Most of us don’t have time to cook a big dinner when we get home from work. But ordering takeout every night can get expensive, and those boxed dinners are loaded with sodium and are not the healthiest of options.
Cue the crockpot, one of the best appliances in a busy family’s kitchen.
With just a little bit of prep in the morning, you can come home to a dinner that is ready to eat, or at least minutes away from being ready. Plus, using fresh ingredients guarantees a healthier dinner that is full of vitamins and minerals and loaded with flavor.
Here are 10 easy crockpot chicken recipes that are perfect for any night of the week.
1. Chicken Noodle Soup
Skip soup from a can, and instead try this delicious and easy recipe that features boneless chicken breasts, egg noodles, veggies, and tons of herbs and spices. You can customize this recipe with the veggies of your choice, and you can simmer the dish in water or chicken broth.
2. Crockpot Chicken
It doesn’t get much easier than this simple crockpot chicken recipe that calls for chicken thighs, chicken broth or stock, garlic, soy sauce, and a few seasonings. After letting the thighs sit in the crockpot for four hours, transfer them to a baking dish and broil them for five to 10 minutes. Then serve them with a side of rice and veggies for a complete, healthy meal.
3. Five-Ingredient Chicken Fajitas
With just a little bit of preparation in the morning, you can come home to spicy, tender chicken and veggies that will be perfect to load into tortillas. You can customize the seasonings and toppings to take your fajitas to the next level. If you need a diet-friendly option, try the vegan or gluten-free variation.
4. Whole Chicken
Yes, you can cook a whole chicken in your crockpot! All it takes is some butter and a handful of seasonings to get a delicious, healthy dinner. Feel free to add some veggies to the bottom of the crockpot for a side dish, or use the juices left behind to make an amazing homemade gravy.
5. Chicken Tikka Masala
This take on a classic creamy curry-based Indian dish contains onion, garlic, ginger, coconut, and cream along with boneless, skinless chicken thighs. If you want to make it spicier, try adding some cayenne pepper or chili powder. And, if you have dietary restrictions, you can easily replace ingredients as needed.
6. Crispy Orange Chicken
Instead of ordering takeout, try this recipe for crispy crockpot orange chicken that is loaded with flavor and much healthier than restaurant or store-bought options. You can either stick with the basic recipe or opt for one of the variations like extra crispy, juicy, or gluten-free.
7. Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches
The perfect homemade dinner option for a busy life, this three-ingredient crockpot BBQ chicken sandwich recipe uses only chicken breasts, barbecue sauce, and chicken broth. But don’t let its simplicity fool you. After a few hours, you will have delicious chicken that you can easily shred and serve on buns with any topping you can think of. If you want to add a little kick to your chicken, try adding some Coca-Cola or Dr. Pepper for extra flavor.
8. Chicken Tacos
With just three ingredients and a little bit of time, you can up your Taco Tuesday game with these crockpot chicken tacos that you can garnish any way you want. You can also switch up the spices to get the flavor you prefer.
9. Chicken Teriyaki
Another delicious alternative to takeout, this chicken teriyaki features orange marmalade, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, brown sugar, and apple cider vinegar. After letting the chicken sit for four to five hours in the crockpot, serve this delicious dish with a side of rice and veggies.
10. Chicken Taco Chili
Who doesn’t love a bowl of hot chili in the winter? Traditional chili is always delicious, but if you want to shake things up a bit, try merging chili with another favorite — tacos. This chicken taco chili includes veggies, beans, and a variety of spices, and it will have you asking for seconds.
