Slow-Cooker Chicken and Stuffing

There’s no reason to limit stuffing to the Thanksgiving table. This slow-cooker chicken and stuffing recipe embraces the savory, comforting flavor of the beloved side dish, turning it into a homey weeknight dinner recipe you can use any time of year. Plus, it’s one of our easiest slow-cooker chicken recipes: We make it with store-bought stuffing, and the creamy sauce is a snap to prepare with canned condensed soup and simple seasonings. Just dump the ingredients into the slow cooker and turn it on for a dinner that will simmer away with zero effort on your part.

Ingredients for Slow-Cooker Chicken and Stuffing

• Condensed cream of chicken soup: Cream of chicken soup recipes are great shortcuts when time is limited. Use two undiluted cans to make a rich, robust sauce for the chicken.
• Sour cream: Sour cream adds richness and tang to the sauce. You can use low- or nonfat sour cream if you like.
• Onion: Like many crockpot chicken dishes, this recipe includes onion for its sweetness and texture.
• Seasonings: Keep things simple with a dash of garlic powder and black pepper.
• Chicken breasts: We like to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts here. They cook quickly, and the sauce prevents them from drying out.
• Stuffing cubes: Seasoned stuffing cubes are essential. They soak up the sauce in the slow cooker, making this a starchy, hearty side dish.
• Parsley: Garnish the chicken with a sprinkle of fresh parsley.

Directions

Step 1: Mix the sauce

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In a 5-quart slow cooker, stir together the condensed soup, sour cream, onion, garlic powder and pepper.

Step 2: Add the chicken and stuffing

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Add the chicken to the sauce and toss to coat.

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Sprinkle the stuffing cubes on the top.

Step 3: Slow-cook the chicken

Cover and cook on low until the chicken cooks through and becomes tender, four to five hours.

Step 4: Finish the stuffing

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Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and transfer it to a plate or platter. Add the parsley to the slow cooker and mix it into the stuffing until it’s well-coated.

Step 5: Serve

Serve the chicken over the stuffing. If desired, sprinkle with additional parsley and black pepper.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken and Stuffing Variations

• Jazz up the stuffing: Stuffing cubes are convenient, but with a bit of extra effort you can make boxed stuffing taste homemade. Add dried fruit, chopped nuts or bacon bits for extra flavor.
• Play with flavors: The base recipe is straightforward, but plenty of spices and herbs taste delicious here. Add a dash of dried Italian herb mix or some fresh or dried basil, oregano or thyme. Dial up the heat with cayenne, mustard powder or pepper flakes; add depth with smoked paprika; or add savory flavor with cumin or seasoned salt.
• Change the chicken: Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts. Thighs typically have more flavor than white meat.
• Make homemade soup: For bonus points (and total control over the sodium), you can make homemade cream of chicken soup to replace the canned condensed soup.

How to Store Slow-Cooker Chicken and Stuffing

Slow-cooker chicken keeps very well, especially when stored in its rich sauce. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

How long does chicken and stuffing last?

Leftover chicken and stuffing will last three to four days in the fridge.

Can you freeze slow-cooker chicken and stuffing?

Yes, this makes a delicious freezer meal recipe. You can freeze the entire recipe or just the leftovers. Allow the chicken and stuffing to cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container and freeze them for up to three months. Defrost the slow-cooker chicken and stuffing in the refrigerator overnight before reheating them.

How do you reheat chicken and stuffing?

There are a few easy ways to reheat chicken. Microwaving is the quickest way to heat up the leftovers; simply portion the chicken, stuffing and sauce into a microwave-safe dish, drizzle a teaspoon of water over the top and heat in short blasts until warmed through. Adding liquid to the leftovers as you reheat them will keep them moist and help them warm evenly.

You can also reheat the chicken and stuffing in a pan on the stove. Warm a spoonful of oil in the pan, then add the chicken and stuffing and a dash of water or broth. Cover the pan and warm the leftovers until they’re heated through.

Slow-Cooker Chicken and Stuffing Tips

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Can you make slow-cooker chicken and stuffing with other cuts of chicken?

Yes, you can make this chicken dish with other cuts of chicken. We like to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs, which are tender but a bit more flavorful than breasts. You can also use bone-in chicken thighs, which will be extra juicy but may take longer to cook in the slow cooker than chicken breasts. Check them for doneness with an instant-read thermometer; chicken is done when it has an internal temperature of 165ºF.

How do you make baked chicken and stuffing casserole?

You can make this easy chicken dinner recipe in the oven. To make baked chicken and stuffing, layer chicken breasts and Swiss cheese in a 13×9-inch casserole dish, pour over the sauce made of condensed soup and finish with a layer of stuffing cubes. Bake the casserole at 350º for 45 to 55 minutes. As a bonus, the dry heat of the oven will crisp the stuffing up.

What can you serve with slow-cooker chicken and stuffing?

Since slow-cooker chicken and stuffing contain protein and starch, we like serving it with a nice vegetable side dish. Keep it as simple as you like and serve steamed broccoli, peas or green beans. A simple green salad would be perfect, but you can also get fancy with sugar snap pea stir-fry or grated carrot salad. Or, since you already have the oven on, try a baked side dish like Parmesan asparagus or glazed winter squash.