I adore my slow cooker A magical small kitchen appliance that allows me to throw things in it, in any hap-hazard way I want, put a lid on it and walk away and will still produce a delicious dinner where I get lots of credit and mommy/wife points and I barely thought about it all day long. SIGN ME UP! I am sharing the best slow cooker chicken ever today. Seriously, ever!
UPDATE: Find the Instant Pot Version of this Recipe HERE
Chicken is a touchy subject in my family. Touchy in that I tend to make it quite often and my 9 year old is not the biggest fan. The 5 year old and the 1 year old have no problems with chicken. “Bring on all the chicken” in their little minds. I have to be somewhere in the middle. If cooked right, chicken can be amazing. If not prepared right..it can be dry and bland.
I have tried many slow cooker chicken recipes and sometimes the chicken still comes out tasting bland and dry. Not this time!
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How to make the Best Slow Cooker Chicken Ever:
OK first in the pot. 1 medium onion sliced in about half-inch slices. Line the bottom of the slow cooker pot with them.
Next add 1 bag of small carrots
Up next is about 8 small red potatoes sliced in half, quartered if larger ones.
This next step is TOTALLY optional. I have made it both ways and I do this only to up the appeal factor for my 9 year old. Everyone knows “boiled” chicken does not look that great so I brown the chicken breasts in a skillet before I add them to the slow cooker. You do not need to do this. I just do a minute or two on each side just to brown.
Add the chicken to the very top of the pile.
Pour in an entire bottle of Italian Salad Dressing over top of the chicken breasts. That’s right, the whole thing. All over the place. Every bit of it!
Pop on the lid, turn the slow cooker on, and forget it!
Cook for 6-8 hours on low or about 4 hours on high. Always cook until the juices in the chicken run clear and the center is no longer pink and has reached an internal temperature of 165 with an instant-read thermometer.
I call this the best slow cooker chicken ever however this is, in fact, an entire meal! Pop out the chicken as your main dish and you have an amazing side dish of tender sweet vegetables!
Now there are a few ways to serve this. Just as it is! Plate the chicken then add all your veggies to a bowl and serve!
Tip: Another way I love to serve this is to take the chicken and veggies out, leaving the dressing in the crock pot. I shred the chicken with two forks and put it back into that delicious sauce while I set the table or wait for the hubs to get home from work. Then I serve this shredded chicken over brown rice, egg noodles or quinoa and add a spoonful of the dressing as gravy..or “sauce” as my kids put it. Ah-mazing! Then the veggies just go on the side again or even overtop. No rules! Whatever you are feeling at the moment!
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The BEST Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe
The Best Slow Cooker Chicken Ever
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
- 1 each onion, medium, sliced
- 1 bag small carrots
- 8-10 each small red Potatoes, quartered
- 1 bottle Italian Salad Dressing, 16 ounces
Instructions
- Line the bottom of your crock pot with the onion slices,
- Next layer in the carrots
- Then the potatoes
- You may choose to brown your chicken in a skillet before adding to slow cooker however this is completely optional. Add chicken to the slow cooker on the top of the vegetables.
- Pour entire bottle of salad dressing over the chicken and vegetable layers
- Cook on low 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours until the juices in the chicken run clear and the internal temperature is at least 165 F.
- Remove Chicken and plate a chicken breast with carrots and potatoes as sides! You may read below for other ways to serve this amazing and easy chicken dish!
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
How to Serve the BEST Slow Cooker Chicken Ever
- Slice Chicken diagonally and serve over rice. Veggies on the side and the Italian Gravy over top of all.
- Shred Chicken, dice veggies and combine with egg noodles for a more casserole type dish. Italian Gravy over top.
- Serve as is! Full Breast, Veggies on the side, Gravy on top!
- Slice leftover chicken and add to a tortilla with some romaine lettuce, roasted red peppers and red onions for a delicious Italian chicken wrap.
Store The Best Chicken Ever in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
PIN BEST CHICKEN EVER
MORE EASY WEEKNIGHT MEALS:
Comments & Reviews
Debra says
I can’t help but wonder if the Italian dressing will make the chicken and veggies taste “vinegar-y”. Do you find the dressing flavor to be more mellow after cooking than when it’s straight out of the bottle? I really do want to try this!
Cheryl Spangenberg says
I do not think it tastes Vinegary, Debra.
Trish says
Can you use bone in chicken breast?
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Trish, I have not tried it but I wouldn’t see why not?! You just want to make sure it is cooked to 165 F!
Dotty says
can I use frozen chicken?
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Dotty you can, you will need to make sure the internal temp reaches 165 before eating. I have not used frozen personally so I am not sure if any extra time would be needed. If you have an instant pot, the IP version of this recipe that is linked in the post is GREAT for frozen chicken breasts! I use frozen in the IP almost every time!
Nana says
My grandkids don’t like onions…can I substitute dry onion soup mix instead of actual onion? Do I just have to pick out the onions before serving..lol
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Nancy, I pick out the onions before serving! Only for my oldest (of course!), The other two eat them no problem. If you keep them in rings they are super easy to remove! I have never tried the onion soup mix, if you do, I’d love to hear how it works out!
Emily Abney says
Absolutely delicious and so easy to throw together! Will definitely make again!
Cheryl Spangenberg says
So glad you loved it, Emily!
Stefanie says
It sounds good with rice I think I might actually try this
Dawn says
This is a delicious and easy prep meal. My family loves it! Thank you for sharing!!
Cheryl Spangenberg says
I am so happy to hear that!
Terry says
I can’t wait to try this recipe. Do I need to add more chicken breasts if I use a 6 quart crock pot?
Thank you
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Hi Terry, only if you need more servings!
Carrie says
Out of curiosity, I wonder how it would taste just doing the chicken without the veggies added to the crock pot?
Marie Lewis says
Oh it’s so easy and oh so good. Thank you for this recipe. It’s definitely a make again recipe.
Cheryl Spangenberg says
So glad you loved it!
Eve says
I made this yesterday and the whole family liked it! It was super easy. I didn’t bother to brown the meat. Everything went just as the recipe described. I don’t like the bagged baby carrots so I peeled and cut regular carrots. Very good recipe! Thank you!
Mary says
I will try this Saturday night and serve it to my husband on Sunday afternoon. I may even make this for our anniversary on November 20th. It’s our 24th anniversary.
Donna says
Great recipe! I followed exact directions. Cooked on high for 4 hours. Smelled amazing while cooking. Chicken was fork tender as well as veggies. A little too tangy for our taste. I think next time I may do half bottle of Italian dressing mixed with a cup or two of brown gravy for a more savory flavor.