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
Brooklyn says
It’s 4:45am and I’m doing what I always do when I can’t sleep. On your blog. Now it’s almost 5am and I’m craving chicken and veggies. Dang it!!! I should of stuck with your crafting posts!
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Ha! I’m sorry but not sorry! It’s soooooooo good! K and the kids would love it! Hopefully you get a nap today!
Nicki says
Thank you so much for sharing your chicken slow cooker recipe. I will definitely be giving this one a try. You are ah-mazing.
Take care
Nicki
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Thanks so much Nicki! You are too sweet! I hope you love it as much as my family does!
Pat says
What can the Italian dressing be replaced with?
Cheryl Spangenberg says
I have not ever made it any other way Pat. You would need something that could flavor both the veggies and the chicken. You could do just chicken broth and your favorite seasonings? I am not sure what it would taste like or measurements since I Just use the Italian dressing.
Brooklyn says
I’m sending him to the store now and I’m making it tomorrow!!!
Ernie says
Can you use frozen chicken?
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Yes you can. You would skip the browning part! Also would need the longer cooking time. Just make sure the internal chicken temperature reaches 165F!
Fran says
What size bottle of Italian dressing are you using.? I live in Canada so trying to equate. Thank you.
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Hi Fran, Any size over 1 cup!
Juanita says
Can I use boneless chicken thighs instead without making other adjustments to the recipe or cooking time?
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Yes Juanita!
Darra Cacao says
Hi Cheryl,
Would it affect the flavor if I omitted the potatoes?
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Not at all Darra!
Amber says
Have you ever made this and then frozen it? Trying to find make ahead freezer meals for a friend.
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Hi Amber! I have not! We normally eat it all up with 3 hungry boys at my house. I would think you could? I’m sorry I can’t give more solid advice on this.
Michelle says
My husband says it’s ok for me to put this recipe in the rotation.
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Glad to hear Michelle! It’s one of my husband’s favorites!
Brittany says
Can you use Italian seasoning packet instead?
Cheryl Spangenberg says
You certainly can Brittany. I would add a half-cup of water to the slow cooker along with the seasoning!
Nichole says
Can this be done in the instant pot? How long would you think?
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Hi Nichole, at the top of the post there is a link to the Instant Pot version of this recipe.
Marvin GoldHeart says
I just came here because I couldn’t quite tell from the thumbnail I saw bit I was sure that was Schnucks salad dressing which I’ve never seen on a single recipe I’ve pinned before. I’m pretty sure this is a dish my whole family will love so I’ll be making it soon with my own bottle of Schnucks dressing.
Cheryl Spangenberg says
I hope they love it as much as we do Marvin!
Vicci says
I’m assuming you can use any kind of potato? That a regular potato or golden yellows would do?
Cheryl Spangenberg says
I have not tried regular Idaho potatoes Vicci, however, I have used the Yukon Golds and they worked perfectly as well!
Shirley says
Can you use bone in legs or thighs?
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Shirley, I have never tried it with anything other than chicken breasts. I wouldn’t see why not, just so that the chicken gets fully cooked.
Michael Parisi says
Hi Cheryl I was wondering what other vegetable I could use besides carrots is not on my list of my diet, I was thinking more like broccoli , your input Please. Thank You Very Much For This Recipe .
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Hi Michael, I have not tried broccoli myself but I would think that this or cauliflower would work well. Key is to have the same size pieces so that they cook evenly with the chicken! Let me know if you do try another vegetable!
Bobbie J Schultze says
Give a 3 star for right now.. I have it cooking in my slow cooker right now! Will come back and RE-RATE once I have a verdict from my family! This is my FIRST ever time using a crock pot slow cooker and I’m excited for how it will turn out
Bobbie Jo Schultze says
I’m back and with my verdict…. I’m UPGRADING from a 3 star to a 5 star! The Chicken came out perfect! The use of the Italian Salad Dressing added an AMAZING taste. I made this for my family of 6 and man did they LOVE it! will be making this again in the future!
Cheryl Spangenberg says
So glad you loved it as much as we do Bobbie! I seriously make it about once a week!
Shelley Preisler says
I want to make this. But can you tell me what Italian dressing you used and please what size bottle of dressing. I like to follow a recipe completely not that great of a cook lol
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Hi Shelley, it was Schnucks (our local grocery store brand) Italian dressing. It was a 16-ounce bottle.
Nancy says
Made this today and it was awful.
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Thanks for the feedback, Nancy.
Jennifer says
What kind of onion?
Cheryl Spangenberg says
White or Yellow will work! I use whatever I have on hand.
Elizabeth says
My dressing covers the onion, carrot, and some of the potatoes but it doesn’t reach the chicken. Will it come out OK if the chicken is not submerged?
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Yes, ma’am! It does not need to be covered!
PT says
I have a bag of frozen onions and peppers. Can I use that and put it on the bottom? Nobody in my family eats cooked carrots.
Cheryl Spangenberg says
Hi PT. I have never tried it but I don’t see why not?!