These easy crockpot chicken recipes give you a few different answers to "What can I make with this chicken?" There is cozy chicken and stuffing, creamy pasta, cheesy enchiladas, and warm chicken sandwiches-plus a simple shredded chicken recipe to use in other meals.
I've gathered the cooking times and the little finishing steps below, so you can choose a recipe that fits your day. Open any recipe for the full ingredient amounts and printable directions.
Which Chicken Dinner Sounds Good?
- Something creamy and comforting: Start with chicken and stuffing or Parmesan garlic chicken pasta.
- Something saucy: Try orange chicken over rice or honey garlic drumsticks.
- A casual meal to share: Make chicken Caesar sandwiches or a slow cooker full of chicken enchiladas.
Check the timing before you start: These are not all eight-hour recipes. Some cook in just two to four hours, and several need a short finishing step before serving.
1. Chicken and Stuffing
Chicken breasts, stuffing mix, cream of chicken soup, and broth make this a cozy place to start. The stuffing cooks right on top of the chicken, so there is no separate pan to prepare. Choose this one when you want a familiar, comforting dinner with a short ingredient list.
Timing: 10 minutes of prep; 3 hours on low.
Before serving: Spoon the chicken and stuffing onto plates and add a vegetable or salad alongside.
Get the Chicken and Stuffing Recipe →
2. Creamy Crockpot Chicken Pasta
This creamy chicken pasta uses Parmesan garlic sauce, cream cheese, and shredded cheese for a rich sauce that coats the rotini. It is a good choice when you want a bowl of pasta without cooking the chicken on the stove, too.
Timing: 10 minutes of prep; 4 hours on low or 2 hours on high.
Before serving: Boil the pasta separately near the end of the cooking time, then shred the chicken and stir in the cooked pasta.
Get the Creamy Crockpot Chicken Pasta Recipe →
3. Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas
All the cheesy, saucy goodness of chicken enchiladas, without rolling individual tortillas! Chicken, black beans, green chiles, and enchilada sauce cook together before corn, tortilla pieces, and cheese go in. This casserole-style option makes eight servings.
Timing: 15 minutes of prep; 6-8 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high, plus 30 minutes to finish.
Before serving: After shredding the chicken, stir in the corn and tortillas, add the cheese, and cook on high for another 30 minutes.
Get the Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas Recipe →
4. Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks
Have drumsticks instead of chicken breasts? These cook in a honey garlic sauce made with soy sauce, ketchup, and minced garlic. The sweet and savory sauce is a nice change from a creamy chicken dinner. Serve the drumsticks with rice or mashed potatoes to catch some of that sauce.
Timing: 5 minutes of prep; 5-6 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high.
Before serving: Serve from the slow cooker, or briefly broil the cooked drumsticks if you want to crisp the outside.
Get the Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks Recipe →
5. Crockpot Orange Chicken
Orange marmalade, barbecue sauce, and soy sauce make the sweet, tangy sauce for this five-ingredient recipe. It uses chicken tenderloins cut into bite-size pieces and finishes with chopped green onion. Choose this one when you want something saucy to spoon over a bowl of rice.
Timing: 5 minutes of prep; 4 hours on low or 2 hours on high.
Before serving: Stir the cooked chicken, sprinkle with green onion, and serve. Allow time to cook rice separately if you are serving it alongside.
Get the Crockpot Orange Chicken Recipe →
6. Crockpot Jalapeño Chicken
If jalapeño poppers are your kind of appetizer, put this creamy chicken on your dinner list. Cream cheese, shredded cheese, jalapeños, and bacon bring those flavors to chicken breasts. There is a little mixing and chopping before it goes into the slow cooker.
Timing: 10 minutes of prep; 3-4 hours on high, plus about 10 minutes for the final cheese topping to melt.
Before serving: Start with cooked bacon and softened cream cheese. Save the last cheese, bacon, and optional jalapeño slices for the topping.
Get the Crockpot Jalapeño Chicken Recipe →
7. Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwiches
Warm shredded chicken tossed with Caesar dressing, Parmesan, and parsley makes a simple sandwich filling. Pile it onto buns with lettuce for a casual dinner or lunch with a guest. This recipe makes six sandwiches, and the filling can also be served on croissants or Italian bread.
Timing: 15 minutes of prep; 3-4 hours on low or 2 hours on high, plus another 30 minutes after adding the dressing.
Before serving: Shred the cooked chicken, drain the broth, and return the chicken to the slow cooker with the dressing before warming it through.
Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwiches Recipe →
8. Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken
This is the useful basic to keep in mind when another recipe calls for cooked chicken. Chicken breasts cook with broth, butter, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder before being shredded. It gives you a starting point for sandwiches, wraps, and casseroles rather than a complete dinner on its own.
Timing: 5 minutes of prep; 6-8 hours on low or 4 hours on high.
Before serving: Remove most of the broth as directed in the recipe, then shred the chicken with two forks.
Get the Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Recipe →
A Few Things to Check Before Cooking
- Match the recipe to your chicken. Most of these use boneless chicken breasts, but the orange chicken calls for tenderloins cut into pieces, and the honey garlic recipe uses drumsticks.
- Check for extra prep. The pasta cooks separately, and the jalapeño chicken starts with cooked bacon. Those small details matter when deciding what feels easy tonight.
- Leave room for the last step. The enchiladas and Caesar sandwiches need another 30 minutes after the chicken is cooked. Read the full recipe before choosing your start time.
More Slow Cooker Dinner Ideas
Looking beyond chicken? Browse these easy crockpot dinners for beef, pork, soups, and more. For tonight, pick the chicken recipe that sounds good, check its ingredient list, and keep the sides simple.
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