12 Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes for Busy Weeknights

Busy weeknights call for the slow cooker. These twelve chicken recipes practically cook themselves — dump, set, and come home to honey garlic, salsa verde, creamy Tuscan, and more family-friendly favorites.

Below you’ll find 12 reader-favorite recipes, each with a photo, ingredients, and step-by-step instructions. Save your favorites and enjoy!

1. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Sticky-sweet garlic chicken that shreds beautifully.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken thighs
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 6 garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp water

Instructions

1. Place chicken in the slow cooker.
2. Whisk honey, soy, garlic, ketchup, pepper; pour over.
3. Cook on LOW 4 hours.
4. Shred chicken; stir back into sauce.
5. Thicken with cornstarch slurry on HIGH 15 minutes.

2. Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken

Tangy, zesty chicken perfect for tacos and bowls.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken breasts
• 2 cups salsa verde
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1/4 cup cilantro

Instructions

1. Add chicken, salsa verde, cumin, oregano, broth.
2. Cook on LOW 5 hours.
3. Shred chicken.
4. Stir in lime juice.
5. Top with cilantro; serve in tortillas.

3. Creamy Tuscan Slow Cooker Chicken

Sun-dried tomatoes and spinach in a parmesan cream sauce.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken breasts
• 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup parmesan
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 2 cups spinach

Instructions

1. Place chicken in slow cooker.
2. Add tomatoes, garlic, seasoning.
3. Cook on LOW 4 hours.
4. Stir in cream, parmesan, spinach.
5. Cook 20 more minutes until spinach wilts.

4. Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken

Smoky-sweet pulled chicken for sandwiches and sliders.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken thighs
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

1. Place chicken in slow cooker.
2. Mix BBQ sauce, sugar, Worcestershire, spices; pour over.
3. Cook on LOW 5 hours.
4. Shred with two forks.
5. Pile onto buns with slaw.

5. Slow Cooker Thai Curry Chicken

Creamy red curry with tender chicken and peppers.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken breasts
• 1 can coconut milk
• 3 tbsp red curry paste
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1/4 cup basil

Instructions

1. Whisk curry paste into coconut milk.
2. Add chicken, fish sauce, sugar, pepper.
3. Cook on LOW 4 hours.
4. Shred or slice chicken.
5. Stir in basil; serve over rice.

6. Slow Cooker Crack Chicken

Ranch, cream cheese, and bacon — dangerously good.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken thighs
• 1 packet ranch seasoning
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 cup bacon bits

Instructions

1. Place chicken in slow cooker.
2. Sprinkle ranch seasoning and garlic powder.
3. Add cream cheese and broth.
4. Cook on LOW 5 hours.
5. Shred; stir in bacon bits.

7. Creamy Italian Slow Cooker Chicken

Tangy Italian dressing transforms into a rich sauce.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken breasts
• 1 cup Italian dressing
• 1/2 cup parmesan
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/4 cup parsley

Instructions

1. Place chicken in slow cooker.
2. Pour dressing over; add seasoning.
3. Cook on LOW 4 hours.
4. Stir in cream cheese and parmesan.
5. Cook 30 minutes more; garnish parsley.

8. Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

Glossy homemade teriyaki, better than takeout.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken thighs
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup hoisin
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp ginger, grated
• 2 green onions

Instructions

1. Whisk soy, honey, hoisin, garlic, ginger.
2. Pour over chicken in slow cooker.
3. Cook on LOW 4 hours.
4. Shred chicken; reduce sauce on HIGH 20 minutes.
5. Serve over rice with green onions.

9. Slow Cooker Chicken and Stuffing

Thanksgiving flavors on a random Tuesday.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken breasts
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 box stuffing mix
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 tsp thyme

Instructions

1. Place chicken in slow cooker.
2. Mix soup, broth, thyme; pour over.
3. Top with dry stuffing; drizzle butter.
4. Cook on LOW 4 hours.
5. Fluff stuffing and serve.

10. Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Bowls

All the enchilada flavor in an easy bowl.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken thighs
• 2 cups enchilada sauce
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 can black beans
• 1 cup corn
• 1 cup cheddar
• 1/4 cup cilantro

Instructions

1. Add chicken, sauce, cumin, beans, corn.
2. Cook on LOW 5 hours.
3. Shred chicken.
4. Top with cheddar; cover 10 minutes.
5. Serve over rice with cilantro.

11. Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

Spicy, buttery chicken for wraps and sliders.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken breasts
• 1 cup buffalo sauce
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 4 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

1. Place chicken in slow cooker.
2. Add buffalo sauce, ranch, butter, garlic.
3. Cook on LOW 4 hours.
4. Shred chicken; stir into sauce.
5. Serve in wraps with celery.

12. Slow Cooker Herb Chicken and Vegetables

A full one-pot dinner with zero evening effort.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken thighs
• 1 lb baby potatoes
• 1 lb carrots
• 1 onion, quartered
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 tsp rosemary
• 1 tsp thyme

Instructions

1. Layer potatoes, carrots, onion in slow cooker.
2. Add chicken on top.
3. Pour broth; sprinkle herbs and salt.
4. Cook on LOW 6 hours.
5. Serve straight from the pot.