30 Best Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes for Easy Hands-Free Dinners
The best way to cook? Set it and forget it!
Every item on this page was chosen by an editor from The Pioneer Woman. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
If you're thinking about making an easy chicken dinner tonight, then you'll definitely want to break out your handy dandy slow cooker to do most of the work! After all, Ree Drummond says that one of the best reasons to use a Crock-Pot is to "throw everything in, turn it on, then go live your life until it's done." Now that's the way to make an easy dinner for any night of the week.
Here, you'll find chili recipes, rice dishes, chicken curry, and so much more—all made in your handy slow cooker. In fact, these slow cooker recipes will be a lifesaver for making dinnertime easy, even when life gets a little bit hectic. For a Pioneer Woman classic, try Ree's slow cooker chicken tortilla soup. It's one of those dishes that doesn't require any pre-cooking or browning. Sounds like the perfect weeknight dinner! You can also whip a comforting bowl of chicken and dumplings or a hearty batch of shredded BBQ chicken for meal prep throughout the week.
Then again, you might want to use your slow cooker for making entertaining easier, too. In which case, you'll love serving up the cheesy buffalo chicken dip that’s made in a Crock-Pot. Just add celery sticks or tortilla chips for dipping, and watch it disappear. Or make a big batch of stock and make practically anything you want. As long as your slow cooker is doing most of the work, your meals will be delicious and mostly hands-off. That's what you'd call a win-win.
Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
Since you cook these chicken thighs right alongside baby potatoes and carrots, you'll have a whole meal to serve up at the end of the day! The meat will turn out plenty tender and juicy; plus, you're left with a heavenly sauce.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Taco night is easy thanks to this recipe that calls for chicken breasts to be cooked low and slow with plenty of flavorful seasonings. Once they're tender enough to shred, pile the juicy meat into tortillas, then top with all your favorite fixings.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo
When it comes to comfort meals, it doesn't get any easier (or creamier) than this delightfully rich chicken Alfredo! The chicken turns tender and flavorful while it simmers in a garlicky parmesan sauce.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks
You can give drumsticks the BBQ treatment without a grill! The slow cooker helps the soy and honey sauce become sticky-sweet perfection. Keep the skin on for added richness.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks recipe.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
You can make a big batch of this tangy, smoky shredded BBQ chicken for just about any dinner throughout the week. Plus, there are so many ways to use it! Pile it onto buns for BBQ chicken sandwiches or use it for salad bowls, wraps, or sliders.
Get the Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Lettuce Cups
Whether you serve this one as a light meal or a healthy snack, you'll be shocked at how delicious it is as a meal. The chicken slowly braises until it's fall-apart tender, then piled into lettuce cups with fresh herbs and veggies.
Crock-Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Hosting a game day watch party? You can't go wrong with this popular football dip. The spicy, cheesy goodness is all made using a slow cooker.
Get the Crock-Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
This homemade tortilla soup is loaded with shredded chicken, flavorful spices, fresh veggies, and hearty beans. Best of all, you don't need to do any pre-cooking or sautéing.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
This is the kind of comfort food that'll warm your family right up. It's just like classic chicken and dumplings, but it's even easier thanks to canned buttermilk biscuits and your handy dandy Crock-Pot.
Slow-Cooker White Chicken Chili
Ree says this chili recipe requires "almost no effort," which is exactly what you need on busy weeknights! Just don't forget your favorite chili toppings, like cheese, tortilla chips, avocado, or sour cream.
Get Ree's Slow-Cooker White Chicken Chili recipe.
Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes
This recipe is a bit different. While the chicken is cooked on the stove, it is kept warm in the slow cooker. That means it's perfect for a potluck or tailgate!
Get the Buffalo Chicken Sloppy Joes recipe.
Chicken Stock
While stock on its own isn't much of a meal, it is the base of endless dinner ideas! Think: soups, sauces, gravies, risotto, and so much more. You'll be thankful you made it from scratch.
Get the Chicken Stock recipe.
Red Curry Chicken and Carrot Bowl
Once you know the technique of cooking chicken in a slow cooker, you'll find so many ways to use it! Take this easy grain bowl. All you really need to do is add red curry paste.
Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff
Make a hearty dinner full of chicken, mushrooms, pasta, and a luxuriously creamy sauce right in your slow cooker. You don't even have to boil the noodles separately!
Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff recipe at Amanda's Cookin'.
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
This slow cooker version of the popular Indian dish is saucy, savory, and perfectly creamy. You can serve it up with naan or rice to soak up even more of that saucy flavor.
Get the Slow Cooker Butter Chicken recipe at Well Plated by Erin.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs
You'll want to reach for your favorite BBQ sauce to make this super easy dinner. Look for something that's tangy, sweet, savory all at the same time. Trust us, you won't regret it!
Get the Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs recipe at Joyous Apron.
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
This recipe combines two comfort food favorites: buffalo chicken and mac and cheese! It's an ooey gooey delight that will satisfy all your cravings.
Get the Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese recipe at Britney Breaks Bread.
Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl
This Chipotle-inspired dish is perfect for busy evenings, meal prepping, or when you just need your weekly burrito bowl fix! Flavorful, shredded chicken is slow-cooked in a Crock-Pot and then served over rice with your choice of toppings like avocado, beans, corn, and tangy cilantro lime dressing.
Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl recipe at Joyous Apron.
Crock-Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
What better way to embrace cozy season than with a bowl of luscious, creamy chicken gnocchi soup? This hearty recipe only has three steps, as the chicken and gnocchi are cooked and shredded directly in the Crock-Pot. Pair it with crusty bread or a green salad for the ultimate comforting dinner.
Get the Crock-Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup recipe at Pinch of Yum.
Slow Cooker Chicken Pumpkin Curry
This Thai-inspired chicken dish packs in all the flavor thanks to spicy red curry paste, creamy coconut milk, and fresh pumpkin. It'll give your local takeout spot a run for its money!
Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Pumpkin Curry recipe at The Modern Proper.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
15 Chicken Casseroles for a Cozy Comfort Food
3-Ingredient Buffalo Chicken Dip
10 Easy Wrap Recipes to Roll Up for Busy Lunches
