Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy: Better Than Takeout
Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy — Better Than Takeout! After making this many times, I discovered the trick to perfectly tender chicken every time. The creamy, homemade gravy is the star of this dish. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Creamy Cracked Garlic Steak Tortellini and Cheesy Zucchini Breadsticks.
Why This Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy: Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Easy, hands-off cooking
- Creamy, homemade gravy
- Perfectly tender chicken every time
- Better than takeout taste
What You'll Need for Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy: Better Than Takeout
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Chicken breasts
- Cream of chicken soup
- Milk
- Onion soup mix
- Garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
- Onion soup mix
- Garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
- Optional: Fresh parsley
- Optional: Cracked black pepper
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Chicken breasts: Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts work best.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Slow cooker — Hands-off cooking for tender results → See on Amazon
- Immersion blender — Smooth, lump-free gravy in minutes → See on Amazon
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy: Better Than Takeout
- Step 1: Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
- Step 2: In a bowl, mix cream of chicken soup, milk, onion soup mix, garlic, salt, and pepper. Pour over chicken.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Step 4: Remove chicken from slow cooker and shred. Blend gravy with an immersion blender until smooth. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Step 5: Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and cracked black pepper.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy: Better Than Takeout
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the chicken. It can become dry. If you're not sure, use a meat thermometer to check for 165°F internal temperature.
- Tip: For extra flavor, brown the chicken breasts in a pan before adding them to the slow cooker.
- Tip: Add a splash of chicken broth to the gravy for extra flavor.
Storing & Reheating Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy: Better Than Takeout
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the chicken and gravy mixture up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.
Freezing Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy: Better Than Takeout
Freeze cooked chicken and gravy separately for up to 3 months.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a thicker gravy, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water and stir into the gravy before blending.
- Best substitution: Substitute chicken thighs for chicken breasts for even more tender results.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the chicken and gravy mixture up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled in the slow cooker.
- Troubleshooting: If the gravy is too thin, blend in a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with a tablespoon of cold water.
Want to level up this recipe?
Meat thermometer — Prevent overcooking and dry chicken → Check price on Amazon
Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy: Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Chicken breasts
- Cream of chicken soup
- Milk
- Onion soup mix
- Garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
Seasonings
- Onion soup mix
- Garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley
- Cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
- Step 2: In a bowl, mix cream of chicken soup, milk, onion soup mix, garlic, salt, and pepper. Pour over chicken.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
- Step 4: Remove chicken from slow cooker and shred. Blend gravy with an immersion blender until smooth. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir to combine.
- Step 5: Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and cracked black pepper.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a thicker gravy, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water and stir into the gravy before blending.
- Best substitution: Substitute chicken thighs for chicken breasts for even more tender results.
- Make-ahead: Prepare the chicken and gravy mixture up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled in the slow cooker.
- Troubleshooting: If the gravy is too thin, blend in a tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with a tablespoon of cold water.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken and gravy separately for up to 3 months.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
- Make ahead: Prepare the chicken and gravy mixture up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 50g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbs: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 150mg
- Sat. Fat: 9g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy: Better Than Takeout FAQs
Yes, prepare the chicken and gravy mixture up to 24 hours ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.
Overcooking is the most common reason for dry chicken. Use a meat thermometer to check for 165°F internal temperature.
Yes, freeze cooked chicken and gravy separately for up to 3 months.
Yes, cook on high pressure for 15 minutes with a 10-minute natural release.
This recipe is high in protein and can be made healthier by using low-fat milk and cream of chicken soup.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy: Better Than Takeout and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
