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Slow Cooker Chicken Breasts

Slow cooker chicken breasts are set-and-forget comfort food with impossibly tender, pull-apart chicken slow-cooked in seasoned broth. Slice and serve with a quick pan sauce made from the cooking juices for juicy crockpot chicken breasts.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 430
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts Use even-thickness breasts for consistent doneness.
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 0.5 salt and cracked black pepper to taste Season generously on both sides; amounts vary by preference.
Cooking liquid and flavor
  • 0.75 cup chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 clove garlic, minced
Serving
  • 1 fresh parsley and lemon for serving Use chopped parsley and lemon wedges to finish.

Equipment

  • 1 slow cooker

Method
 

Season the chicken
  1. Season chicken breasts generously on both sides with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and cracked black pepper.
Slow cook
  1. Place the seasoned chicken in the slow cooker and pour chicken broth around the chicken.
  2. Add butter and minced garlic to the slow cooker.
  3. Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 hours (or HIGH for 2-2.5 hours); do not overcook, and look for chicken that pulls apart easily.
Slice and serve
  1. Remove the chicken and let rest 5 minutes before slicing.
  2. Pour the cooking juices over the top as a pan sauce, then slice the chicken.
  3. Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon wedges just before serving.

Notes

Pro tip: avoid overcooking—start checking at the low end of the time range, since thickness varies by brand and freezer-to-slow-cooker batches. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days; freeze cooked chicken for up to 2 months for easy meal prep. For a lower-fat option, use olive oil instead of butter (or reduce butter to 1 tablespoon) while keeping the seasonings the same.