Slow-Cooker Chicken Recipes

February 21, 2014
Cooking Light
A true weeknight staple, chicken is easy enough to cook for quick meals, but diverse enough to avoid palate boredom. Start one of these delicious slow-cooker chicken recipes early in the day and arrive home with dinner ready and waiting. Keep it classic with dishes like Garlic Chicken or be adventurous with Tikka Masala or Buffalo-Style Drummettes. If budget is a priority, the slow cooker will help cook tougher cuts of meat (which are usually less expensive), coaxing out tender texture through hours of low and slow cooking.
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Tender Chicken Dinners

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Sesame-Ginger Chicken

When it comes to preparing slow-cooker chicken dishes, the possibilities are endless— pulled, breaded, shredded, glazed, or baked. Whether you prefer dark or light meat, what could be more mouth-watering than a delicious chicken dinner? These recipes will have you singing "bird is the word."

Put an Eastern twist on your dinner offering with Sesame-Ginger Chicken. Serve over steamed rice to savor every bit of the sweet Asian glaze. This classic dish is a slow-cooker must have on your weeknight meal planner.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

Photo: Brian Woodcock
View Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

Get the chili started in the morning and keep warm in the slow cooker while you're out. Calling for a mixture of beans and hominy, this recipe boasts bold, rich flavor, something that can often be dulled in a slow cooker. Whirring some of the beans in a food processor thickens the soup, lending a heartier texture to the dish. We suggest serving the soup with green onions, cheese, cilantro, peppers, and plain yogurt, a great substitute for sour cream. 

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Slow Cooker Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic

Tender thighs, and creamy red potatoes simmer to perfection in rich, aromatic jus. White meat can dry out after a long haul in the slow-cooker, so we opt for bone-in thighs to guarantee optimal flavor and succulence. Make prep esier with prepeeled garlic, and pretty-up the platter with lemon slices and thyme sprigs.

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Slow Cooker Chicken, Bacon, and Potato Soup

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken, Bacon, and Potato Soup

The slow cooker gently coaxes out delicious flavors from simple, hearty ingredients. This soup is perfect for ushering in fall: It's hearty enough for the beginning of soup season, yet brothy and veggie-packed so that it doesn't feel too heavy. Pair it with a slaw or kale side salad and crusty whole-grain bread for a light, satisfying dinner. This recipe is ideal for a weekend, when you can check on the slow cooker after just a few hours; though you won't be able to leave the soup unattended all day, this still offers the benefit of hands-free, fuss-free cooking. Either baby red, Yukon Gold, or fingerling potatoes will work well here, as they'll maintain their shape nicely during cooking.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Mole

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Mole

Serve the whole leg quarters over brown basmati rice, or shred the chicken off the bone and layer onto corn tortillas (as shown) with cilantro, radishes, and a squeeze of lime for family taco night.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

We love the heat level in this slow cooker take on tikka masala to fend off winter chill. If the spice kick is too much for your family, you can cut the red pepper down by half without losing any of the dynamic flavor layers.

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Sweet Glazed Chicken Thighs

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Sweet Glazed Chicken Thighs

This simple chicken dish becomes much more savory when stuck in a slow cooker. The sweet juice mixture gives the chicken its undeniably delicious flavor. Serve over hot cooked rice.

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Chicken and Shrimp Jambalaya

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Chicken and Shrimp Jambalaya

Get ready to serve a crowd! Baguette pieces continue the French-Cajun theme.

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Chilaquiles

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Chilaquiles

Before there were nachos, there were chilaquiles. Tomatoes and spices simmer with any kind of meat to make the ideal topping for tortilla chips. Here, chipotle, chicken and cilantro meld in this filling Mexican favorite.

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Chicken and Chickpea Tagine

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Chicken and Chickpea Tagine

Hearty canned chickpeas hold up beautifully in the slow cooker, where they're combined with fragrant spices and just a little stock. Since the chicken cooks on top of the chickpea mixture and is not submerged in liquid, it can cook longer without suffering texturally.

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Chicken Thighs with Olives and Tomato Sauce

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Chicken Thighs with Olives and Tomato Sauce

Brown flavorful chicken thighs, then simmer in a slow cooker with garlic, diced tomatoes, and white wine for an Italian-inspired chicken dinner.

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Garlic Chicken

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Garlic Chicken

The garlic becomes creamy and mellows as it cooks. Spread it on chunks of crusty French baguette and soak up the fabulous sauce as you enjoy every morsel of this super tender chicken.

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Chicken Enchilada Stack

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Chicken Enchilada Stack

Think outside the "dish." You can enjoy the flavor and texture of enchiladas in a slow cooker; just stack the tortillas instead of rolling them. We suggest lining your slow cooker with a slow-cooker bag so you can easily remove the stack from the cooker.

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Chicken with Carrots and Potatoes

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Chicken with Carrots and Potatoes

All you need is 20 minutes to get this dish in the slow cooker. You'll have a hearty chicken and veggie supper waiting for you when you get home. If you don't care to use the wine, you can use 1/2 cup of additional chicken broth.

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Chicken Korma

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Chicken Korma

If you prefer milder foods, reduce or omit the crushed red pepper. Add warm naan on the side of this classic Indian dish.

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Buffalo-Style Drummettes with Blue Cheese Dip

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Buffalo-Style Drummettes with Blue Cheese Dip

Heating the chicken drummettes in the oven helps to brown them. You can also brown them, in batches, in a skillet on the cooktop.

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Sweet and Sour Chicken

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Sweet and Sour Chicken

The grated fresh ginger in this classic Chinese recipe makes the chicken extra sweet. Substitute pork tenderloin in place of chicken thighs, if desired.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Verde

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Verde

It's not hard to make your own salsa verde, with fresher flavor and much less sodium than jarred versions: Simply blacken tomatillos, chiles, and onions; then blend.

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Spicy Chicken Cacciatore

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Spicy Chicken Cacciatore

Serve this saucy dish over polenta or pasta. Transform leftovers into soup: Shred the chicken, and place in a pot with sauce. Add unsalted chicken stock, diced zucchini, and diced carrots; simmer until veggies are tender.

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Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

You already love pulled chicken, so why not try it in a slow cooker? Savor this tender, melt-in-your-mouth chicken sandwich with ketchup-based sauce for lunch or dinner.

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Chicken Stew with Green Olives

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Chicken Stew with Green Olives

Give this stew a little crunch by lightly sprinkling almonds on top. The consistencies of the ingredients will mesh nicely with the flavors.

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Mediterranean Chicken

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Mediterranean Chicken

Capturing the simplicity found in sun-drenched Mediterranean cuisine, these braised chicken thighs melt under the influence of bright, vibrant lemon, briny olives and capers, and juicy plum tomatoes. Serve with rosemary-mashed potatoes or over hot basmati rice.

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Chicken Verde

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Chicken Verde

Make your friends "green" with envy at your slow cooker savvy by serving up this savory Southwestern-style entrée, loaded with tomatillos, onion, and roasted poblano and jalapeño peppers. Corn tortillas and a simple green salad round out the menu.

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Tuscan Chicken Soup 

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Tuscan Chicken Soup

This recipe uses many common pantry and refrigerator staples. All you have to pick up at the supermarket is fresh spinach and chicken thighs.

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Chicken Cacciatore 

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Chicken Cacciatore

The Italian word "cacciatore" translates to "hunter" in English, referring to a dish prepared with tomatoes, mushrooms, and onions–"hunter-style."

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Saucy Chicken over Rice

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Saucy Chicken over Rice

This slow cooker chicken dish is simple, but packed with rich flavors in the white wine, chopped tomatoes, and variant spices. Serve over hot cooked rice. If you don't care to cook with the wine, use an equal amount of chicken broth.

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Spicy Chicken Stew

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Spicy Chicken Stew

Salsa and chili powder add spice to this chicken stew, but probably not too much for timid tasters or kids. If you want to kick up the heat, use a hot salsa and a dash of hot sauce or ground red pepper.

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Provençale Chicken Supper

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View Recipe: Provençale Chicken Supper

Nearly a full dinner, with only five ingredients? Yes, please! This rustic dish takes its cue from the typical fare served in Provence, a region in the southeastern part of France that is known for dishes highlighting fresh local ingredients such as garlic, tomatoes, olive oil, olives, and sweet bell peppers. Be sure to use bone-in chicken breasts for this recipe or substitute bone-in chicken thighs. Skinless, boneless breasts can dry out over the extended cook time in the slow cooker. Serve with a bright salad of mixed baby greens tossed with lemon juice, lemon rind, Dijon mustard, and olive oil.

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