cook raw chicken crock pot

How to cook raw chicken in crock pot

Total Time

Prep: 5 min. Cook: 4 hours

Makes

4 servings

I use my slow cooker to prepare these well-seasoned chicken breasts that cook up moist and tender. My daughter, who has two young sons to keep up with, shared this great recipe with me several years ago. I now rely on cooking chicken in a Crock Pot many days a week.—Sundra Hauck, Bogalusa, Louisiana

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon browning sauce, optional
  • 4 bone-in chicken breast halves (8 ounces each)
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients and, if desired, browning sauce; rub over chicken. Place in a 5-qt. slow cooker; add broth. Cover and cook on low until chicken is tender, 4-5 hours.

Slow-Cooker Chicken Tips

Can I put raw chicken in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!

How long does it take to cook chicken in a Crock-Pot or slow cooker?

It takes about 4 hours on the low setting to cook a chicken breast to 165° in a Crock-Pot or slow cooker.

Do you need to put liquid in the slow cooker with chicken?

We recommend putting a small amount of liquid (like broth, water or tomatoes) into your slow cooker. It will help prevent burning and its steam cooks the chicken and keeps it moist. Be sure to follow these other slow-cooker tips.

How do I keep my chicken from drying out?

Because chicken is a lean meat, adding ½ cup of broth will keep it from drying out. Also, avoid overcooking your chicken. Overcooking can make your chicken tough and dry.

Nutrition Facts

1 chicken breast half: 211 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 91mg cholesterol, 392mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 33g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1 fat.

Crockpot shredded chicken is the easiest method for making shredded chicken. It’s a set it and forget it kind of shredded chicken that’s hands-off and straightforward.

Crockpot shredded chicken is perfect for tacos, nachos, soups, chili, and everything in between. In this post, we’ll give you the rundown of how to make slow cooker shredded chicken and share our top tips for perfectly juicy chicken every time.

What you need for Crockpot Shredded Chicken

Basic crockpot shredded chicken is so easy to make that you only need 2 simple ingredients:

  • chicken breast
  • chicken broth (or water)
  • optional: seasonings or sauces ( we used salt and pepper)

Technically you do not need to use water or broth when making crockpot shredded chicken. However, we much prefer the end result when liquid is used. Your chicken will be juicer and less dry.

  1. Breast size matters: the smaller your chicken breasts are the faster they will cook. For this crockpot shredded chicken, you can use any size chicken breast, just make sure they are all relatively the same size so that they cook evenly. Smaller chicken breasts will take closer to 6 hours on low and larger chicken breasts will take closer to 8 hours on low.
  2. Cook low & slow: when using the slow cooker we almost ALWAYS recommend cooking things low and slow. The same goes for this recipe. We recommend cooking your chicken breast on low for 6-8 hours.
  3. 165ºF: ultimately you want your chicken breast to be at least 165ºF internally before shredding so that it’s safe to eat. So, use a handy dandy meat thermometer to make sure it’s at a high enough temperature to eat.

Try it!

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FAQ’s

Let shredded chicken cool completely. Then, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-5 days.

Freezing shredded chicken is super simple. Let your chicken cool completely and then transfer into a large, gallon-size bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Flavor Variations

Because sometimes you want shredded chicken that has a little more sass! Here are some of our favorite Crockpot Shredded Chicken recipes.

  • Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken: Our Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken is perfect for any weeknight meal, is kid-friendly, and made with only 5 ingredients – garlic, honey, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, and chicken.
  • Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip: combine shredded chick1en with Frank’s hot sauce, Greek yogurt, and ranch seasoning for a seriously good dip.
  • Crockpot Sesame Chicken: let your chicken breast slow cook in a homemade sesame chicken sauce so that it comes out extra tender and flavorful!
  • Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken: first season your chicken breast in a dry rub and then let it slow cook in bbq sauce for the ultimate bbq chicken sandwich!

  • 1.5 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breast (feel free to use up to 3 lbs.)
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth or water
  • salt and pepper to taste

  • Place chicken breast inside of slow cooker and then add chicken broth.

Cover slow cooker and cook on:

  • low for 6-8 hours (this is what we recommend)

  • high for 2-3 hours

  • Remove from slow cooker, check the internal temperature of the chicken breast and make sure it's at least 165ºF. If it's not, continue cooking.

  • Once the chicken is fully cooked, use 2 forks to shred the chicken breast.

  • This recipe was updated on January 26, 2021. For the original recipe CLICK HERE.

Serving: 1/4Calories: 230kcalCarbohydrates: 0gProtein: 25gFat: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 0g

About Lee Funke

Lee is the founder of Fit Foodie Finds and based in Minneapolis, MN. She started this website in 2010 as a way to share her love for real food and wellness.

How long does it take to cook raw chicken in a crock pot?

Sprinkle the chicken breasts with plenty of salt and pepper. Cover your crock pot and cook chicken breasts on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Chicken is done when the internal temp reaches 165 degrees F. Use chicken in your favorite recipes.

Can you cook chicken from raw in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!

Do you need liquid in a crock pot for chicken?

Using a nice, long, low-and-slow cook time helps chicken breasts retain plenty of moisture - but you can certainly opt to add a splash of water or chicken stock to the crockpot if you like! If you're worried about dry chicken, you can also swap boneless skinless chicken thighs in for a bit of extra moisture.

Can you put raw chicken breast in a slow cooker?

Can you put raw chicken in a crockpot? Yes, that is exactly how you start. Cover the bottom of your slow cooker with raw chicken. I prefer to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts because they are easier to work with when the chicken is cooked, but you can use any raw chicken.

Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in crockpot?

Always cook your boneless skinless chicken breasts on LOW for the best results. I do not recommend cooking boneless chicken breast on HIGH, as it will become very dry, even if you check it early. On high, the chicken turns out drier; I consistently have the best results with low.

Do you have to cook chicken before putting in crock pot?

Sear the Chicken Before Adding It to the Slow Cooker Pre-cooking seals in the juices in the poultry and makes it even more tender as you cook it. A caramelized piece of meat will always taste better in your dish.

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