into your fridge. Your eyes land on that pack of chicken, and then they drift over to your trusty slow cooker sitting on the counter. The eternal question pops into your head: “What can I actually cook with chicken in a slow cooker?”

Let me stop you right there. The answer isn’t just one thing. It’s… everything. Well, almost everything. I’m not sure it can bake a cake, but I wouldn’t put it past a determined enough home cook.

Your slow cooker is the ultimate kitchen wingman. It takes humble chicken and transforms it into juicy, fall-apart-tender, flavor-bomb meals while you’re out living your life. Who doesn’t love coming home to a dinner that’s already done and makes your whole house smell amazing?

Forget boring chicken. Let’s get into the good stuff. Here’s your ultimate guide to answering that delicious question.

1. The World’s Easiest Pulled Chicken

This is your foundation. Master this simple technique, and you’ll have a versatile protein ready for tacos, sandwiches, salads, and rice bowls all week long.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 tbsp your favorite spice blend (like taco seasoning, Italian herbs, or smoked paprika)
• Salt and black pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Place the chicken in your slow cooker. Sprinkle with the spices, salt, and pepper.
2. Pour the chicken broth around the chicken (not directly on top, to keep the seasoning in place).
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours.
4. Shred the chicken with two forks directly in the pot. Let it soak up the juices for 10 minutes.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s the ultimate meal prep hero. IMO, using a mix of breasts and thighs gives you the best texture—juicy and not stringy. Use it in everything from lunch wraps to a quick dinner fried rice. It’s foolproof.

2. Cozy Chicken & Dumplings

This is a big, warm hug in a bowl. It’s the ultimate comfort food that feels fancy but is embarrassingly easy to pull off.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, chopped
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 can (16.3 oz) refrigerated biscuit dough

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Place the chicken, carrots, celery, and onion in the slow cooker.
2. Add the thyme, bay leaf, and broth. Stir.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours.
4. Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the frozen peas. Tear the biscuit dough into small pieces and drop them on top of the stew. Cover and cook on HIGH for 45-60 minutes, until the dumplings are cooked through.

Why You’ll Love It

It tastes like it simmered all day, but you did almost none of the work. The biscuit dumplings are a genius shortcut that puffs up into fluffy clouds of goodness. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser on a chilly night.

3. Sweet & Spicy Pineapple Chicken

Craving takeout? This sweet, sticky, and slightly spicy dish will hit the spot without the greasy aftermath.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
• ⅓ cup honey or maple syrup
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
• 1 tbsp cornstarch (for thickening)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Place the chicken, pineapple, and bell pepper in the slow cooker.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, vinegar, garlic, and ginger. Pour it over the chicken.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours.
4. Mix the cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water. Stir this slurry into the slow cooker. Cook on HIGH for 15-20 more minutes until the sauce thickens.

Why You’ll Love It

The pineapple caramelizes and makes a gorgeous, glossy sauce. Using thighs is key here—they stay super juicy. Serve it over a heap of fluffy rice and feel like a weeknight superhero.

4. Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato & Spinach Chicken

This dish tastes decadent and restaurant-quality, but it’s secretly healthy and simple. The sauce is so good, you’ll want to drink it.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup chicken broth
• ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil, drained)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• ½ cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk
• 2 cups fresh spinach
• Grated Parmesan for serving

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Place the chicken in the slow cooker. Add the broth, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Italian seasoning.
2. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours.
3. Remove the chicken and shred it.
4. Stir the heavy cream and spinach into the slow cooker. Add the chicken back in and stir until the spinach wilts. Serve with a snowstorm of Parmesan on top.

Why You’ll Love It

It’s an elegant, one-pot wonder that’s perfect for a casual dinner party or when you just want to treat yourself. FYI, the coconut milk version is a fantastic dairy-free alternative that’s just as creamy.

5. “Set-It-Forget-It” Lemon Herb Whole Chicken

Yes, you can cook a whole chicken in your slow cooker! It comes out unbelievably moist and falls right off the bone.

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken (4-5 lbs), giblets removed
• 1 lemon, pierced all over with a fork
• 1 head of garlic, top sliced off
• 1 onion, quartered
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp kosher salt
• 2 tsp dried herbs de Provence or Italian seasoning

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Pat the chicken completely dry with paper towels. This is the secret to a golden skin.
2. Rub the chicken all over with olive oil, then rub with the salt and dried herbs.
3. Stuff the cavity with the lemon, garlic head, and onion quarters.
4. Place the chicken breast-side up in the slow cooker. Do not add liquid. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4-5 hours.

Why You’ll Love It

You get a stunning main course and a built-in broth from the juices at the bottom. The meat is so tender, you can pull it apart with a spoon. It’s the most impressive, least stressful Sunday dinner you’ll ever make.

🔥Recommended Slow Cooker Essentials

 Here are a few of my favorite slow cooker essentials that make crockpot cooking easier, faster, and way more fun.

1. Crock-Pot 8-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker
   Perfect for big families or meal prepping — set it, forget it, and come home to tender, juicy meals every time.
   👉 Check it out on Amazon
2. Hamilton Beach 8-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker
   Reliable, easy-to-use, and keeps food warm automatically — ideal for busy weeknights.
   👉 See today’s price on Amazon
3. Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker PRO (8-in-1 Multi-Cooker)
   Slow cook, sauté, roast, and more — one appliance that does it all for your crockpot dinners.
   👉 View it on Amazon
4. Silicone Slow Cooker Divider Insert
   Cook two different meals at once — perfect for picky eaters or meal prep variety.
   👉 Grab it on Amazon
5. Fix-It and Forget-It Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes Cookbook
   Packed with easy, flavorful slow cooker chicken ideas your family will love.
   👉 Get the cookbook on Amazon

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So, the next time you find yourself wondering what to cook with chicken in a slow cooker, remember this list. From global-inspired flavors to the coziest of comfort foods, your options are nearly endless.

Your slow cooker is waiting to turn that pack of chicken into your easiest, most delicious victory of the week. Now, go forth and let that appliance earn its counter space