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Easy Overnight Crockpot Chicken Breasts (Never Dry!)

overnight crockpot chicken breasts - featured image

This foolproof recipe yields incredibly tender, moist chicken breasts with minimal effort. Simply season, set in the slow cooker before bed, and wake up to perfectly cooked chicken that’s perfect for meal prep or quick dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4–6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds)
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika (sweet or smoked)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or 3/4 teaspoon table salt)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, added after cooking)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels.
  2. In a small bowl, mix garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper.
  3. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over both sides of each chicken breast and rub in gently.
  4. Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of the slow cooker.
  5. Arrange the seasoned chicken breasts in a single layer in the slow cooker. Drizzle olive oil over the top.
  6. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours (overnight). Do not lift the lid during cooking.
  7. In the morning, check that the chicken is fork-tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
  8. If using, drizzle lemon juice over the cooked chicken and let rest for 1 minute.
  9. Shred with two forks or serve whole.

Notes

Do not lift the lid during cooking. Use low heat only for best texture. For frozen chicken, reduce broth to 1/4 cup and expect slightly different texture. Leftovers keep in fridge for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot chicken, slow cooker chicken, overnight chicken, easy chicken recipe, moist chicken, meal prep chicken, shredded chicken