Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy
Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy is an easy comfort-food dinner built around tender boneless chicken breasts and plenty of rich, savory gravy. With only 10 minutes of prep, the crockpot handles nearly all the cooking while you get on with the rest of your day.
The gravy comes together with dry chicken gravy mix, cream of chicken soup and water. Garlic powder and black pepper add simple seasoning, and everything gets whisked together before being poured directly over the chicken.
Cook the chicken on LOW for 4–6 hours, checking that the thickest part reaches 165°F. You can leave the breasts whole for serving or use the supplied shredded chicken variation during the final 20–30 minutes.
For a classic comfort-food meal, spoon the chicken and plenty of gravy over creamy mashed potatoes. Fluffy rice and buttered egg noodles are also included as serving options, giving you several easy ways to turn this simple crockpot chicken into dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Prep takes just 10 minutes: There is no complicated preparation before the slow cooker takes over.
- It uses only six ingredients: Chicken, gravy mix, soup, water and two seasonings make up the complete recipe.
- No browning is required: The chicken breasts go directly into the slow cooker in a single layer.
- The gravy is easy to prepare: Simply whisk the gravy ingredients together until smooth and well blended.
- Everything cooks together: The gravy surrounds the chicken throughout the slow-cooking stage.
- You can serve the chicken whole or shredded: The recipe includes instructions for both options.
- There are several serving choices: Mashed potatoes, rice and buttered egg noodles are all suggested.
- It makes four servings: The supplied recipe provides a clear serving yield for meal planning.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 packet dry chicken gravy mix
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1 ½ cups water
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Ingredient Notes
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
The recipe uses four boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Arrange them in a single layer across the bottom of the slow cooker so they are ready for the gravy mixture.
Dry Chicken Gravy Mix
One packet of dry chicken gravy mix forms part of the savory gravy base. The source does not specify a packet weight or brand, so no package size has been added.
Cream of Chicken Soup
One can of cream of chicken soup adds body to the gravy. The supplied recipe does not specify a can size or brand.
Water
Use 1 ½ cups of water. It is whisked with the soup, dry gravy mix and seasonings before the mixture goes over the chicken.
Garlic Powder
Half a teaspoon of garlic powder provides simple savory seasoning without requiring any chopping or mincing.
Black Pepper
The gravy mixture includes ¼ teaspoon of black pepper. No additional salt is listed in the supplied recipe.
Equipment
- Slow cooker
- Medium mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Food thermometer
- Two forks or another suitable utensil if making the shredded chicken variation
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy
-
Add the Chicken
Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer on the bottom of your slow cooker.
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Prepare the Gravy
In a medium bowl, whisk together the chicken gravy mix, cream of chicken soup, water, garlic powder, and black pepper until smooth and well blended.
-
Pour and Cover
Pour the gravy mixture evenly over the chicken, making sure the breasts are generously coated.
-
Let the Slow Cooker Work
Cover and cook on LOW for 4–6 hours, or until the chicken is tender and reaches 165°F in the thickest part.
-
Finish and Serve
Serve the chicken whole with plenty of gravy spooned over the top. It is especially delicious with creamy mashed potatoes, fluffy rice, or buttered egg noodles.
Optional Shredded Chicken Variation
For an extra comforting, hearty meal, shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker during the final 20–30 minutes. Stir it into the gravy and let it soak up the savory flavor before serving.
Tips for the Best Results
- Keep the chicken in a single layer: This is how the supplied method arranges the four chicken breasts before adding the gravy.
- Whisk the gravy until smooth: Thoroughly combine the gravy mix, soup, water, garlic powder and pepper before pouring it over the chicken.
- Coat the chicken generously: Pour the gravy evenly so the chicken breasts are well covered.
- Use the LOW setting: The supplied recipe calls for LOW for 4–6 hours and does not give a HIGH-setting conversion.
- Check the thickest part: The chicken should reach 165°F in the thickest portion according to the supplied method.
- Choose your preferred texture: Keep the breasts whole or use the optional shredded chicken method.
- Shred at the right time: If making the variation, shred the chicken during the final 20–30 minutes rather than after serving.
- Stir shredded chicken into the gravy: This lets the pieces sit in the gravy for the remainder of the cooking period.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Adding the Gravy Ingredients Separately
The supplied recipe first whisks the chicken gravy mix, cream of chicken soup, water, garlic powder and black pepper together until smooth. Pour that combined mixture over the chicken.
Stacking the Chicken Without Need
Arrange the four chicken breasts in a single layer on the bottom of the slow cooker as directed.
Guessing a HIGH Cooking Time
The recipe provides only a LOW setting of 4–6 hours. A HIGH-setting conversion is not part of the supplied method.
Using Time as the Only Doneness Check
The recipe includes both a time range and a temperature cue. Cook until the chicken is tender and reaches 165°F in the thickest part.
Guessing the Package Sizes
The packet size for the dry chicken gravy mix and the can size for the cream of chicken soup were not supplied. No unsupported package measurements should be added.
Shredding Too Early
If you choose the shredded version, the supplied variation places that step during the final 20–30 minutes of cooking.
Substitutions and Variations
Shredded Chicken and Gravy
The recipe includes one specific variation. During the final 20–30 minutes, shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, stir it into the gravy and allow it to continue cooking in the sauce before serving.
No ingredient substitutions are supplied for the chicken breasts, gravy mix or cream of chicken soup. Changes to those ingredients would therefore be editorial variations rather than part of the original recipe.
Serving Suggestions
Creamy mashed potatoes are a natural match for Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy because they provide a base for both the tender chicken and plenty of savory gravy.
The supplied recipe also recommends fluffy rice or buttered egg noodles. Whether you serve the chicken breasts whole or make the shredded variation, spoon plenty of gravy over everything before serving.
Storage and Reheating
Specific storage and reheating instructions were not included with the supplied recipe, so this article does not assign a storage duration or reheating method that was not provided.
Frequently Asked Questions
What goes in Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy?
The recipe uses boneless, skinless chicken breasts, dry chicken gravy mix, cream of chicken soup, water, garlic powder and black pepper.
How many chicken breasts do I need?
Use four boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
Do I need to brown the chicken first?
No browning step is included in the supplied recipe. Arrange the chicken breasts directly in the bottom of the slow cooker.
How do I make the gravy mixture?
Whisk the dry chicken gravy mix, cream of chicken soup, 1 ½ cups water, garlic powder and black pepper together until smooth and well blended.
How long does chicken and gravy cook in the slow cooker?
Cook it covered on LOW for 4–6 hours.
Can I cook this recipe on HIGH?
The supplied recipe does not provide a HIGH-setting time, so this version keeps the documented LOW method.
How do I know when the chicken is ready?
The directions say the chicken should be tender and reach 165°F in the thickest part.
Can I shred the chicken?
Yes. The recipe includes an optional variation that calls for shredding the chicken directly in the slow cooker during the final 20–30 minutes.
What should I serve with chicken and gravy?
The supplied serving suggestions are creamy mashed potatoes, fluffy rice or buttered egg noodles.
How many servings does the recipe make?
The supplied recipe makes 4 servings.
How many calories are in Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy?
The supplied nutrition estimate is approximately 275 calories per serving, depending on the brands used and serving size.
How much preparation time does it need?
The supplied prep time is 10 minutes.
Recipe Card: Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy
Recipe Name: Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy
Description: Tender boneless chicken breasts slow-cooked in a rich, savory chicken gravy and served whole or shredded.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4–6 hours on LOW
Servings: 4
Calories: Approximately 275 per serving, depending on brands and serving size
Method: Slow cooker
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 packet dry chicken gravy mix
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1 ½ cups water
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer on the bottom of your slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the chicken gravy mix, cream of chicken soup, water, garlic powder, and black pepper until smooth and well blended.
- Pour the gravy mixture evenly over the chicken, making sure the breasts are generously coated.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4–6 hours, or until the chicken is tender and reaches 165°F in the thickest part.
- Serve the chicken whole with plenty of gravy spooned over the top. It is especially delicious with creamy mashed potatoes, fluffy rice, or buttered egg noodles.
Optional Shredded Chicken Variation
Shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker during the final 20–30 minutes. Stir it into the gravy and let it soak up the savory flavor before serving.
Recipe Notes
- Arrange the four chicken breasts in a single layer.
- Whisk the gravy mixture until smooth and well blended before adding it to the slow cooker.
- Cook on LOW for 4–6 hours.
- The supplied recipe calls for the chicken to reach 165°F in the thickest part.
- For shredded chicken, shred during the final 20–30 minutes and stir it into the gravy.
- Serve with mashed potatoes, rice or buttered egg noodles.
- The recipe makes 4 servings.
- The supplied estimate is approximately 275 calories per serving, depending on brands and serving size.
Storage and Reheating
Specific storage and reheating instructions were not included with the supplied recipe.