Two things are more central to weeknight cooking than chicken and slow-cookers. A slow-cooker takes much of the work out of cooking more involved meals, and chicken is the most popular and affordable kind of meat out there. So, what better way to ease your weeknight cooking load than to add a few more crowd-pleasing slow-cooker chicken recipes to your regular dinner rotation.
Using your slow-cooker for chicken is a little different than using it for a tough cut of meat like pork shoulder, or a long-simmering recipe like chili. Chicken is a lean protein, and doesn’t have much connective tissue, so cooking it for too long will actually make it tough, not tender. Most of these recipes take advantage of the “warm” setting on most slow-cookers, to keep things hot without overcooking. Be sure to read each recipe thoroughly so that you get those settings just right. Otherwise, these 15 slow-cooker chicken recipes are practically foolproof, and guaranteed to please.
Served over potatoes, pasta, or rice, this zesty lemon chicken is sure to be a hit.
This tender shredded chicken is perfect for taco night, but also works in burrito bowls or on salads.
Even picky eaters will love this veggie-filled chicken-and-cheese casserole.
These sweet chicken thighs have a short ingredient list, but definitely don’t skimp on flavor.
Get ahead of a takeout craving by throwing this Mongolian chicken recipe together in the slow-cooker before you leave for work in the morning.
If you’re looking for a creamy chicken recipe with some greens and plenty of umami, this Tuscan chicken is it.
If you’ve always wanted to try making butter chicken at home but thought it was too intimidating, try letting your slow-cooker do all the work.
This straightforward chicken recipe calls for making your own teriyaki sauce with soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and a few other seasonings.
The best thing about this chicken and orzo recipe is that it’s a complete dinner in one. Oh, and the fact that it has a generous amount of Parmesan.
Chicken soup can cure anything, and coconut milk-based chicken soup is even more magical than the original.
Olives, feta, and tomatoes give this Greek chicken a salty, briny flavor that’s tough to beat.
Sometimes, only chicken noodle soup will do.
Pulled chicken sandwiches are a great way to shake up your normal dinner routine. Plus, the apple-cabbage slaw and whole wheat bun make for a balanced, filling meal.
Chicken parm is great, but it can be time consuming: You need to dredge and bread chicken cutlets, fry them, and then bake them with sauce and cheese. Chicken parm meatballs, on the other hand, come together easily in the slow-cooker.
This all-in-one pasta dinner hits all the flavor bases, and adding a quick veggie side is an easy way to turn it into a completely balanced meal.
