Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy
Experience the ultimate comfort food with our Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy recipe, featuring tender chicken breasts smothered in creamy gravy. Perfect for a hearty family dinner!
Every time I fire up my slow cooker to make this Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy, it takes me back to my grandmother’s kitchen. As a child, I’d watch in fascination as she’d skillfully turn a few simple ingredients into a dish that warmed hearts and filled bellies. This recipe is my way of keeping her culinary legacy alive, tweaked with my touch of using sour cream for an extra creamy texture, reminding me of the countless Sundays spent under her loving tutelage.
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy
Introduction: Our Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy isn’t just another recipe; it’s the embodiment of home-cooked comfort packed into a crockpot. With minimal prep and maximum flavor, this dish is perfect for anyone wanting to whip up a satisfying meal without fuss.
- Effortless Preparation: Just 15 minutes of prep and your slow cooker does the rest, making it ideal for busy weekdays.
- Healthier Options: Utilizing low-sodium chicken broth and sour cream for creaminess reduces the guilt without sacrificing taste.
- Versatile Serving: Delicious over rice or mashed potatoes, this dish can adapt to whatever you have on hand.
- Family Favorite: A recipe that brings everyone to the table and is sure to become a go-to for its comforting flavors and ease of making.
Ingredient Notes:
Each ingredient in our Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy plays a pivotal role in creating a dish that’s bursting with flavor yet simple to make.
- Chicken Breasts: Using boneless, skinless breasts makes this dish lean and healthy.
- Cream of Chicken Soup: Acts as the creamy base of the gravy, enveloping the chicken in rich flavor.
- Chicken Gravy Mix: Deepens the gravy’s savory taste without the hassle of making it from scratch.
- Low-Sodium Chicken Broth: Keeps the dish lighter while aiding in the smooth consistency of the gravy.
- Sour Cream: Adds a tangy richness, enhancing the gravy’s texture and flavor.
- Seasoning: Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper are all you need to enhance the natural flavors of the other ingredients.
How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy
Introduction: Let’s break down the cooking process into simple, manageable steps, ensuring your Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy turns out perfectly every time.
- Arrange the Chicken: Start by placing the chicken breasts evenly at the bottom of your slow cooker, setting the stage for an evenly cooked meal.
- Make the Gravy Mix: In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, chicken gravy mix, and chicken broth until smooth, ensuring no lumps remain for a silky gravy.
- Cook the Chicken: Gently pour the gravy mixture over the chicken, cover, and set your slow cooker on low. This slow cooking process melds the flavors beautifully, making the chicken tender and juicy.
- Shred the Chicken: After cooking, shred the chicken in the slow cooker using two forks. This allows it to soak up all the delicious gravy, enhancing the flavor and ensuring the meat remains moist.
- Add Sour Cream and Season: Stir in the sour cream for a creamy finish, and season with salt and pepper to your taste.
- Serve and Garnish: Serve the creamy chicken and gravy over your choice of rice or mashed potatoes, and sprinkle chopped parsley for a fresh, herbal note.
Storage Options:
This Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy is not only delicious but also stores wonderfully. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to three days, making it a fantastic option for meal prep. For longer storage, freeze it in airtight containers for up to three months. Simply reheat on the stove or in the microwave, and enjoy a quick, comforting meal anytime.
Variations and Substitutions:
Introduction: While our recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy is a hit, it’s always fun to mix things up. Here are some ideas to customize this dish to your liking.
- Dairy-Free: Swap out the sour cream for a dairy-free alternative like coconut cream to cater to dietary restrictions without losing the creamy texture.
- Different Proteins: Although chicken is a classic, feel free to try this recipe with turkey breasts or pork tenderloin for a delightful twist.
- Additional Herbs: Introduce herbs such as thyme or rosemary during the cooking process to infuse the gravy with aromatic flavors.
- Mushroom Addition: Add sliced mushrooms to the slow cooker before pouring in the gravy for an earthy flavor that complements the creamy chicken beautifully.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy
Ingredients
- 2½ pounds of boneless skinless chicken breasts, thawed if previously frozen
- 10.25 ounces of cream of chicken soup one standard can
- 1.74 ounces of chicken gravy mix two envelopes
- 1 cup of low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup of sour cream
- Kosher salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Cooked rice for serving
- Fresh parsley finely chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Preparation of Chicken: Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of the slow cooker, ensuring they are spread out evenly to facilitate uniform cooking.
- Preparation of Gravy Mixture: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the cream of chicken soup, chicken gravy mix, and chicken broth. Whisk the ingredients together until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps.
- Cooking: Pour the prepared gravy mixture over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Cover the slow cooker with its lid and set the appliance to cook on low heat for approximately 4 hours, or until the chicken achieves an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Shredding the Chicken: Once the cooking time has elapsed, use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, allowing the shredded meat to absorb the surrounding gravy.
- Final Seasoning and Addition of Sour Cream: Stir in the sour cream into the slow cooker. Season the mixture with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper according to your taste preferences.
- Serving: Ladle the chicken and gravy over cooked rice. Garnish each serving with a sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley to enhance the visual appeal and add a burst of fresh flavor.
