Crockpot Chicken Recipes

FAQS

What Chicken is Best to Use in a Crock Pot?

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs are my favorites to use.
• Thighs do particularly well because the added fat melts off and makes the chicken very moist and tender.
• You can use bone-in chicken as the meat cooks so tenderly that it falls right off the bone. However, I would recommend removing the skin as it will not crisp up as it does in the oven. 

Thaw Chicken Quickly?

• You can use precooked chicken in the slow cooker as well as raw chicken. However, do not use frozen chicken. It’s best to place frozen chicken in the fridge to thaw overnight.
• If you forgot, quickly thaw the chicken in a bowl of water:
  • Place the chicken pieces in a plastic bag and then put them in a bowl of cold water.
  • Change the water every 30 minutes until the chicken is thawed.

How do I Set the Temperature on a Crock Pot?

• Preheat your slow cooker. Though this isn’t necessary it does allow the pot to immediately start heating the food as opposed to letting the food sit in a cold pot waiting for it to heat up. Turn to the setting you want to use, add the lid, and let it heat for about 20 minutes before adding the food. 
• Cook times. I’ve noticed that, in general, cooking on LOW heat takes about twice as long as HIGH heat. The LOW setting is about 200°F and the HIGH setting is about 300°F.
• If you remove the lid to peek, taste, or stir, you will lose heat and need to add about 20 minutes to the cooking time.

How Long Should I Cook Chicken on LOW?

• Cook times for chicken in a crock pot on LOW can vary depending on the size and cut, but here’s a general guideline:
  • boneless, skinless chicken breasts (½ – 1 pound total): 4 – 6 hours
  • bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts (individual pieces): 6 – 8 hours
  • chicken thighs (boneless skinless chicken thighs, or bone-in, skin-on): 4 – 6 hours
  • whole chicken (small, around 3-4 pounds): 6 – 8 hours

Crockpot Chicken Tips?

• End of cook-time ingredients. Take note if any ingredients should be saved to add at the end. This often includes dairy-based ingredients such as cream cheese, tender vegetables, precooked pasta or rice, and fresh herbs.
• Fresh herbs add a lot of bright flavor to a soup. 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs = 1 teaspoon of dried herbs. Also, don’t add the fresh herbs until the last 30 minutes of the crock pot cooking time. 
• Don’t overfill. Most crockpot meals are designed to be cooked in a 5-6 qt pot. For the best cook, it should be about ½ to ¾ full.
• Liquid. Most recipes will call for some liquid (usually water or chicken broth) to be added to help create steam during the cooking process. This will also ensure that your chicken turns out moist, juicy, and delicious.
• Adding veggies. Normally you want to keep raw chicken and vegetables separate. However, it is completely ok to add raw chicken and vegetables to the same crock pot to cook. Cut all the larger vegetables, such as beets, potatoes, broccoli, onions, turnips, and carrots, about the same size. Don’t add tender vegetables like baby spinach, peas, mushrooms, or corn until the last 5-10 minutes of cooking time.
• Activate the aromatics. Onion, bell peppers, celery, garlic, and ginger are commonly used aromatics and should be activated before use. They are typically sautéed in a pan to get their flavor going, then added to the crock pot. Once the dish is done you can season it with salt and pepper to taste.

How to Prepare Ahead for Crockpot Chicken Recipes?

• Prep ingredients the night before and keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Place canned goods and spices together on the counter. All you have to do the next day is pour them into the cooker and go. 
• Freezer dinners are great for crockpots. You can freeze many of these recipes ahead of time. Place it in the fridge to thaw overnight. Otherwise, it may take too long to thaw properly and heat up in the pot within a safe amount of time.