Description
A comforting and creamy slow cooker chicken recipe that features tender, juicy chicken breasts cooked in a flavorful, rich sauce made with onions, celery, and a blend of spices. This easy slow cooker meal is perfect for a hands-off dinner, served over rice, pasta, or potatoes.
Ingredients
Chicken and Seasonings
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
For Cooking and Sauce
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 celery stalks, sliced
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup 2% milk
- 1 teaspoon Chicken Bouillon (Better Than Bouillon chicken base)
Instructions
- Prepare and Brown Chicken: Set the slow cooker to the sauté setting if available. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and season the chicken breasts with kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, granulated onion, and granulated garlic. Brown the chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side until lightly golden, without cooking through. Remove and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil to the slow cooker. Add diced onion, sliced celery, and dried thyme. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables become soft and fragrant.
- Add Flour: Sprinkle flour evenly over the vegetables and stir to coat. Cook for about 1 minute while stirring to eliminate raw flour taste.
- Add Liquids: Slowly pour in 1 cup water while stirring constantly until the mixture is smooth and slightly thickened. Stir in the chicken bouillon until dissolved, then add the milk and mix well.
- Cook Chicken in Sauce: Return the chicken breasts to the slow cooker, nestling them into the sauce. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours until chicken is tender and reaches 165°F internal temperature.
- Shred Chicken: Remove chicken from slow cooker, shred or slice into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine and Serve: Return shredded chicken to the sauce and stir well. Serve warm over rice, pasta, or potatoes.
Notes
- If your slow cooker does not have a sauté setting, you can brown the chicken and make the gravy on the stove top in a skillet before transferring everything to the slow cooker.
- Internal temperature of chicken should reach 165°F to ensure it is safely cooked.
- For a thicker sauce, you can reduce the milk slightly or cook uncovered for the last 30 minutes.
- Adjust seasoning to taste before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
