When you are that busy, meal times are a lifesaver to include easy and delicious, effort-free dishes. Among these dishes, one that just ticked all the right boxes was Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes. It is simple to prepare, full of flavor, and it’s always sure-fire for family teams. Creamy garlic parmesan sauce with tender chicken and seasoned potatoes make this perfect for a busy night. Here’s the best recipe you can get your hands on, along with some tips to making cooking easier.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes Ingredients
This is what you will need for this Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes recipe:
1-lb Chicken Breast
It doesn’t matter whether you use cubes or whole chicken breasts. The crockpot chicken breast adds an aromatic umami while keeping the dish still quite light.
5 Medium Potatoes
When cooking in the slow cooker, you want to use potatoes that can hold their texture after slow cooking. Yukon gold or red potatoes are great options for this task.
2 tbsp Olive Oil
Oil is used to coat the potatoes before seasoning. It keeps them from sticking to each other.
Seasoning for Potatoes
Salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. 1/2 tsp of each salt and pepper. These are used as a seasoning to the chicken. 1 tsp of each paprika, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. These are used to flavor the chicken.
Garlic
The Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes recipe calls for lots of minced garlic. You may either use fresh minced garlic or jarred minced garlic.
Buffalo Wild Wings Garlic Parmesan Sauce
Just enough to coat the chicken. Or you may use your favorite brand or make homemade garlic parmesan sauce if you prefer.
1 Cup of Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Freshly grated mozzarella melts the best, making your Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes gooey and soft.
Instructions to make Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken
1. Prepare the Crockpot for Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes
Prep your crockpot with some non-stick cooking spray to keep all the food from sticking and make it easy to clean when it’s time for dinner. This little preparation will save you a ton of hassle at dinner time.
2. Prepare the Potatoes for Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken
Next, wash and clean the 5 medium potatoes thoroughly well. You do not need to peel them unless you happen to like them peeled. Rinse, then chop the potatoes into relatively uniform, very small cubes. If you prepare equal-sized cubes, they will also cook up evenly inside the crockpot.
Add Seasonings for Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes
Place the potatoes in a large bowl, and drizzle with 2 TBSP of olive oil, and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika. You don’t need to make any exact measurements here: just trust your taste buds. Toss the potatoes to make sure that they’re well coated, both by oil and seasoning.
3. Add Minced Garlic
To give your potatoes an added flavor, add 2 TBSP of minced garlic. As this will heighten the overall aroma and flavor of the dish, it gives the classic garlic parmesan taste. Mix everything well after adding the garlic.
4. Prepare the Chicken for Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes
Now, it’s time to prepare 1 lb of chicken breast. You can either cube the chicken or leave it whole as you prefer it. Cubed pieces of chicken cook faster and allow the sauce to be spread more evenly through it, but breasts whole is great and mouth-watering too.
As soon as the chicken is ready season with salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. These spice layers make the chicken both savory and aromatic.
5. Preparing your Crockpot for Cooking
Put the seasoned potatoes into the crockpot, spreading them out evenly. Place the chicken on top of the potatoes. This way, the potatoes will be tender, and the moisture from the chicken will prevent it from turning dry.
6. Add Garlic Parmesan Sauce for Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes
And now comes the star of the dish: Buffalo Wild Wings Garlic Parmesan Sauce. Use just enough to cover the chicken-thus assuring that chicken is loaded with the full, garlicky flavor of the sauce. If you prefer a milder taste, use less sauce because it has a bit of a kick. You can add some more later if you want to have a saucier dish.
7. Cook in the Crockpot
Put the crockpot to low and let it simmer on it for about 6 hours or even longer till the chicken is cooked and the potatoes are soft. Really, all crockpots cook at slightly different paces, so just watch your dish after the 5-hour mark. You will probably need to add a little bit of time to the cooking time based on the size of your potato cubes.
8. Add Mozzarella Cheese
When the chicken and potatoes are tender, stir everything together to ensure all the sauce is evenly distributed. Top the chicken and potatoes with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Put the cover on the crockpot to let the cheese melt through for about 10-15 minutes. This will give the final touch on a creamy, cheesy finish to your Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes.
9. Serve and Enjoy – Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes
It’s time to serve! This Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes meal is great on its own, but feel free to pair it with your favorite side of veggies. Green beans or a fresh salad are great choices when you have the richness of the dish. Extra flavor can be obtained by adding some ranch dressing to the chicken and potatoes or an extra drizzle of garlic parmesan sauce.
Useful Tips for Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes
There are several chicken and potato recipes. To make it perfect or for your taste, here are some tips and variations:
Cooking Time – Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes
Every pot is different. Just in case, if the potatoes didn’t get cooked after 6 hours, let them cook another 30 minutes or an hour. Always check the internal temperature of the chicken to confirm that it is fully cooked.
Potatoes
Yukon Gold or red potatoes are nice for this recipe, as they retain their texture when slow-cooked. Russet works too, but you can peel them if needed, as their skin will get a little tough.
Garlic
You may use fresh minced garlic or the pre-shredded out-of-the-jar stuff. Both are fine; new, fresh minced garlic tends to be a bit more pungent with the crockpot potatoes.
Cheese
For the ultimate melt and texture, use fresh gratings of mozzarella cheese. Pre-shredded cheese is often blended with anti-caking agents that will prevent it from melting.
Onions
If you want some extra flavor, add some diced onions to the potatoes. They will cook down to nice sweetness in the crock pot potatoes.
Sauce
While the Buffalo Wild Wings Garlic Parmesan Sauce adds a nice kick, feel free to substitute it with your favorite brand of garlic parmesan sauce or even make a homemade version. It’s about that Bdubs flavor! You can adjust the amount of sauce depending on your spice preference.
Boneless Chicken
You can use bone-in chicken breasts or thighs; just keep in mind that it cooks a little longer than boneless chicken. Crock pot chicken breast recipes often come together quicker. Be sure to check the internal temperature to be sure it is done.
Alternatives for the Recipe
Substitute for the Crockpot
You can prepare a variation of this recipe using an oven or on the stovetop. For an oven variation, toss seasoned chicken and potatoes in a covered dish in a 375°F oven for about 45-60 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts. Otherwise, you can use a skillet to sauté cubed chicken and potatoes over the stovetop for a quicker meal.
Adding Veggies to the Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes
Yes! Add some steamed veggies such as broccoli, carrots, or bell peppers to the dish to add nutrition.
Conclusion
The Crockpot Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes is a delicious, comforting meal that is perfect for busy weeknights. It is easy to make, packed with protein and flavor and is a hit with the whole family. By using the crockpot, you can prep everything in the morning and enjoy a delicious dinner that will be waiting for you this evening. Not to mention, leftovers are pretty tasty, too, which could add even more value to this meal prep option. Try this recipe out, and it might just end up becoming one of your go-to crockpot meals.
FAQs
Can I make Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes without a crockpot?
Answer: Yes, you can use the oven or a skillet.
Can I add veggies to the Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes?
Answer: Yes, veggies like broccolis, carrots and peas are great additions to the crockpot chicken and potatoes.
What type of cheese should I add to Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes?
Answer: Mozzarella is recommended due to it being easy to melt, but cheddar is great too.
Is making Crockpot chicken and potatoes time consuming?
Answer: Due to the ease of cooking of both primary ingredients, the dish comes together quickly.
