This is a simple slow-cooker chicken recipe that relies on butter, garlic, and a few pantry spices. It produces tender chicken and soft vegetables with minimal hands-on time. This preparation is suitable for home cooks and busy households who want a predictable dinner with limited steps. Use it on a weekday or a weekend when you can leave the slow cooker alone for several hours. Garlic Butter Chicken Crockpot Recipe: 6-Hour Magic for Tender Bliss fits cooks who prefer set-and-forget methods and those who want an easy way to serve a balanced meal with protein and vegetables. Try a related garlic-butter pasta option if you want a similar flavor focus.
This recipe cooks chicken slowly with butter, garlic, and Italian seasoning. The flavor is buttery and mildly herbed, with a clear garlic presence. The potatoes and carrots soften as they cook and absorb the sauce. It serves as a main-course family dinner or a simple meal for guests. The dish is straightforward, requiring basic pantry ingredients and a slow cooker. It pairs well with plain rice, mashed potatoes, or a green salad for a balanced plate. The overall profile stays within familiar savory and mild herb flavors, suitable for most palates.
When this recipe works well
Choose this dish when you want low-effort cooking and predictable timing. It is good for weekday dinners when you can start the slow cooker in the morning and serve in the evening. The recipe is forgiving for cooks with limited experience. It also fits meal planning: leftovers refrigerate well and can be portioned for lunches. If you need to shorten time, use the HIGH setting for a faster finish, but allow for checking doneness. The preparation is flexible for modest ingredient swaps and scales reasonably for a family-sized portion.
Cooking overview
Start by combining the main components in the slow cooker. The slow cooker runs on low, steady heat that transforms tougher fibers into tender meat. This version uses 6 hours on LOW as the standard; you can use 3–4 hours on HIGH if needed. During cooking there is little to no active work; just avoid lifting the lid repeatedly. Near the end, check the chicken for an internal temperature of 165°F and the potatoes for fork tenderness. This overview should help you plan when to begin and when to arrange side dishes. For another sheet-pan approach with similar flavors, see a sheet-pan garlic butter chicken and veggies idea.
Ingredients
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, 1.5 lbs baby red potatoes, quartered, 1 lb whole carrots, peeled and cut into chunks, 6 cloves garlic, minced, 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted, 1 tbsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp chopped parsley (optional, for garnish), 1/2 cup chicken broth.
Chicken breasts give leaner results; thighs stay moister and tolerate long cooking better. Baby red potatoes hold shape and become tender without falling apart. Use whole carrots for even cooking and a firm bite. Butter and garlic are the flavor base; Italian seasoning adds dried herbs so you do not need multiple jars. Chicken broth adds moisture for even heating. Parsley is optional for a fresh color and mild herb note.
Directions
Prep the Ingredients: Toss chicken, potatoes, and carrots into the slow cooker. You want pieces arranged in a single layer when possible, but overlap is fine.
Mix the Garlic Butter Sauce: In a bowl, combine melted butter, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and chicken broth. Make sure the garlic and seasoning are evenly distributed in the liquid.
Pour and Coat: Pour the garlic butter mixture over everything in the slow cooker. Stir gently to coat all pieces. The liquid should mostly sit around and under the ingredients.
Set It and Forget It: Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours. Do not lift the lid often; that slows cooking. Check at the shorter end of the time if your slow cooker runs hot.
Finish and Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Plate it up and enjoy this soul-warming, hearty meal with your crew! Chicken should reach 165°F and potatoes should be easily pierced with a fork.
How to serve this recipe
Serve in family-style portions from the slow cooker or plate individually. For portioning, plan about 1/2 lb of chicken per adult and a mix of potatoes and carrots on the side. This recipe pairs well with plain rice, steamed greens, or a simple green salad. Spoon extra cooking juices over the chicken and vegetables for added moisture. If you prefer, shred the chicken and mix it through rice or pasta for another use. Use the optional parsley as a final touch for color and a light herb note. Also consider serving crusty bread for soaking up the sauce; it is practical and straightforward. For a creamy pasta option that shares garlic-butter flavors, see one-pot garlic butter pasta.
How to store this recipe
Cool the cooked dish to near room temperature before refrigerating, ideally within two hours. Store in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. For longer storage, divide into meal-sized portions and freeze for up to 2–3 months. Use freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags to limit freezer burn. Reheat refrigerated portions in a covered skillet over medium-low heat or in the microwave until evenly hot. From frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Add a splash of broth or water when reheating if the sauce has tightened.
Tips for better results
Avoid overcooking on HIGH; high heat can dry lean chicken if left too long. Thighs are more forgiving than breasts for long low-heat cooking. Cut potatoes into similar sizes so they finish at the same time as the carrots. If the sauce seems thin at the end, remove the lid and cook on HIGH for 15–20 minutes to reduce it. If the sauce is too thick, stir in a little extra chicken broth. Check doneness near the minimum time, since slow cooker temperatures vary. The focused keyword can help when searching for similar slow-cooker garlic-butter methods online for comparison.
Variations and adjustments
Swap chicken breasts for thighs if you want more forgiving texture. Replace Italian seasoning with equal parts dried oregano and basil for a fresher herb mix. Use sweet potatoes instead of red potatoes for a different starch and a slightly sweeter profile; increase cook time slightly for larger cubes. Add a splash of lemon juice before serving for brightness, or stir in a spoonful of cream for a richer sauce at the end. Avoid heavy substitutions that require different cooking times unless you adjust the cook schedule.
FAQs
Q: Can I use frozen chicken?
A: It’s not recommended. Thawed or fresh chicken cooks more evenly in a slow cooker.
Q: Do I need to brown the chicken first?
A: No. Browning is optional for color but not required for safety or tenderness.
Q: Can I double the recipe?
A: Yes, if your slow cooker is large enough. Keep similar thickness and don’t overfill.
Conclusion
This recipe is a straightforward slow-cooker chicken meal that suits busy cooks and small families. It reliably yields tender chicken and soft vegetables with minimal hands-on time. Use it when you want a predictable, low-effort dinner that stores well and reheats cleanly. For a different butter-forward chicken style, compare techniques in the Indian butter chicken recipe, and for a lemon-garlic slow-cooker option, see the Slow-Cooker Lemon-Garlic Chicken Breast.
Print
Garlic Butter Chicken in the Slow Cooker
- Total Time: 375 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Paleo
Description
A simple slow-cooker chicken recipe with butter, garlic, and Italian spices that yields tender chicken and soft vegetables with minimal hands-on time.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1.5 lbs baby red potatoes, quartered
- 1 lb whole carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Prep the Ingredients: Toss chicken, potatoes, and carrots into the slow cooker, arranging in a single layer when possible.
- Mix the Garlic Butter Sauce: In a bowl, combine melted butter, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and chicken broth.
- Pour and Coat: Pour the garlic butter mixture over the ingredients in the slow cooker and stir gently to coat.
- Set It and Forget It: Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours.
- Finish and Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley, plate, and enjoy the meal hot!
Notes
Serve in family-style portions or plate individually. Great with rice, mashed potatoes, or a green salad. Leftovers refrigerate well for later meals.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 360 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
