Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy

Introduction & Inspiration

I’m a huge believer in the magic of the slow cooker, especially for creating comforting, flavorful meals with minimal hands-on effort. This Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy recipe immediately caught my eye because it promises exactly that: tender, shredded chicken enveloped in a rich, creamy gravy, all cooked effortlessly while I go about my day. It sounded like the ultimate simple comfort food solution.

My inspiration came from wanting a versatile chicken dish that could be served over rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles – a go-to recipe for busy weeknights or cozy Sundays. The use of convenient ingredients like cream of chicken soup and gravy mix suggested a foolproof way to achieve a delicious, savory gravy without complicated steps.

My goal was to explore this super simple slow cooker method and share just how easy it is to get incredibly tender chicken smothered in a flavorful gravy. It seemed perfect for anyone looking for a satisfying, low-stress meal that practically cooks itself.

Let’s set it and forget it (mostly!) with this easy slow cooker chicken!

Nostalgic Appeal / Comfort Food Connection

Slow cooker meals often evoke a deep sense of nostalgia and comfort. The aroma filling the house after hours of gentle cooking feels inherently homey and welcoming. This recipe, featuring classic chicken and gravy flavors, taps directly into that comforting feeling.

Chicken and gravy is a timeless pairing, reminiscent of Sunday dinners, holiday meals, or classic diner specials. It’s a flavor combination that feels familiar, satisfying, and deeply comforting to many.

The use of convenience items like canned cream of chicken soup and gravy packets also adds a layer of retro, nostalgic charm. These were staples in many mid-century kitchens, known for making flavorful meals accessible and easy.

Enjoying this tender shredded chicken smothered in creamy gravy feels like indulging in pure, unadulterated comfort food – simple, satisfying, and reminiscent of classic home cooking.

Homemade Focus (Effortless Slow Cooking)

While this Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy recipe relies heavily on convenient packaged ingredients, the act of combining them in the slow cooker and letting them transform into a delicious meal still feels satisfyingly homemade. The focus here isn’t on complex techniques, but on the effortless magic the slow cooker provides.

I love recipes that allow the appliance to do the majority of the work, freeing up time for other things. This “dump and go” style recipe is perfect for that. You simply place the chicken in the pot, whisk together the sauce ingredients, pour it over, and let the slow cooker gently cook everything to perfection.

Although using shortcuts, you are still assembling the meal yourself. The final step of shredding the chicken directly into the gravy and stirring in the sour cream creates a cohesive, flavorful dish tailored slightly by your choice of brands and seasoning adjustments.

It’s a testament to how easy homemade comfort food can be, proving you don’t need hours of active cooking to create a delicious, satisfying meal for your family.

Flavor Goal

The primary flavor goal of this Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy is a rich, savory, creamy, and comforting gravy generously coating incredibly tender, shredded chicken. It aims for a classic, home-style chicken and gravy flavor profile, achieved with maximum ease.

The chicken breasts cook slowly in the flavorful liquid, becoming exceptionally tender and easy to shred, absorbing the savory notes of the gravy.

The gravy itself, created from a base of cream of chicken soup, chicken gravy mix packets, and chicken broth, is designed to be savory, slightly salty, and deeply flavored with familiar “chicken gravy” notes.

The sour cream, stirred in at the end, adds a final layer of richness, creaminess, and a subtle tang that balances the savory flavors and prevents the gravy from being too heavy.

The overall effect is moist, flavorful shredded chicken completely enveloped in a smooth, creamy, savory gravy – perfect for serving over a starchy base to soak it all up.

Ingredient Insights

Let’s look at the components of this easy slow cooker meal:

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: The lean protein. They become very tender and shreddable after slow cooking. Thawed is important for even cooking.
• Cream of chicken soup (canned): Provides a creamy base, savory chicken flavor, and thickening for the gravy. A classic shortcut.
• Chicken gravy mix (envelopes): Adds concentrated savory flavor, seasonings, and further thickening agents.
• Low-sodium chicken broth: Provides liquid for the gravy and adds depth of flavor. Low sodium allows better control over the final saltiness.
• Sour cream: Stirred in at the end off-heat for extra creaminess and a touch of tang. Greek yogurt could substitute.
• Kosher salt & Freshly ground black pepper: For seasoning adjustments at the end. Taste before adding salt, as soup/gravy mixes are often salty.
• Cooked rice (for serving): Or mashed potatoes, noodles, biscuits, etc.
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish): Adds freshness and color.

This recipe heavily utilizes convenience products for ease and familiar flavor.

Essential Equipment

The star here is your slow cooker:

• A Slow Cooker (Crockpot): A 4- or 5-quart size is specified and recommended to fit the ingredients comfortably without being too empty or too full.
• A medium bowl: For whisking together the gravy mixture.
• A whisk: To ensure the gravy mixture is smooth.
• Two forks (or hand mixer): For shredding the cooked chicken.
• Measuring cups and spoons.
• A ladle or large spoon: For serving.

Minimal tools for a minimal-effort meal!

List of Ingredients with Measurements

Here’s the complete list of ingredients, with precise measurements:

• 2 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thawed if frozen
• 10.25 ounces cream of chicken soup (one standard can)
• 1.74 ounces chicken gravy mix (two standard envelopes, check package size)
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• ½ cup sour cream
• Kosher salt to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• Cooked rice for serving
• Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

These quantities make a generous amount, perfect for families or leftovers.

No significant prep needed other than opening cans/packets!

Step-by-Step Instructions (Effortless Slow Cooking)

Let’s walk through this incredibly simple slow cooker process:

1. Arrange the Chicken:

• Place the thawed chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker insert, spreading them out in a relatively even layer.

2. Make the Gravy Mix:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, the contents of the two chicken gravy mix envelopes, and the chicken broth until the mixture is smooth and well combined.

3. Cook the Chicken:

• Pour the prepared gravy mixture evenly over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
• Cover the slow cooker securely with the lid. Cook on the LOW setting for about 4 hours. Cooking time can vary slightly; the chicken is done when it’s cooked through and shreds easily with a fork. Internal temp should be 165°F/74°C.

4. Shred the Chicken:

• Once the chicken is cooked and tender, shred it directly in the slow cooker using two forks. Pull the chicken apart until it’s nicely shredded and mixed into the surrounding gravy. Alternatively, briefly use an electric hand mixer on low speed directly in the pot.

5. Add Sour Cream and Season:

• Turn off the slow cooker or remove the insert from the heat. Stir in the sour cream until well combined.
• Taste the chicken and gravy mixture and season with Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Remember that the soup and gravy mixes contain salt, so taste before adding much extra.

6. Serve:

• Spoon the creamy shredded chicken and gravy generously over cooked rice, mashed potatoes, noodles, or biscuits.
• Garnish with chopped fresh parsley for a touch of color and freshness before serving.

Comfort food made incredibly easy!

Troubleshooting

Slow cooking is generally forgiving, but here are a few potential points:

• Problem: Gravy is too thin.
  • Solution: Remove the lid for the last 30 minutes of cooking time (before adding sour cream) to allow some liquid to evaporate. Or, after shredding chicken and removing from heat, whisk a small amount of cornstarch (1-2 tsp) with a small amount of cold water to make a slurry, stir it into the gravy, and turn the slow cooker to HIGH for 10-15 minutes until thickened (stirring occasionally). Remember to add sour cream after this.
• Problem: Gravy is too thick.
  • Solution: Stir in a little extra chicken broth or milk, a tablespoon at a time, after shredding the chicken and adding the sour cream, until it reaches your desired consistency.
• Problem: Chicken is dry (less common on LOW).
  • Solution: Ensure chicken was fully covered by the gravy mixture during cooking. Avoid cooking on HIGH if possible, as LOW yields more tender results for breasts. Shredding it directly into the gravy helps re-moisten it.
• Problem: Sour cream curdled.
  • Solution: Always stir in sour cream after turning off the heat. Adding it to a boiling or very hot mixture can cause it to curdle. Stir gently until just combined.

Usually, slow cooking on low prevents major issues.

Tips and Variations

Let’s customize this simple comfort food:

• Tip: Use chicken thighs (boneless, skinless) instead of breasts for even juicier, more flavorful results. Cooking time should be similar.
• Variation: Add vegetables like sliced mushrooms, diced carrots, or frozen peas to the slow cooker along with the chicken (they will become very soft).
• Tip: For extra flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon each of garlic powder and onion powder to the gravy mixture.
• Variation: Use cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup instead of cream of chicken for a different flavor base.
• Tip: If sensitive to sodium, use low-sodium versions of the soup, gravy mix, and broth, and adjust salt carefully at the end.
• Variation: Stir in a cup of shredded cheddar cheese along with the sour cream at the end for a cheesy version.
• Variation: Add a packet of Ranch seasoning mix along with the gravy mix for a “Crack Chicken” style gravy.

Easy to adapt based on pantry staples!

Serving and Pairing Suggestions

This Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy is pure comfort food, perfect served over something starchy.

Serving: Serve hot, spooned generously over your chosen base.

Pairing/Serving Base:

• Rice: Fluffy white or brown rice is perfect.
• Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes are a classic pairing for chicken and gravy.
• Noodles: Egg noodles or other wide noodles work well.
• Biscuits: Serve over split biscuits for a Southern-style treat.
• Toast: Even simple toast points are great for soaking up gravy.

Sides:

• Steamed green beans, peas, or roasted broccoli add a nice green element.
• A simple side salad can offer a fresh contrast.

It’s a hearty meal perfect for family dinners.

Nutritional Information

This dish relies on convenience products and cream, making it a comforting but potentially rich meal. Nutritional information is approximate and depends heavily on specific brands used (especially soup/gravy mix sodium/fat) and serving size (assuming 6 servings):

• Calories: 350-500+
• Fat: 15-25+ grams
• Saturated Fat: 8-15+ grams (from cream, soup, sour cream, butter if used)
• Cholesterol: 80-120+ mg
• Sodium: 800-1500+ mg (Canned soup and gravy mixes are typically very high in sodium)
• Total Carbs.: 10-20 grams (depends on soup/gravy mixes)
• Dietary Fiber: <1-2 grams
• Sugars: 3-6 grams
• Protein: 35-45+ grams

This dish is high in protein but can be very high in sodium and saturated fat due to the processed ingredients. Choosing low-sodium options and potentially using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream can help modify the profile.

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Recipe Summary and Q&A

Let’s conclude with a summary and common questions:

Recipe Summary:

Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy is an easy comfort food dish made by slow-cooking chicken breasts in a mixture of cream of chicken soup, chicken gravy mix, and chicken broth. The cooked chicken is shredded directly into the resulting gravy, and finished with sour cream for extra creaminess. It’s typically served over rice or mashed potatoes.

Q&A:

Q: Can I make this ahead of time? A: Yes, this is a great make-ahead meal. Cook as directed, shred the chicken, and store refrigerated. Reheat gently before serving.

Q: How do I store leftovers? A: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Q: Can I freeze this? A: Yes, it freezes quite well. Let it cool completely, then store in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently, potentially adding a splash of milk or broth to restore creaminess.

Q: Can I cook this on HIGH in the slow cooker? A: You can, typically for about 2-3 hours, but chicken breasts are more prone to drying out on high heat. Cooking on LOW for 4 hours is generally recommended for tenderness.

Q: Do I need to brown the chicken first? A: This recipe doesn’t require it for simplicity, but searing the chicken briefly in a skillet before adding it to the slow cooker would add an extra layer of flavor.