This easy slow cooker chicken breast recipe makes juicy, seasoned chicken. Hands-off meal prep chicken for a variety of meals that\u2019s perfectly cooked every time!<\/p>\n
![\"Shredded](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-Breast-Cover_resized.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nChicken breast has a bad reputation for being dry, overcooked, and boring. But when you can make perfectly tender and juicy chicken breast without even being in the kitchen \u2013 that\u2019s not boring\u2026 that\u2019s pretty stinkin\u2019 exciting!<\/p>\n
Wouldn\u2019t it be great to whip up BBQ Chicken Sandwiches<\/a>, Chicken Tacos<\/a>, or Chicken Salad<\/a> in just 15 minutes when an appointment runs late, when traffic is heavier than you thought, or when you accidentally burned dinner and still need to feed your family?<\/p>\n Slow cooker chicken breast can make this happen, and it\u2019s easier than you think.<\/p>\n Slow cooker chicken breast is an absolute lifesaver, and not just because it\u2019s delicious.<\/p>\n You really only need one ingredient to make all slow cooker chicken breast recipes: chicken!<\/p>\n For a couple of meals or a week of meal prep, here\u2019s what you need for slow cooker breast chicken:<\/p>\n Tip: If you have chicken THIGHS instead of breasts, make Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs<\/a> for bone-in thighs, or the method in Crock Pot Mississippi Chicken<\/a> for boneless skinless thighs.<\/p>\n Both boneless skinless chicken breasts and bone-in chicken breasts can be used in this recipe; it all depends on the cut of meat you prefer. Personally, I often make chicken breast in the crock pot<\/a> because I want to shred the meat. If this is the case, then I\u2019ll use boneless chicken breasts.<\/p>\n Step 1: Load the slow cooker with chicken breasts in a single layer.<\/strong> I have a 6-quart slow cooker<\/a> and can easily fit 3 pounds of chicken breasts.<\/p>\n Step 2: Season chicken breasts as desired. <\/strong>Use the seasonings suggested or your favorite seasoning blend.<\/p>\n Step 3: Cook the chicken breasts <\/strong>for no more than 4 hours on LOW or no more than 2 hours on HIGH, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F.<\/p>\n Step 4: Shred the chicken. <\/strong>There are several ways to shred this chicken in the crockpot recipe. I\u2019ve shared the four best ways below.<\/p>\n Chicken breast is a lean protein that cooks relatively quickly, so unlike a lot of slow cooker meat recipes (like Slow Cooker Pot Roast<\/a> or Slow Cooker Carnitas<\/a>), you don\u2019t have a lot of wiggle room on the cooking time.<\/p>\n My slow cooker has an \u201cautomatic warm\u201d setting that kicks on when the timer is finished. Your food is still cooking while the slow cooker is on \u201cwarm,\u201d although it\u2019s at a really low temperature.<\/p>\n If you know you won\u2019t be home for 8+ hours, I highly recommend making a crock pot chicken recipe that has more fat, like Slow Cooker Chicken Shawarma<\/a> or Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken<\/a>. That extra fat gives you grace in the cooking time.<\/p>\n 1. Good Quality Chicken.<\/strong> You don\u2019t have to buy the best of the best, but not all chicken breast is created equal. Find the best-quality chicken that fits your budget<\/a> AND that you enjoy and stick with it.<\/p>\n Tip: Stock up when prices are low to help keep your grocery budget down!<\/em><\/p>\n 2. Half Full Crock Pot. <\/strong>The size of your crock pot and the number of chicken breasts you cook matter. For this recipe chicken in crock pot, you want the slow cooker to be at least half full.<\/p>\n 3. Skip the Sear.<\/strong> A lot of slow cooker recipes recommend searing meat before putting it in the crockpot. Honestly? There\u2019s not much of a difference. I\u2019ve tried it both ways on nearly every type of protein, and the difference is minimal. Keep it simple and skip the sear.<\/p>\n 4. Consider Adding Fat.<\/strong> My recipe, as written, doesn\u2019t include adding any additional fat, but there\u2019s a fine line between \u201cperfectly done\u201d and \u201coverdone\u201d when it comes to slow cooker chicken breasts.<\/p>\n If you won\u2019t be home when the cooking time is over, consider adding one tablespoon of butter or olive oil<\/a> to the top of the chicken breasts. It will help keep them from drying out.<\/p>\n 5. Cook Time Hack.<\/strong> Although the cooking time isn\u2019t super flexible, you can adjust it a little bit to make it work for you.<\/p>\n 6. Switch Up the Seasonings.<\/strong> I typically use Homemade Blackened Seasoning<\/a> or Homemade Poultry Seasoning<\/a>. Both are delicious, but flexible, so you can use them in any recipe.<\/p>\n There are a number of ways for shredding crockpot chicken, and if you have a few kitchen tools, you can make this process quick and easy!<\/p>\n Slow cooker chicken breast that\u2019s been shredded is perfect for a simple dinner:<\/p>\n But if you have leftovers? That\u2019s where the magic comes into play. Some of our favorite meals start with crockpot chicken that\u2019s been shredded:<\/p>\n 30 Minutes or Less:<\/strong><\/p>\n A smidge longer, but absolutely amazing:<\/strong><\/p>\n Less than 15 minutes, if you have a few other things ready to go:<\/strong><\/p>\n And of course, you have the go-to Tacos<\/a>, Quesadillas<\/a>, Pulled Chicken Sandwiches<\/a>, and Chicken Noodle Soup<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are so many slow cooker chicken ideas!<\/p>\n Obviously, there are a ton of ways you could go with your slow cooker chicken breast. But just having it ready to go is a huge step in meeting your macro goals, especially for protein!<\/p>\n Lean protein is where I always start when I\u2019m putting together a meal. I aim for it to fill \u00bc of my plate.<\/p>\n Another \u00bc of my plate goes to carbohydrates, preferably unprocessed, complex carbs like brown rice, sweet potatoes, or starchy veggies like corn or peas.<\/p>\n And the other \u00bd of my plate is filled with produce! Whether it\u2019s fresh cut bell peppers, a side salad, asparagus, or berries, there are always plenty of seasonal produce<\/a> options to enjoy.<\/p>\n These guidelines are easy to fit when I start with slow cooker chicken breast, and I can enjoy a variety of meals while sticking to my goals.<\/p>\n Generally speaking, cooking frozen food in the crockpot is a no-no. It\u2019s not that it CAN\u2019T be done, but your food won\u2019t cook evenly, and the cooking time will be off. It can also linger in the \u201cdanger zone\u201d for temperature for too long, increasing the risk of foodborne illness. Chicken breasts are best cooked on LOW. This will give you perfectly juicy and tender meat that\u2019s easy to slice and shred. If you cook chicken breasts on HIGH, you run the risk of your chicken being overcooked and dry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n No! Unlike the Instant Pot<\/a>, making slow cooker breast chicken requires no additional liquid. You CAN add liquid, like chicken broth or a jar of salsa (for Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken<\/a>), but it\u2019s not required.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Sign up for my FREE Fight Inflation Workshop<\/strong>\u00a0and learn simple strategies to save money, even with rising food costs!\n\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nSLOW COOKER CHICKEN BREAST<\/h2>\n
\n
![\"Slow](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-Breast-1_resized.jpg.webp)
SLOW COOKER BREAST CHICKEN INGREDIENTS<\/h2>\n
\n
CROCKPOT CHICKEN BREAST RECIPE: BONELESS OR BONE-IN?<\/h2>\n
HOW TO COOK CHICKEN BREAST IN SLOW COOKER<\/h2>\n
![\"Slow](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-Breast-2_resized.jpg.webp)
HOW LONG TO COOK CHICKEN BREAST IN SLOW COOKER<\/h2>\n
\n
RECIPE CHICKEN IN CROCK POT TIPS<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
HOW TO SHRED SLOW COOKER CHICKEN BREAST<\/h2>\n
\n
![\"Slow](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-Breast-3_resized.jpg.webp)
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN BREAST RECIPES<\/h2>\n
![\"Slow](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Slow-Cooker-Chicken-Breast-4_resized.jpg.webp)
BUILD A PLATE WITH SLOW COOKER CHICKEN BREAST<\/h2>\n
SLOW COOKER CHICKEN BREAST FAQS<\/h2>\n
Can I cook frozen chicken in the crockpot?<\/h3>\n
\u00a0
If you have frozen chicken, I recommend making Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Breasts<\/a> or thawing your chicken in warm water for about 30-45 minutes before cooking it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nIs it better to slow cook chicken on high or low?<\/h3>\n
Do you need to put liquid in the slow cooker when cooking chicken?<\/h3>\n
How long can I keep the crockpot chicken breasts once cooked?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
What other seasonings could I add to the chicken breasts?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
MORE CHICKEN BREAST SLOW COOKER MEALS<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dontwastethecrumbs.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Fight-Inflation-Workshop-Workbook-on-Spiral-e1697746286692.jpg)
Fight Inflation Workshop!<\/h4>\n