One of the best ways to save time cooking is to prepare certain recipe ingredients in advance. This easy slow cooker chicken breasts recipe is a perfect example of how you can put in minimal effort to make a variety of meals with ease.
This technique also reduces your reliance on highly processed, ready-to-eat packaged foods, which can be helpful on busy weeknights or whenever you don't feel like spending a lot of time in the kitchen.
This fool-proof recipe only requires two basic ingredients and optional seasonings of your choice. The prep work is minimal as there is no need to brown the meat in advance. Once the chicken breasts are cooked, just slice, shred, or cube them before using or storing them.
Jump to:
Ways to Use Cooked Chicken Breasts
There are many ways you can use cooked chicken breasts to make a delicious meal:
- Sliced chicken breast works well if you are making roasted vegetables and want to balance it with some protein.
- Cubed chicken breast is excellent when you are making chili or want to toss some in a salad.
- Shredded chicken is great for soups (such as chicken noodle soup), tacos, and wraps. It is also great for making chicken sandwiches and chicken enchiladas.
What are the advantages of using a slow cooker to make chicken breasts?
The best thing about making chicken breasts in a slow cooker is predictable results. No matter the size or thickness of your chicken breasts, this easy method produces evenly cooked and tender chicken.
No more troubleshooting how long to sear/poach/steam on the stovetop.
No more frustration when your pressure cooker produces rubbery chicken breasts that are cooked on the outside and raw on the inside.
As for oven cooking, you have to adjust the baking time and temperature based on the size and thickness of the chicken breasts. The problem with this method is that each piece of meat may vary in dimensions, resulting in a combination of overcooked, undercooked, and cooked meat.
If you are primarily making a big batch of chicken breasts as an ingredient prep, then using a slow cooker is the most practical hands-off cooking process.
Give this slow cooker chicken breast recipe a try as it may become your favorite way to prepare chicken breasts as a versatile ingredient for easy weeknight dinners. You can cut your slow-cooked chicken breasts in a variety of ways to use in your favorite recipes.
What Are the Health Benefits?
Chicken breasts are a great source of bioavailable protein, which means the protein is easily absorbed by your body. They are also high in leucine, which is an amino acid that is needed for muscle repair and building more muscle.
As we get older, around age 40, our bodies become less efficient at building muscle, so eating adequate protein can help fill the gaps. Preparing chicken breasts, so that you can easily include them in any meal, makes it easier to ensure you are getting enough protein in your diet.
Ingredients
This recipe uses simple ingredients to make all-purpose chicken breasts that go well with any flavor of food.
While many recipes call for chicken broth, adding liquids is not necessary for this recipe. The olive oil will keep the chicken breasts from getting dry.
Boneless skinless chicken breasts - look for organic pasture-raised chicken as the nutrient profile is more favorable than chicken sourced from commercial factory farms.
Extra virgin olive oil - aside from adding good flavor, the high content of polyphenols (which are really strong antioxidants) in olive oil is highly beneficial to your health. Low-heat cooking won't damage these beneficial properties.
Salt and pepper - kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper add texture and flavor to your chicken breasts without introducing a conflicting flavor profile.
If you already know in advance how you would like to use the cooked chicken breasts, you can tailor the seasoning accordingly. I've included a couple of ideas for you later in this post!
Instructions
Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the bottom of the slow cooker pot.
Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer, at the bottom of the slow cooker. You should be able to fit 4-5 chicken breasts in a 6-quart oval-shaped slow cooker. It is okay if the chicken breasts are a bit crowded as they will shrink during cooking.
Flip over each chicken breast a couple of times to coat them with the olive oil.
Add salt and pepper, or your seasonings of choice, to each side. If you are using a blend of seasonings, it's best to first combine them in a small container before adding.
Place the lid onto the slow cooker pot and cook on low heat for 3 hours. If the chicken breasts are thicker than usual, set the timer for 3.5 hours instead.
Once the cooking is complete, use a meat thermometer to confirm that the internal temperature of each chicken breast has reached at least 165 ℉.
Remove the chicken breasts and let them cool for about 20 minutes before cutting. This allows the juices to settle back into the meat, preventing the chicken breasts from getting dried out.
Once cooled, you can slice, cube, or shred the chicken breasts as needed, then transfer them to an airtight container for storage.
Variations
You can easily tailor the herbs and spices to further enhance what you are making. Here are some simple variations you can try:
- For an Italian-inspired recipe, use Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. Fresh herbs also work well, if you have some handy. Just place them on top of the meat before cooking.
- For a bold Mexican flavor, try using a spicy taco seasoning mix. Once cooked, you can squeeze some lime juice over the meat to add some zest.
Equipment
For best results, I recommend using a 6-quart oval-shaped slow cooker so that you can make a larger batch of chicken breasts. I like the one from KitchenAid because it allows you to customize the cooking time.
Storage
Chicken breasts can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.
Food Safety
Once the chicken breasts are done cooking, they are safe to consume for up to two hours after the slow cooker has been turned off. Alternatively, freeze or refrigerate within 2 hours after cooking is complete.
FAQ
It is absolutely safe to cook defrosted raw chicken breasts in a slow cooker.
Tender cooked chicken can easily be shredded using two forks to separate the meat.
It is best to cook chicken breasts on low in a slow cooker to prevent tough and dry meat.
It is not safe to use frozen chicken breasts in a slow cooker. Instead, defrost them in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days before using.
Recipe
Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Breasts
INGREDIENTS
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the bottom of the slow cooker pot.
- Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer, at the bottom of the slow cooker. You should be able to fit 4-5 chicken breasts in a 6-quart oval-shaped slow cooker. It is okay if the chicken breasts are a bit crowded as they will shrink during cooking.
- Flip over each chicken breast a couple of times to coat them with the olive oil.
- Add salt and pepper, or your seasonings of choice, to each side. If you are using a blend of seasonings, it's best to first combine them in a small container before adding.
- Place the lid onto the slow cooker pot and cook on low heat for 3 hours. If the chicken breasts are thicker than usual, set the timer for 3.5 hours instead.
- Once the cooking is complete, use a meat thermometer to confirm that the internal temperature of each chicken breast has reached at least 165 ℉.
- Remove the chicken breasts and let them cool for about 20 minutes before cutting. This allows the juices to settle back into the meat, preventing the chicken breasts from getting dried out.
- Once cooled, you can slice, cube, or shred the chicken breasts as needed, then transfer them to an airtight container for storage.
NOTES
- For an Italian-inspired recipe, use Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. Fresh herbs also work well, if you have some handy. Just place them on top of the meat before cooking.
- For a bold Mexican flavor, try using a spicy taco seasoning mix. Once cooked, you can squeeze some lime juice over the meat to add some zest.
Leave a Comment