Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy Recipe

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This slow cooker chicken and gravy has tender, finely shredded chicken in a savory homemade gravy. It’s simple, comforting, and mostly hands-off.

Chicken and gravy slow cooker recipe with tender chicken breasts and creamy sauce

I make this crockpot chicken and gravy when I want something mostly hands-off but still homemade. Serve it over Browned Butter Mashed Potatoes or Garlic Butter Rice, then add a simple vegetable for an easy dinner.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy comfort food: This slow cooker recipe does most of the work for you, so it’s an easy option when you want a comforting dinner without much hands-on cooking.
Homemade gravy: You get a savory gravy made from scratch without condensed soup or gravy packets.
No separate pan for the gravy: The gravy thickens and finishes right in the slow cooker, so there’s no saucepan to wash.

ingredients to make Crockpot chicken and gravy with rich onion and garlic gravy

Ingredients Needed

Find the exact amounts in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: These cook until tender, then get shredded very finely before going back into the gravy.
Yellow onion: Use a fine dice. The onion softens in the slow cooker but keeps more texture than it would if sautéed.
Chicken broth and chicken bouillon: Form the savory base of the gravy.
Garlic: Fresh minced garlic cooks with the chicken and gravy.
Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard: Add savory depth without taking over the flavor.
Dried thyme, paprika, salt, and black pepper: Season the gravy as it cooks.
Cornstarch and water: Mix these together for the slurry used at the end of cooking.
Sour cream: Stir this in after turning off the slow cooker for a creamy finish.
Fresh parsley: Sprinkle it over the chicken before serving.

How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy

Making this chicken and gravy slow cooker recipe is straightforward. Use the step-by-step photos as a guide.

Add the Chicken and Onion

Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer in the slow cooker. Sprinkle the finely diced onion over the top.

Add the Gravy Mixture

Stir together the chicken broth, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, thyme, paprika, black pepper, salt, and chicken bouillon. Pour the mixture over the chicken.

Pour the gravy mixture over the chicken, then slow cook until the chicken is tender.

Slow Cook Until Tender

Cover and cook on low for 4–5 hours. The chicken should be very tender and easy to pull apart with two forks.

Shred the Chicken Finely

Remove the chicken and shred it into very fine strands. Set it aside while you finish the gravy.

Shred the chicken after slow cooking, then set it aside while you thicken the gravy.

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Thicken the Gravy

Mix the cornstarch and water until smooth. Stir the slurry into the liquid in the slow cooker, cover, and cook on high for 15 minutes.

Finish the Gravy

Turn off the slow cooker. Stir in the sour cream until the gravy is smooth, then taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Return the shredded chicken to the thickened gravy, then garnish and serve.

Add the Chicken Back

Stir the finely shredded chicken into the gravy and let it sit for a few minutes before serving.

Tips for Tender Chicken and Homemade Gravy

After making this recipe, a few small details made the biggest difference in the finished texture.

Dice the onion very small: The onion becomes tender in the slow cooker, but it doesn’t break down the way sautéed onion does. Larger pieces are noticeable in the finished gravy, so a fine dice works best.
Shred the chicken really fine: Chicken breast can be a bit of a mouthful when it’s left in large chunks. Fine strands mix into the gravy much better.
Give the slurry the full 15 minutes: Stir it in, switch the slow cooker to high, and let it cook before adding the sour cream.
Don’t judge the gravy too early: The gravy is still fairly loose before the chicken goes back in. Once you stir in the finely shredded chicken, it absorbs some of the gravy and everything comes together.
Cook the chicken on low when possible: This is my preferred setting for getting the breasts tender enough to shred finely.

Chicken and gravy slow cooker recipe with creamy sour cream gravy

Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy Variations

Use chicken thighs: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can replace the breasts for a richer chicken flavor.
Brown the chicken first: If you have a few extra minutes, brown the chicken and sauté the onion before adding them to the slow cooker for more browned flavor.
Add mushrooms: Sliced mushrooms can cook with the onions if you want another savory element in the gravy.
Make it creamier: Add a small amount of heavy cream with the sour cream, or use plain Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream.

For more ways to cook breasts, thighs, and other cuts for weeknight meals, browse my Chicken Recipes.

What to Serve With Chicken and Gravy

Mashed potatoes are my first choice with this recipe. For an extra-creamy option, serve it with Mashed Potatoes with Cheese.

For vegetables, try Sautéed Green Beans, Air Fryer Broccoli, or Glazed Carrots with Maple Syrup. Hawaiian Dinner Rolls also work well on the side.

Crockpot chicken and gravy recipe finished with a creamy, savory sauce

Storage and Reheating

Store: Refrigerate leftover chicken and gravy in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Warm it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. Add a small splash of chicken broth if the gravy becomes thicker after chilling.

FAQs

Why does my slow cooker chicken gravy still look thin?

Give the cornstarch slurry the full 15 minutes on high before adding the sour cream. The gravy will still be fairly loose before the chicken goes back in, but the finely shredded chicken absorbs some of it as everything comes together.

What size slow cooker should I use?

I use a 6-quart slow cooker for this recipe. It gives the chicken enough room to cook in a single layer.

Can I cook slow cooker chicken with gravy on high?

You can, but I prefer low for chicken breasts. If you use high, check the chicken sooner and stop cooking once it is tender enough to shred easily.

Does this recipe use cream of chicken soup or gravy packets?

No. The gravy is made from scratch with chicken broth, seasonings, cornstarch, and sour cream.