Crockpot Chicken and Gravy delivers tender chicken smothered in a rich, homemade gravy that the whole family will love. Made easily from scratch with pantry staples – no canned soups needed!
My kids always ask, “Is it chicken and gravy night?” whenever they see the slow cooker on the counter. There’s something so comforting about chicken drenched in gravy, it just tastes like home.
Most Crockpot Chicken and Gravy recipes use canned condensed soup – but not this one! This recipe was shared with me from my friend Kerri and has been a family favorite since the first time we tried it.
With less than 10 minutes of prep, you’ll have fork-tender chicken in a savory and creamy gravy made from dry milk powder, cornstarch, and simple seasonings. It’s the perfect dump-and-go dinner for busy weeknights.
“This is the juiciest, great tasting Chicken and Gravy I’ve ever had. Such an easy set it and forget it recipe that you can use as is or make for the base for so many other chicken recipes. I love making rice bowls with veggies and this will be awesome to add to the top.” — Simone, skilled home cook and bread maker.
Key Ingredient Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Chicken: Feel free to use chicken breasts or chicken thighs, but make sure they are skinless. You can also use frozen chicken breasts, just add an extra 30 minutes to the cook time.
- Chicken Bouillon: I recommend using instant chicken bouillon as is dissolves easily in cold water. You can use 4 bouillon cubes instead, but you will need to heat up 1 cup of water to dissolve them in. If you happen to have Better Than Bouillon, it adds even more depth of flavor to the gravy.
- Whole Milk Powder: I know – what is this? I promise it’s sold commonly in the grocery store, you just have to look for it. It’s usually found near the canned milks. Milk powder is a dried milk (with the liquid removed) that makes the perfect creamy gravy in place of canned condensed soup. It’s inexpensive and one container will last you for a long time! Use whole milk powder – not skim – for the creamiest gravy.
Tips For Making Crockpot Chicken and Gravy
Visit the printable recipe card below for full directions.
Be mindful when adding salt. Between the gravy packets and bouillon, it’s easy for things to get too salty. That’s why I always recommend using low-sodium gravy packets and waiting to add extra salt until after it’s cooked and you can taste it.
Don’t skip the garlic powder, onion powder, and dried herbs. They give the gravy layers of flavor and make it taste homemade.
If your chicken breasts are large, cut them in half for more even cooking. That way the flavors and seasonings can get deep into the meat.
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Slowly whisk the water into the dry ingredients. It’s really important to whisk the dry ingredients with just a bit of the water first to form a paste. Then slowly add the rest of the water, while whisking continuously. This creates a perfectly smooth and creamy gravy without lumps.
Don’t worry if your gravy looks thin when it first finishes. Once you shred the chicken and stir it all together, it thickens up beautifully.
Want extra gravy? Double the sauce! You can always make double the sauce if you want extra gravy, perfect for drizzling over your sides or soaking up with bread.
How To Serve Chicken and Gravy?
We love it over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles, with something green on the side like sautéed green beans or roasted broccoli. It’s also delicious with buttermilk biscuits or even piled onto toasted bread for open-faced sandwiches. My kids also really love this chicken served with Ritz crackers for some added crunch. Trust me, no matter how you serve it, it’s always a hit!
Prepare In Advance
This is one of those amazing recipes you can prep ahead to make dinnertime totally stress-free. I often mix the dry gravy ingredients and seasonings in a zip-top bag the night before, so all I have to do in the morning is add the chicken and water.
You can even pre-mix the sauce and store it in the fridge overnight. Just make sure to give it a good stir before you pour it over the chicken in the morning.
Feeding a large crowd? As long as you use a 8+ quart sized crockpot, you can easily double – or even triple – this recipe.
Crockpot Chicken and Gravy
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, or thighs
- 2 (.87 oz) packets low-sodium chicken gravy
- ¼ cup dry whole milk powder
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 ½ tablespoons instant chicken bouillon granules, or Better than Bouillon for richer flavor
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, I like to add more to taste when serving
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 cups water
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Instructions
- Lightly coat the inside of a 6+ quart crockpot insert with non-stick spray. Place the chicken breasts in the crockpot.
- In a medium sized bowl, whisk to combine the dry ingredients: chicken gravy packets, dry whole milk powder, cornstarch, chicken bouillon granules, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, basil and thyme.
- Slowly pour in the water, while stirring the whole time, until a paste forms. Then continue stirring while you slowly whisk in the rest of the water. This will keep lumps from forming and make a smooth gravy!
- Pour mixture over the chicken. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours, or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and easily shredded.
- Shred chicken with two forks, leaving it in larger pieces or smaller pieces depending on your preference. Serve over rice, mashed potatoes, or egg noodles. My kids also love it with ritz crackers!
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More Easy Crockpot Chicken Recipes
- Crockpot Salsa Chicken – Just 4 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep.
- Crockpot Chicken and Rice – Cook your side and main all together.
- Crockpot Whole Chicken – Super juicy chicken with tons of flavor.
- Crockpot Chicken Tacos – Packed with flavor and so easy to make.
- Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings – With fluffy homemade dumplings.
- Crockpot White Chicken Chili – You will be surprised how flavorful it is.
- Crockpot Mississippi Chicken – Buttery chicken with tangy peppers.
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