Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken & Gravy
Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken & Gravy is an easy comfort-food dinner built around tender chicken and a rich, savory gravy. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs cook slowly with cream of chicken soup, chicken gravy mix, broth, onion, garlic and seasonings before sour cream creates the creamy finish.
The preparation is straightforward enough for a busy day. Season the chicken directly in a 6-quart slow cooker, whisk together the gravy ingredients, pour everything over the chicken and add butter on top. From there, the slow cooker handles the main cooking stage.
Once the chicken is tender and cooked through, remove it and either shred or slice it. Sour cream is stirred into the hot gravy until smooth, and then the chicken returns to the slow cooker for another 5–10 minutes.
Serve this creamy chicken and gravy over mashed potatoes, steamed rice, egg noodles or biscuits. Fresh parsley is optional, but it can provide the simple finishing garnish included in the original recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It uses the slow cooker: The main cooking stage requires very little hands-on attention once the chicken and gravy are assembled.
- You can choose breasts or thighs: The recipe explicitly allows either boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
- The gravy is easy to assemble: Cream of chicken soup, chicken gravy mix and chicken broth are simply whisked together.
- Onion and garlic add savory flavor: Finely diced onion and minced garlic are stirred directly into the gravy mixture.
- Sour cream creates the creamy finish: It is stirred into the gravy after the chicken has finished the main slow-cooking stage.
- Two cooking schedules are included: Cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours.
- You can shred or slice the chicken: Both serving preparations are part of the supplied instructions.
- It has several serving options: Mashed potatoes, steamed rice, egg noodles and biscuits are all specifically suggested.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1 packet chicken gravy mix
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, optional
Ingredient Notes
Chicken Breasts or Thighs
The recipe calls for 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. Either option is supported by the original ingredient list, so you can choose between them without changing the supplied method.
Cream of Chicken Soup
One 10.5-ounce can of cream of chicken soup forms part of the gravy base. It is whisked with the chicken gravy mix and broth until smooth before the onion and garlic are added.
Chicken Gravy Mix
Use one packet of chicken gravy mix. The source does not provide a packet weight or brand, so no package size has been added.
Chicken Broth
One cup of chicken broth loosens the cream of chicken soup and gravy mix into a pourable mixture that surrounds the chicken during slow cooking.
Sour Cream
Half a cup of sour cream goes in near the end rather than at the beginning. Remove the cooked chicken first, stir the sour cream into the gravy until smooth, and then return the chicken.
Onion and Garlic
One small finely diced onion and two minced garlic cloves are stirred into the prepared gravy before it is poured over the chicken.
Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Pepper and Thyme
These seasonings go directly onto the chicken at the beginning. The recipe uses 1 teaspoon garlic powder and ½ teaspoon each of onion powder, black pepper and dried thyme.
Butter
Two tablespoons of butter are placed on top after the gravy mixture has been poured over the seasoned chicken.
Fresh Parsley
One tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley is optional. If using it, add it as a garnish when serving the finished creamy chicken and gravy.
Equipment
- 6-quart slow cooker
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Knife
- Cutting board
- Stirring spoon
- Forks or another suitable utensil if shredding the chicken
How to Make Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken & Gravy
-
Prepare the Chicken
Place the chicken in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and thyme.
-
Make the Gravy
In a bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, chicken gravy mix, and chicken broth until smooth. Stir in the diced onion and garlic.
-
Slow Cook
Pour the gravy mixture over the chicken and place the butter on top. Cover and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
-
Make It Creamy
Remove the chicken and shred or slice it. Stir the sour cream into the gravy until smooth, then return the chicken to the slow cooker. Let it warm for another 5–10 minutes.
-
Serve
Spoon the chicken and plenty of gravy over mashed potatoes, steamed rice, egg noodles, or biscuits. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Tips for the Best Results
- Season the chicken first: Garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and dried thyme go directly onto the chicken before the gravy is added.
- Whisk the gravy until smooth: Combine the cream of chicken soup, gravy mix and chicken broth thoroughly before adding the onion and garlic.
- Place the butter on top: Add the 2 tablespoons of butter after pouring the gravy over the chicken.
- Follow the supplied cooking ranges: Use LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours.
- Check the chicken before moving on: The supplied doneness cues are tender and cooked through.
- Remove the chicken before adding sour cream: This makes it easy to stir the sour cream smoothly into the gravy.
- Choose your preferred chicken texture: Shred or slice the cooked chicken before returning it to the sauce.
- Allow the final warming period: After the chicken returns to the creamy gravy, give it another 5–10 minutes in the slow cooker.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Adding the Sour Cream at the Beginning
The supplied method saves the sour cream for the finishing stage. It is stirred into the gravy only after the chicken has completed its main cooking time.
Skipping the Separate Gravy Mixture
Whisk the cream of chicken soup, chicken gravy mix and broth together until smooth before stirring in the onion and garlic and pouring everything over the chicken.
Forgetting to Season the Chicken
The garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and thyme are used directly on the chicken before the gravy is added.
Leaving Out the Final Warming Stage
Once the sour cream has been mixed into the gravy and the shredded or sliced chicken has been returned, let everything warm together for another 5–10 minutes.
Assuming the Chicken Must Be Shredded
The recipe allows you to shred or slice the cooked chicken. Either preparation follows the supplied directions.
Guessing the Gravy Packet Size
The ingredient list specifies one packet of chicken gravy mix without giving a weight or brand, so an exact packet size should not be invented.
Substitutions and Variations
The original recipe includes a clear choice between boneless, skinless chicken breasts and thighs. It also allows the cooked chicken to be either shredded or sliced before it returns to the creamy gravy.
Fresh parsley is optional, so it can be included as a garnish or omitted. No substitutions are supplied for the cream of chicken soup, chicken gravy mix, sour cream or broth, so replacing those ingredients would be an editorial variation rather than part of the original recipe.
Serving Suggestions
This Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken & Gravy is designed to be served with plenty of its sauce. Spoon the chicken and gravy over mashed potatoes, steamed rice, egg noodles or biscuits, all of which are specifically included in the original serving directions.
If using the optional fresh parsley, scatter it over the chicken just before serving. No additional sides or garnishes are specified in the supplied recipe.
Storage and Reheating
Specific storage and reheating instructions were not included with the original recipe, so this article does not assign a storage duration or reheating method that was not supplied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?
Yes. The recipe explicitly calls for 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
What size slow cooker should I use?
The supplied instructions specify a 6-quart slow cooker.
How long does creamy chicken and gravy cook on LOW?
Cook it covered on LOW for 5–6 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
How long does it cook on HIGH?
The supplied HIGH cooking time is 3–4 hours.
When do I add the sour cream?
Add the sour cream after the main slow-cooking stage. Remove the chicken, stir the sour cream into the gravy until smooth, and then return the chicken.
Do I shred or slice the chicken?
Either works. The recipe specifically gives you the choice to shred or slice the cooked chicken.
How long does the chicken cook after adding the sour cream?
Once the chicken has been returned to the creamy gravy, let it warm for another 5–10 minutes.
What is the gravy made from?
The gravy starts with cream of chicken soup, chicken gravy mix and chicken broth. Finely diced onion, minced garlic and butter are also included, and sour cream is stirred in near the end.
What seasonings go on the chicken?
Season the chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and dried thyme.
What can I serve with Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken & Gravy?
The supplied recipe recommends mashed potatoes, steamed rice, egg noodles or biscuits.
Is parsley required?
No. The tablespoon of chopped fresh parsley is optional and is used as a garnish if desired.
How many servings does this recipe make?
The supplied recipe does not state a serving yield, so an exact number of servings has not been assigned.
Recipe Card: Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken & Gravy
Recipe Name: Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken & Gravy
Description: Boneless chicken slowly cooked in savory chicken gravy, finished with sour cream and served with plenty of creamy sauce.
Method: Slow cooker
Slow Cooker Size: 6-quart
Cooking Time: LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, plus 5–10 minutes after finishing the gravy
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
- 1 packet chicken gravy mix
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, optional
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Place the chicken in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and thyme.
- Make the Gravy: In a bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, chicken gravy mix, and chicken broth until smooth. Stir in the diced onion and garlic.
- Slow Cook: Pour the gravy mixture over the chicken and place the butter on top. Cover and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Make It Creamy: Remove the chicken and shred or slice it. Stir the sour cream into the gravy until smooth, then return the chicken to the slow cooker. Let it warm for another 5–10 minutes.
- Serve: Spoon the chicken and plenty of gravy over mashed potatoes, steamed rice, egg noodles, or biscuits. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Recipe Notes
- Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
- Season the chicken before adding the gravy mixture.
- Whisk the soup, gravy mix and broth until smooth before adding the onion and garlic.
- Cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours.
- The supplied doneness cues are tender and cooked-through chicken.
- Add the sour cream after the main slow-cooking stage.
- Shred or slice the chicken, then warm it in the finished gravy for another 5–10 minutes.
- Fresh parsley is optional.
- No serving yield or nutrition information was supplied.
Storage and Reheating
Specific storage and reheating instructions were not included with the original recipe.