These chicken breasts are great on their own for dinner, but I like using these in a more utilitarian way throughout the week. Having cooked chicken around is one of the best ways to meal prep. You can slice cooked chicken to add to salads, shred it for chicken salad sandwiches or to add to soup, or throw it in some pasta. Cooking chicken breasts in your slow cooker is so easy, and you don’t even need to touch the raw chicken with your hands! Just use tongs to transfer it in along with some herbs, lemon, and broth, then set it and forget it. Here’s everything you need to know about cooking these versatile chicken breasts in a crockpot, how to store them, and what to use the cooked chicken for.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Boneless, skinless chicken breastsChicken broth/stock – water can also be used.Butter – or olive oil, or you can omit it in a pinch for a lower fat version.Dried oregano – Italian seasoning will also work (or you can just omit it)Lemon – this adds a great flavor but you can leave it out if you want.Salt and Pepper
How to cook chicken breasts in a slow cooker
Recommended Slow Cooker
My favorite slow cooker is the Crock-Pot 6-quart Cook and Carry Programmable Slow Cooker. I use it for all my slow cooker recipes. I like that it has a digital display, so you can see how much time is left. You can also set it to any amount of time you want within half hour increments. It automatically shifts to “keep warm” when it’s done, so your food will be nice and hot if you eat later than anticipated.
How to shred the chicken
Remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker to a cutting board and allow to rest for a few minutes. Discard the lemon wedges. Shred the chicken with two forks. Then, place the shredded chicken back into the liquid in the crockpot. This will ensure the chicken won’t dry out, and it will be packed with flavor.
How to store the chicken
I recommend storing the chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days. The chicken will be best stored whole (unsliced), or shredded in the liquid, to prevent it from drying out (as chicken breasts have a tendency to get dry). You can also freeze the shredded chicken in the liquid in portions in an airtight container or bag for up to 6 months.
Can I cook it on low for longer?
Technically, yes you can. If you like, you can cook for 3 hours on low. BUT, I actually don’t recommend this. I find that cooking the chicken breasts on high for a shorter time in the slow cooker yields a better texture. Lean poultry cooked on low often results in a stringy, mushy texture. It will still be good to eat, but I prefer high cooking for chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
Recipes that use cooked chicken
Healthy Chicken and Mushroom StroganoffChicken and DumplingsCurried Chicken Salad with Apples and RaisinsBBQ Chicken Naan PizzaChicken Pot PieChicken Wild Rice SoupAdd it to a Greek Salad
Other ways to cook chicken
Roast a whole chicken in a Dutch ovenPoached Chicken BreastsSlow Cooker Whole Chicken
You may also want to check out this Slow Cooker Boneless Turkey Breast recipe. Did you know commenting and rating recipes is one of the best ways you can support your favorite food bloggers? If you made this recipe or have a question, please click the stars below to comment and Rate this Recipe and/or share photos on social media using the hashtag #bowlofdelicious or tagging @bowlofdelicious!
