When life’s moving at full tilt and dinner sneaks up on me, my slow cooker becomes my secret weapon!
I absolutely love tossing a few healthy ingredients into the crockpot, going about my day, and coming back to a house that smells like I’ve been cooking for hours.
And chicken is my go-to on those hectic days.
It’s easy and it takes on flavor like a champ, plus it’s a healthy option for your family!
I’ve leaned on these healthy crockpot chicken recipes during everything from chaotic school mornings to busy summer days.
No fancy prep, no endless steps, just real meals that taste good and save my sanity.
If your dinner game needs a little help right now, you’re in the right place with these crockpot chicken recipes!
1. Healthy Italian Chicken Bean Soup
This is such a simple healthy crockpot meal you will make it again and again.
Start by rinsing and sorting the beans, then adding them to the slow cooker.
Add the chicken, vegetables, garlic, rosemary, and broth—wait to add the tomatoes and seasoning packet.
Cover and cook on high for 7 hours without lifting the lid.
After cooking, remove the rosemary and shred or cube the chicken before returning it to the soup.
Add the diced tomatoes and seasoning, stir, and salt to taste. Serve and enjoy!
2. Thai Peanut Chicken
Add the coconut milk, peanut butter, chicken broth, sriracha, soy sauce, and rice vinegar to the slow cooker and stir to combine.
Then add the boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
Cook on low for 4–5 hours or high for 2 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
Take the chicken out, slice it into bite-sized pieces, and set aside.
Mix cornstarch and water to make a quick slurry, stir it into the sauce to thicken, then return the chicken to coat.
I like to serve it with chopped peanuts, cilantro, and lime wedges and it’s great over rice, noodles, or lettuce wraps.
3. Creamy Garlic Parm Chicken
For this recipe, you’ll want to start with boneless chicken breasts or thighs at the bottom of the crockpot.
Mix together some heavy cream, a few cloves of minced garlic, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and a bit of chicken broth.
Pour it over the chicken and cook on low for 4–6 hours.
Halfway through, toss in a handful of spinach if you like it wilted and silky.
Spoon the sauce over mashed potatoes or cooked pasta.
And if you need more chicken breast recipes, check out my post!
4. Healthy Butter Chicken
In a bowl, mix together the coconut milk, Greek yogurt, cream, tomato paste, garlic, ginger, curry powder, garam masala, turmeric, cayenne, red curry paste, and a pinch of salt.
Grease your slow cooker, sprinkle in some finely minced onion, and add bite-sized chunks of chicken breast.
Pour the creamy curry mixture over the top to fully coat the chicken, then add a couple tablespoons of butter.
Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6–8. Give it a stir if you’d like, then season to taste.
Serve it over rice with fresh naan—trust me, you’ll want the naan!
5. Healthy Mexican Chicken & Rice Soup
Add chicken breasts, chopped onion, green pepper, jalapeño, garlic, chili powder, cumin, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and frozen corn to a 6-quart slow cooker.
Stir everything together, then cover and cook on high for 4 hours. Near the end, cook your long grain white rice separately.
Once the soup is done, stir in the rice along with a splash of lime juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then serve and enjoy!
6. Chicken Gumbo
Start by browning boneless skinless chicken thighs in a skillet for a few minutes on each side, then transfer them to the slow cooker. In the same pan, sauté chopped veggies—like onion, jalapeños (or bell peppers if you want it mild)—along with sliced andouille sausage.
Once they’ve got some color, add them to the slow cooker too. Pour in crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, drained kidney beans, Cajun seasoning, a bay leaf, and a pinch of salt.
Stir everything together, then cook on low for 5–6 hours or high for 3–4. When it’s done, shred the chicken and stir in a bit of file powder if using.
Serve hot with rice on top.
7. Healthy Tuscan Chicken
Lay boneless chicken breasts in the slow cooker and season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
In a bowl, mix sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, spinach, cream cheese, and a splash of broth or milk to thin it out.
Pour the mixture over the chicken and cook on low for 4–5 hours.
Once it’s done, give it a good stir to bring everything together and spoon it over rice or noodles.
Top with grated parmesan for extra richness.
8. Chicken Tacos
In the bottom of your slow cooker, mix salsa with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and a splash of lime juice.
Add 2 pounds of chicken breasts or thighs and coat them in the mixture. Cover and cook on low for 2–3 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through.
Shred the chicken right in the slow cooker, stir in chopped cilantro, and let it warm for a few more minutes.
Serve in warm tortillas—whole wheat or corn—with your favorite toppings like cheese, avocado, and lettuce, plus an extra squeeze of lime.
9. Healthy Tomato Basil Chicken
Layer chicken breasts with diced tomatoes (canned or fresh), garlic, chopped onion, and a generous sprinkle of Italian herbs.
Pour in a little broth and let it cook on low for 5–6 hours.
Add in fresh chopped basil during the last 15 minutes for a bright, herby punch.
You can serve it over spaghetti, mashed potatoes, or on toasted rolls with melted mozzarella.
10. Chicken and Broccoli
Season bite-sized chicken pieces with garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and paprika. In the slow cooker, mix chicken broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and hoisin sauce.
Add the chicken and toss to coat.
Cook on low for 4–5 hours or high for 2–3. Toward the end, stir cornstarch into a bit of the sauce, return it to the slow cooker, and add chopped broccoli.
Let it cook on high for another 20 minutes until the sauce thickens and the broccoli is tender.
Serve with rice, cauliflower rice, or noodles, and top with green onions and sesame seeds if you like.
11. Healthy Chicken With Rice
Toss some chicken thighs, uncooked white rice, chicken broth, garlic, and onion into the crockpot along with a splash of cream or a pat of butter for richness.
Season everything with salt, pepper, and a pinch of paprika.
Cook on high in your crockpot for about 3–4 hours or low for 5–6, stirring once halfway through to keep the rice from sticking.
If it starts to look dry near the end, I always pour in a little extra broth.
Finish with chopped parsley or shredded cheese on top.
12. Lemon and Herb Chicken
Place bone-in or boneless chicken pieces over uncooked rice in the slow cooker.
Add some chicken broth, garlic, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and slices of lemon on top.
Sprinkle with rosemary, thyme, salt, and black pepper, then cover and cook on low for about 6 hours.
I love how the lemon infuses the rice and chicken with a fresh, zesty flavor!
Remove the lemon slices before serving to avoid bitterness.
13. Healthy Salsa Chicken
Add 1.5 pounds of chicken breasts to the slow cooker and sprinkle with taco seasoning. Toss to coat, then pour salsa over the top to cover the chicken.
Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4, until the chicken is tender.
Shred it right in the crockpot and mix with the saucy salsa. Serve hot in tacos, over rice, or however you like!
14. Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Yes, you can make a casserole in your crockpot!
Layer cubed chicken, enchilada sauce, black beans, corn, diced onion, and torn-up corn tortillas in the crockpot.
Repeat the layers like you’re building a lasagna, finishing with extra sauce and a handful of shredded cheese on top.
Cook on low for 4–5 hours until bubbly and melty.
Add more cheese in the last 15 minutes if you’re a cheese person (I definitely am).
Top with sour cream, avocado, or jalapeños before serving.
15. Chicken Burrito Bowl
Add chicken breasts, a drained can of black beans, corn, salsa, garlic, and taco seasoning to the slow cooker.
Let it cook on low for 5–6 hours until the chicken is fork-tender.
Shred it up and stir everything together, then scoop it over rice or quinoa.
Add fresh toppings like diced tomatoes, lime, cilantro, or shredded lettuce.
Serve it straight from the slow cooker if you’re feeding a group.
16. Honey Garlic Chicken
Place chicken thighs in the crockpot and whisk together soy sauce, honey, garlic, and a splash of rice vinegar.
Pour the sauce over the chicken and cook on low for 5–6 hours until the meat is tender and flavorful.
Right before serving, mix a little cornstarch with water and stir it into the sauce to thicken.
Let it cook for another 15–20 minutes with the lid off.
Serve it over rice with steamed broccoli or snap peas on the side.
17. Healthy Sweet Hawaiian Chicken
Toss cubed chicken with pineapple chunks (juice included), soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and a splash of vinegar.
Cook it all on low for 4–5 hours until the sauce is sticky and the chicken is glazed.
If you want to bulk it up, throw in some sliced bell peppers during the last hour.
This one’s great over rice or tucked into lettuce wraps. Sprinkle with green onion for some crunch.
18. Bourbon Chicken
Whisk together bourbon (or apple juice if you’re skipping alcohol), soy sauce, brown sugar, ketchup, garlic, and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Pour it over chopped chicken in your slow cooker and stir to coat.
Let it cook on low for 6 hours or until the sauce is rich and the chicken is tender enough to shred.
You can thicken the sauce with cornstarch before serving.
Spoon it over rice or noodles and drizzle with a little extra sauce.
19. Orange Chicken
Mix orange marmalade, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, and garlic, then pour it over bite-sized chicken in the crockpot.
Cook on low for 4 hours until the chicken is cooked through and sticky with sauce.
If you want more texture, crisp the chicken in a skillet or under the broiler for a few minutes before tossing it back in.
Garnish with sesame seeds and green onion.
Pair with rice and stir-fried veggies.
20. Healthy Teriyaki Chicken
Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker and pour over a simple sauce of soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and a little sesame oil.
Cook on low for 5–6 hours until the chicken is tender and soaks up all that flavor.
Remove the chicken to shred or slice, then thicken the sauce with cornstarch if you’d like it sticky.
Serve it over rice or noodles and top with sesame seeds or chopped scallions.
Add steamed broccoli or edamame to round it out.
21. Chicken Stew
Add cubed chicken, diced potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and chicken broth to your slow cooker.
Season with thyme, salt, pepper, and a bay leaf for depth.
Let it cook on low for 7–8 hours until everything is soft and cozy.
Mix a bit of cornstarch with cold water and stir it in near the end if you like it thicker.
I usually serve it with crusty bread but you can also use crackers for dunking.
22. Healthy Chicken Cacciatore
Layer chicken thighs with sliced bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, garlic, and crushed tomatoes.
Add a splash of broth and season with oregano, basil, and a little red wine if you’re feeling fancy.
Cook on low for 6–7 hours until the vegetables are soft and the chicken is fall-apart tender.
Spoon it over pasta, polenta, or mashed potatoes.
Finish with fresh parsley or grated parmesan.
23. Healthy Mississippi Chicken
Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker with a packet of ranch seasoning, a packet of au jus mix, a few pepperoncini peppers, and a chunk of butter.
No need to add liquid, just cover and cook on low for 6–7 hours.
Shred the chicken and mix it all together so the flavors soak through.
Pile it onto hoagie rolls, scoop it over mashed potatoes, or eat it straight with a fork.
And save those extra juices to drizzle over everything!
24. BBQ Pulled Chicken
Toss chicken breasts in your slow cooker with your favorite BBQ sauce, a little brown sugar, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Cook on low for about 5 hours until the chicken shreds with no effort.
Stir it all together and let it sit on warm for 15–20 minutes so the flavors settle.
Serve on buns, in wraps, or over cornbread with coleslaw.
Add pickles for a tangy bite.
25. Healthy Mango Chicken
Add boneless, skinless chicken thighs to your slow cooker along with ginger ale, mango juice, chopped onion, garlic, and a bit of salt and pepper.
Cook on high for 6 hours. While that’s going, mix up your fresh mango salsa with chopped mango, red bell pepper, green onions, cilantro, lime juice, and a splash of mango juice—let it sit for at least 30 minutes.
About 20 minutes before the chicken’s done, cook your quinoa.
Once the chicken is tender, shred it and serve over quinoa, topped with the mango salsa.
26. Healthy Coconut Lime Chicken
Place chicken thighs in the slow cooker and pour in coconut milk, lime juice, garlic, and a little ginger.
Season with salt and red pepper flakes, then cook on low for 5–6 hours until the flavors meld.
Add a handful of chopped cilantro at the end for brightness.
This one is great with jasmine rice or over a bed of sautéed greens.
Squeeze a bit of fresh lime on top before serving.
Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!
There’s something deeply satisfying about letting dinner cook itself while you actually handle everything else on your plate.
Crockpot chicken doesn’t have to be bland or boring!
These recipes cover everything from cozy classics to bold, saucy favorites.
Pick one, throw it in, and let your kitchen do the heavy lifting.
