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Shocker of shockers – here I am with another crock pot recipe. LOL!

Even though I have started using an instant pot, which I LOVE for some things (especially corn on the cob, potatoes, and just about any fresh veggie), my best dinners are still the chicken breast crock pot recipes. (Although I often use chicken thighs instead, as they are not much different nutritionally and my family prefers dark meat to white).

I say they are my best dinners for two reasons. First, my family loves them. Second, and just as important if not more so, I love how easy they are.

And how easy are they? Let me count the ways:

1. Many of the recipes have minimal ingredients.
2. Many of the recipes have minimal steps. In fact, a lot of them are just dump, mix, and cook.
3. The prep happens in the morning, when I still have some energy and motivation!
4. At dinner time, all I usually have to do is pull together some rice or pasta and a veggie, and we have a complete, nutritious, home-cooked meal to enjoy!
5. Clean up is a breeze – just the slow cooker and a few other items need to be taken care of, because any of the measuring cups or spoons and other dishes I took care of in the morning when I did the prep. 

I love to enjoy a home-cooked hot meal at the end of the day, but like many people, when I am tired and hungry, I don’t really have the patience to start a big involved cooking project. That is a huge factor in my love-affair with my slow cooker!

So you may be wanting to know, what are some of the other chicken breast crock pot recipes I love?

A classic family favorite, that I have been making for years and YEARS, is my Easiest Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice. There are 6 ingredients (although I often skip the marsala wine, making it only 5 ingredients) and the hardest thing about preparing it is opening the seasoning packet that comes with the rice. (haha!)

Then we have my Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken, which is always a huge hit because of the spicy-sweet flavor. That one only has 4 ingredients!

There is also another one of my newer recipes, Crock Pot Pulled Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches. It’s super-easy to pull together, and you can even make the blue cheese celery relish ahead of time, so that in the evening all you have to do is shred the chicken, pop it onto rolls, top with the relish, and dig in.

FAQs about cooking chicken in the Crock Pot:

Do I need to cook the chicken before putting it in the crock pot?

No, go ahead and put the raw chicken in the crock pot. I have even put frozen chicken in the crock pot, adjusting cook time to be sure that it is fully cooked. As with any raw meat, be sure to wash your hands and any surfaces that were touched by the raw chicken thoroughly!

I have cooked chicken in the crock pot before and it came out dry. How can I prevent this?

There are a few things you need to do.

First, make sure your lid is on securely to minimize the loss of moisture during cooking.

Second, make sure you aren’t cooking it too long. Try checking it at the minimum time threshold (usually 4 hours). If the chicken in done, switch the crock pot to WARM until you are ready to serve.

Third, make sure you aren’t cooking it at too high of a temperature. If you continue to have issues with dry chicken even after checking all these things, it may be that your crock pot’s LOW setting actually cooks at too high a temperature. You may want to try another crock pot (see suggestion below).

What kind of chicken is best to use in the crock pot?

I personally prefer to use boneless, skinless thighs. They are more flavorful and it is harder to dry them out. However, lots of people prefer boneless, skinless breasts, and they will work fine as well, just be super-careful to not overcook!

I don’t have a crock pot. Is there one you recommend?

I love this slow cooker!

Are there other recipes out there?

Yes, here are a few others that look delicious!

This Crock Pot Creamy Ranch Chicken and Potatoes from Wishes and Dishes looks really tasty! You don’t even have to peel the potatoes, and if you use baby carrots you don’t even have to worry about peeling and cutting up carrots, either.

I also like this Cheesy Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti from The Recipe Rebel. It looks so delicious, I can’t wait to try it!

And I love the flavor combo in this Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken from Buns In My Oven. This is on my must-try list!

OK, so let’s get to the recipe!

Crock Pot Creamy Cayenne Chicken

Our latest family favorite, and one of the easiest chicken breast crock pot recipes I have ever made! This dish has TONS of flavor and can be adjusted to fit your family's tastes!

Print

Course Entree

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 6 hours

Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes

Servings 6

Calories 268 kcal

Author Kristin

Ingredients

• 12 ounces pepper and onion strips (1 bag frozen)
• 8 ounces light cream cheese, softened
• 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup (1 can)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons ranch dip mix
• 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (start with a little less, and add more for a bigger kick!)
• 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts, boneless and skinless

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the pepper and onion strips, cream cheese, cream of chicken soup, ranch dip seasoning, and cayenne pepper.

2. Place the chicken in the bottom of the crock pot, and top with the pepper and onion mixture.

3. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Serve over pasta or rice.

Recipe Notes

Do I need to cook the chicken before putting it in the crock pot?

No, go ahead and put the raw chicken in the crock pot. I have even put frozen chicken in the crock pot, adjusting cook time to be sure that it is fully cooked. As with any raw meat, be sure to wash your hands and any surfaces that were touched by the raw chicken thoroughly!

I have cooked chicken in the crock pot before and it came out dry. How can I prevent this?

There are a few things you need to do. First, make sure your lid is on securely to minimize the loss of moisture during cooking. Second, make sure you aren't cooking it too long. Try checking it at the minimum time threshold (usually 4 hours). If the chicken in done, switch the crock pot to WARM until you are ready to serve. Third, make sure you aren't cooking it at too high of a temperature. If you have issues with dry chicken even after checking all these things, it may be that your crock pot's LOW setting actually cooks at too high a temperature. You may want to try another crock pot (see suggestions below).

What kind of chicken is best to use in the crock pot?

I personally prefer to use boneless, skinless thighs. They are more flavorful and it is harder to dry them out. However, lots of people prefer boneless, skinless breasts, and they will work fine as well, just be super-careful to not overcook!

Nutrition Facts

Crock Pot Creamy Cayenne Chicken

Amount Per Serving

Calories 268 Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 11g 17%

Saturated Fat 4g 20%

Cholesterol 96mg 32%

Sodium 659mg 27%

Potassium 663mg 19%

Total Carbohydrates 10g 3%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 4g

Protein 28g 56%

Vitamin A 44.9%

Vitamin C 89.7%

Calcium 7.3%

Iron 7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 
Thanks for checking out my recipe, and happy chicken cooking!

Enjoy!

  

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