When life gets hectic, the crockpot becomes a kitchen hero. It takes minimal effort and delivers maximum flavor. Toss in your ingredients, hit a button, and hours later, you have a meal—or in this case, a base for several meals. This crockpot chicken recipe is not just easy to make, but also budget-friendly and perfect for meal preppers looking to save time during the week.

What's more? This chicken is cooked with onions, celery, and a splash of chicken broth, making it incredibly moist and flavorful, even before you dress it up for your favorite recipes.

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Why Crockpot Chicken is a Game-Changer

When life gets hectic, the crockpot becomes a kitchen hero. It takes minimal effort and delivers maximum flavor. Toss in your ingredients, hit a button, and hours later, you have a meal—or in this case, a base for several meals. This crockpot chicken recipe is not just easy to make, but also budget-friendly and perfect for meal preppers looking to save time during the week.

What's more? This chicken is cooked with onions, celery, and a splash of chicken broth, making it incredibly moist and flavorful, even before you dress it up for your favorite recipes.

Here’s What You’ll Need

For the base recipe:

2-3 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 medium onion, diced
2 stalks of celery, chopped
1 cup or less of low-sodium chicken broth
Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Crockpot Chicken Recipe

Prep Your Ingredients: Start by dicing the onions and chopping the celery. These veggies add subtle flavor and keep the chicken juicy as it cooks.
Layer the Crockpot: Place the chicken breasts at the bottom of your crockpot. Sprinkle with salt and pepper for seasoning. Add the diced onions and chopped celery on top.
Pour the Broth: Pour 1 cup of chicken broth over the chicken and vegetables. This prevents the chicken from drying out and enhances its flavor.
Set It and Forget It: Cover the crockpot with its lid. Cook on High for 3-4 hours or on Low for 6-8 hours. The chicken should be tender and easy to shred or chop.
Shred or Chunk It: Once done, remove the chicken from the crockpot. Use two forks to shred it for tacos, pulled barbecue sandwiches, or wraps. Alternatively, cut it into chunks for recipes like chicken salad or casseroles.

And that’s it—your perfectly cooked chicken is ready to transform into a variety of meals!

Create Multiple Meals with This Versatile Chicken

Once you’ve prepared your crockpot chicken, the possibilities are endless. Here are just a few ideas on how you can use this flexible base across multiple dishes throughout the week.

Chicken Salad: Turn your shredded chicken into a flavorful salad that’s perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or a topping for greens.
Loaded Baked Potatoes: Use the chicken as a savory topping for baked potatoes. Add cheese, sour cream, and chives for a comforting dinner.
Tacos or Quesadillas: Toss the chicken with taco seasoning and use it as a filling for tacos or quesadillas.
Soups and Stews: Add it to chicken noodle soup or a hearty stew for an easy, warming meal.
Pasta Dishes: Mix the chicken into creamy Alfredo or spicy marinara for a quick pasta dinner.

Here are a few other recipes from the blog that everyone loves:

Greek Lemon Turkey Soup

Protein Packed Asian Beef Bowl

Flavor Packed Chicken Buddha Bowl

Stuffed Red Pepper Soup

Spicy Coconut Lime Chicken Soup

The Best Taco Soup

Sausage Low Carb Italian Soup

Mexican chicken Salad

A Healthier, Light Chicken Salad Recipe

One of my absolute favorite ways to use this crockpot chicken is in a healthier chicken salad. Using a combination of Greek yogurt and just a touch of mayo keeps it creamy and rich, without being heavy. Adding pecans and a sprinkle of dill makes it extra special.

Ingredients for Healthy Chicken Salad

2 cups of crockpot chicken (shredded or chopped)
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2/3 cup plain Greek yogurt (substitute more mayo if preferred)
1 cup celery, diced
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1-2 teaspoons fresh dill (or 1/2 teaspoon dried dill)
Juice of half a lemon
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Combine the shredded or chopped chicken with mayonnaise and Greek yogurt. Stir until well blended.
Mix in the diced celery, chopped pecans, and dill.
Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for brightness. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Serve on whole-grain bread, in lettuce wraps, or as a topping on fresh greens.

The Easiest Crockpot Chicken Salad Recipe

Yield: 4-6

Author: Angie Bloom

Prep time: 12 MinCook time: 4 HourTotal time: 4 H & 12 M

Learn how to make the easiest crockpot chicken recipe for meal prep! Perfect for chicken salad, loaded baked potatoes, soups, & more. Try this today!

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Ingredients

2 cups of crockpot chicken (shredded or chopped) - see crockpot chicken recipe, here
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2/3 cup plain Greek yogurt (substitute more mayo if preferred)
1 cup celery, diced
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1-2 teaspoons fresh dill (or 1/2 teaspoon dried dill)
Juice of half a lemon
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Combine the shredded or chopped chicken with mayonnaise and Greek yogurt. Stir until well blended.
Mix in the diced celery, chopped pecans, and dill.
Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for brightness. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld.
Serve on whole-grain bread, in lettuce wraps, or as a topping on fresh greens.

Recommended Products

Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker, Stainless Steel

Hamilton Beach 8 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker with Three Temperature Settings

Nutrition Facts

Calories

360

Fat

26 g

Sat. Fat

10 g

Carbs

4 g

Fiber

2 g

Net carbs

3 g

Sugar

2 g

Protein

29 g

Sodium

1820 mg

Cholesterol

85 mg

The nutrition information provided is only estimated based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a dietician. Please consult a doctor for accurate, more personal information about your health and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.

Tips & Tricks for Shredding and Storing Your Crockpot Chicken

Want to make your crockpot chicken recipe even easier? Check out these pro tips for shredding and storing leftovers.

Shredding Hacks

Hand Mixer Method: For super quick shredding, place the cooked chicken in a large bowl and use a handheld electric mixer. It will shred the chicken in seconds!
Two-Fork Method: The old-school way still works like a charm. Use two forks and gently pull the chicken apart.

Storing and Freezing

Refrigerate your cooked chicken in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freeze for longer storage! Portion the chicken into freezer-safe bags and label with the date. It will last for up to 3 months in the freezer. Simply thaw it overnight in the refrigerator when you're ready to use it.

Make Dinner Easy with Crockpot Chicken

Creating healthy, delicious meals doesn’t have to take hours in the kitchen. This crockpot chicken recipe is as simple as it gets, yet so versatile, it works for everything from hearty dinners to light lunches. Whether you’re a busy parent, a meal prep enthusiast, or someone just looking to save time, this recipe has you covered.

Why not give it a try and see how many meals you can create from one batch of chicken? Your family (and your wallet) will thank you.

Try this Recipe and Share Your Creation!

We’d love to hear about your cooking experience—snap a picture of your Teriyaki Chicken masterpiece, share it on social media, and tag us at @angiebloom. Let's spread the love for easy, healthy meals one dish at a time!

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