This comforting Slow Cooker Chicken Breast recipe is tender, healthy, and as simple as could be. Made with a flavorful blend of herbs and spices, it’s guaranteed to turn out perfectly juicy and delicious each and every time.
Table of Contents
Perfect Chicken Breast Cooked in the Crockpot
Chicken is so versatile, especially this easy recipe! It can be used in a wide variety of dishes: from Chicken Enchiladas, to this Mango Chicken Salad, or our wonderful Chicken Broccoli Casserole, it’s great to have cooked chicken ready to go because it is an easy way to prepare meals ahead to save time and money!
Chicken is especially good for shredding and freezing – later you can put it into sandwiches, chop it up in soup, roll it up into tacos, or toss it into your favorite pasta recipe. This slow cooker recipe leaves you with juicy, perfectly seasoned chicken breasts, and it’s almost completely hands-off.
Besides using this chicken for meal prepping and recipes, it’s also a fabulous dish in its own right. Put it in the slow cooker and leave it for a few hours, and you’ll have a hearty dinner that makes for a wonderful meal! Just serve with your favorite sides. ?
How to Keep Slow Cooker Chicken Tender & Moist
You may have had slow-cooked chicken breasts before, only to end up with tough, rubbery, or chewy meat. Not good! This is usually the result of overcooking or cooking at too high of a temperature. You’ll want to avoid overcooking – a meat thermometer is a MUST, and a timer is also a helpful tool for this. Also, be careful to check the temperature you are cooking at. Some crock pots do cook hotter than others.
What You’ll Need
So, just what goes into this recipe? Just a few simple items that you probably already have on hand. Here’s the full list – and yes, it really is this easy!
- Chicken Broth: Low sodium chicken broth is my go-to, but you can also use regular chicken broth, bone broth, veggie broth, or even just water!
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless breasts are what I use in this recipe.
- Olive Oil: Any mild oil works in this recipe.
- Herbs and Spices: Sweet paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried basil, and dried oregano.
- Salt and Pepper
- Garnish: Fresh chopped parsley makes a great garnish, if you are serving the chicken right away.
Can I Put Frozen Chicken in the Slow Cooker?
Technically, yes, but, frozen chicken is not recommended by some slow cooker manufacturers, so I recommend using thawed chicken breast here. OR, check your slow cooker’s manual for safe handling.
How to Make Crockpot Chicken Breast
Have you ever heard of a “dump and go” recipe? Well, this is definitely in that category! All you have to do is put your ingredients in, and let the crockpot do the rest.
- Prepare the Crockpot and the Chicken Breasts. Pour the broth (or water, whichever you prefer) inside the insert of your slow cooker. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Rub the chicken with olive oil.
- Season the Chicken. Mix all of the seasonings in a small bowl: the salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, and oregano. Rub this seasoning mixture over the chicken breasts.
- Cook. Place the chicken in the slow cooker, cover with the lid, and let it cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours. The chicken is done when the internal temperature of the chicken registers at 165˚F.
- Rest and Serve. Take the chicken out of the slow cooker and set it on a clean cutting board. Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before cutting and serving.
Tips for Success
These chicken breasts may be easy to make, but there’s always room for a few helpful hints! Here are my favorite tips for the juiciest, most flavorful chicken possible.
- Browning: If you’d like a bit of browning on the cooked chicken, put it under the broiler for about 3 to 4 minutes after cooking.
- Meat Thermometer: This kitchen tool is super-handy when cooking meat. It will help ensure that your chicken is safely done, without overcooking.
- Salt: Try sprinkling your chicken with salt 10 to 15 minutes before cooking. This is a type of dry brining – the salting process helps the meat turn out extra flavorful.
Tasty Serving Suggestions
As I’ve said before, this chicken can be served in all kinds of ways, with all kinds of scrumptious side dishes! Here are a few of my family’s favorites.
- Crispy Potatoes: Chicken is wonderful with my favorite go-to side dish, Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes with Herb Butter! You’ll love these little golden-brown potatoes.
- Roasted Veggies: These Roasted Potatoes and Carrots are tasty with almost any savory dish, but this chicken recipe takes the cake!
- Grilled Zucchini: Add a healthy kick to your meal with my Perfect Grilled Zucchini. This mild, buttery veggie really shows off when grilled to perfection!
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
- To store your chicken, keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- To reheat, put it in the microwave, or a 350˚F oven, until it is heated through. You can also reheat on the stovetop, in a covered skillet. Whichever method you choose, be sure not to overcook it, or it will be dry.
Can I Freeze Cooked Chicken Breast?
- Sure can! To freeze your slow cooker chicken breast, store in an airtight container or freezer bag, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw in the fridge before using.
ENJOY!
Slow Cooker Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- ½ cup low sodium chicken broth, or you can also use water
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- chopped fresh parsley, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Pour water or chicken broth inside the insert of your slow cooker.
- Pat dry the chicken breasts with paper towels.
- Rub the chicken with olive oil and set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl combine the salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, and oregano; mix until thoroughly incorporated.
- Rub the chicken breasts with the seasoning mixture.
- Transfer the chicken breasts to the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours, or until internal temperature of the chicken registers at 165˚F. Use an Instant Read Meat Thermometer to check for doneness.
- Remove chicken breasts from the slow cooker and let the chicken rest for about 5 to 8 minutes before cutting and serving.
- If you’d like a bit of browning on the cooked chicken, put it under the broiler for about 3 to 4 minutes after you cooked it in the slow cooker.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
We really enjoyed this recipe. My Son-in-law, who thinks we eat too much chicken, even said it was good. That’s fairly high praise from him about chicken! 😊
😀 I’m very glad you and your family enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
I have been looking at new recipes for my slow cooker. I can never find a recipe that doesn’t make the chicken so dry. Plus my two boys are picky eaters. I tried this and absolutely loved the chicken. It was soooo juicy and the spices with the chicken were perfecto. I making this for dinner again tomorrow.
That’s wonderful! I’m very glad you and your family enjoyed it! Thank you for chiming in! 🙂
This looks great . I want to put this on today but I don’t have chicken broth. Is there anyway I could use apple juice?
Yes, you can use apple juice or even water. Or wine! 😀
This is a great recipe. It’s delicious and it’s easy. It doesn’t get better than that! I made this last night, and it was a hit.
Thank you so much! I’m very glad you loved it! 🙂
Perfect timing, I’ve been looking for more sow cooker recipes and this one is great!
I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Sloe Cooker is recently my new favorite kitchen tool! I am looking for new recipes!
That’s great! I hope you’ll enjoy it! Thank YOU! 🙂
I just became so hungry because of this Slow Cooker Chicken Breast!! So comforting!
Thank YOU! I hope you’ll enjoy it! 🙂
This is overflowing with flavorsss!!!! yum!
I hope you’ll love it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Came out absolutely perfect. My whole family enjoyed every bite!
That’s wonderful! I am very happy you and your family loved it! Thank YOU! 🙂
This is the BEST way to make chicken breast. It comes out sooooo juicy and tender and full of flavor. Delish!
I agree! I hope you’ll enjoy it! Thank you for chiming in! 🙂
I was recently gifted with a new slow cooker so when I saw this recipe I knew it was a good one to put my new toy to good use. It did not disappoint. Chicken breast cooked low and slow is the best. I know I will be making it often. Thanks for including all the steps in detail as well.
That’s great to hear! I’m very happy you loved it! Thank YOU! 🙂
This was so easy and wonderfully delicious! Love how flavorful & moist the chicken is! Perfect weeknight dinner!
Thank you so much! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! 🙂