Cooking chicken in the crockpot can be a bit tricky. It’s easy to end up with dry, overcooked chicken if you don’t get the cook time just right. This is especially true for boneless, skinless chicken breasts, which can quickly go from juicy and tender to dry and stringy.
So how long should you cook boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the crockpot to get perfect results every time? Through extensive testing in our own kitchens, we’ve nailed down the ideal cook times Keep reading to get the answers!
Why Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts Are Tricky in the Crockpot
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are very lean and don’t have much fat or collagen. This makes them great for healthy eating but also means they can dry out easily, especially with longer cook times
Most crockpot recipes call for ridiculously long cook times of 6-8 hours on low. But in reality, chicken only needs a fraction of that time to cook through fully and reach a safe internal temperature.
Following typical crockpot recipes usually leads to frustrating results – chicken that is dry, tough, and stringy.
The good news is that with the right cook time, you can make perfectly juicy, tender boneless skinless chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
The Ideal Cook Time for Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
Through extensive recipe testing, we’ve found the ideal crockpot cook time for boneless, skinless chicken breasts is:
25 – 35 hours on LOW
That’s it! Just 2.5 to 3.5 hours is all you need. We were surprised too.
We tested this repeatedly by cooking chicken breasts in the crockpot and taking their internal temperature with a meat thermometer. Without fail, they reached the safe temperature of 165°F between 2.5 and 3.5 hours on low.
Cooking longer than this, even on low, caused them to turn dry and tough.
So for ideal results, limit your cook time for boneless skinless chicken breasts to 2.5 – 3.5 hours on the low setting. This will ensure tender, juicy chicken every time.
Helpful Tips for Crockpot Chicken Breasts
Here are some additional tips to ensure crockpot success when making boneless skinless chicken breasts:
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Don’t cook on HIGH: High heat dries out lean chicken breasts very quickly. Always use the LOW setting.
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Add liquid: A little liquid, like chicken broth, can add juiciness.
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Use thighs or bone-in chicken: These cuts are more forgiving if you need a longer cook time. Aim for 4-6 hours on low.
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Test for doneness: Check breasts with a meat thermometer to ensure they reach 165°F.
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Let rest before serving: Let chicken sit 5-10 minutes before shredding or slicing to allow juices to re-distribute.
Sample Crockpot Chicken Breast Recipes
Here are a few of our favorite boneless, skinless chicken breast recipes for the crockpot, with cook times perfectly calibrated based on our testing:
Crockpot Chicken Parmesan Sliders
- Cook 3 lbs chicken breasts on LOW for 3 hours
- Shred chicken and mix with marinara sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan
- Serve on slider buns
Crockpot Honey Mustard Chicken
- Cook 2 lbs chicken breasts on LOW for 3 hours
- Shred chicken and toss with honey mustard sauce
- Serve over rice, baked potatoes, or a salad
Crockpot Chicken Fajitas
- Cook 1.5 lbs chicken breasts on LOW for 2.5 hours
- Shred chicken and mix with sautéed peppers and onions
- Serve in tortillas with desired toppings
Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup
- Cook 1 lb chicken breasts on LOW for 3 hours
- Shred chicken and add to soup with tomatoes, beans, corn, and taco seasoning
- Top with avocado, cheese, etc.
The ideal cook time for boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the crockpot is just 2.5 – 3.5 hours on low. Cooking longer than this almost guarantees dry, overcooked chicken.
Follow this simple timing guideline, plus the other tips provided, and you’ll be rewarded with perfectly cooked, juicy, tender chicken breasts every time you use your crockpot. Happy slow cooking!
Chicken Breasts vs Chicken Thighs
In our particular slow cooker, chicken is often fully cooked at the lower end of the suggested time ranges listed above (and sometimes sooner). But if your schedule dictates that a dish needs to cook a little longer, this is fine.
Inexact, longer cooking times is why many slow cooker recipes calling for chicken breasts are labeled crockpot shredded chicken—at some point the meat just starts to fall apart. Keep in mind, chicken breasts vary in size and this can impact your cooking time.
That said, when chicken breasts cook too long they can get dry and chewy, which is why many slow cooker chicken recipes call for chicken thighs. If you want to do a longer cook (up to 6 or 7 hours), we suggest using dark meat—but remember, the longer the thighs cook the softer they become and more likely to fall apart. Both undercooked or overcooked chicken can have a rubbery texture.
In general, whether you use white or dark meat, chicken is not an appropriate ingredient for longer all-day slow cooker recipes.
Cooking Chicken in a Slow Cooker
Most slow cooker chicken recipes suggest cooking the protein for too long which results in dry, tough, or stringy chicken. Regardless of the cooking method, chicken must reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C) for food safety.
Yet you don’t want chicken breasts to cook over 165°F or they tend to dry out, so when cooking breasts you’ll want to know how fast or slow your slow cooker cooks and keep a close eye on it.
Dark meat on the other hand should be cooked to at least 175°F (79.5°C) or higher for proper texture, and it is less likely to dry out, so it is better suited for longer periods of cooking.
That said, both white and dark meat chicken can be successfully prepared in a slow cooker. See the cooking times chart above for suggested times.
Cooking notes: If you are new to slow cooking, check your chicken on the earlier side (or even sooner) of the cooking time range. And if your meat is cooking with a number of other ingredients in a stew, your dish might skew towards the longer side of the time range. And of course these temps are for raw chicken, if using pre-cooked meat in a recipe the cooking time will be less.
IMPORTANT: Never put frozen chicken in a crock pot or slow cooker.
Honey Garlic Chicken Crock Pot
FAQ
How long do you cook boneless chicken in the crockpot?
Cook the chicken.
Cover and cook until the chicken is tender and registers an internal temperature of 165°F, 4 to 5 hours on the LOW setting, or 2 to 3 hours on the HIGH setting.
Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in the crockpot?
How long does raw chicken need to cook in a crockpot?
How Long to Cook Chicken Breast in the Slow Cooker. I find about 3 hours on low is just right, with one single layer, for the meat to fully cook through to 165F. This time may vary slightly with different brands of slow cookers, or with smaller versus larger breast pieces. Always check doneness with a meat thermometer.May 14, 2025