My family likes this delicious Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken for an easy weeknight meal!

slow cooker garlic chicken on top of risotto on plate

I’m not such a crock potter, but crock pots save me on busy nights, and I have a couple handfuls of slow cooker recipes worth trying, like this one! And since everyone seems to like chicken, it all works out great!

🛒 Ingredient Notes:

  • olive oil (can use avocado oil, if desired)
  • thyme (use fresh)
  • rosemary (use fresh)
  • garlic
  • onion (make sure it’s a sweet onion!)
  • chicken broth (regular or low-sodium)
  • white wine (a dry wine like sauvignon blanc is best)
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • all purpose flour
  • chicken (use bone-in chicken- legs, thighs, breast)
four photos showing how to make slow cooker garlic chicken

✏️ How to make Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken:

*The complete, printable recipe is in the recipe card at the end of this post.

  1. Chicken pieces are fried up on one side only, just to brown them lightly. 
  2. In a slow cooker, layer onion, garlic, and fresh thyme. Place the lightly-browned chicken on top.
  3. Make a sauce of sorts, beginning with white wine and mixing it with flour. Whisk together.
  4. Pour over the chicken in the slow cooker. Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 3 1/2 hours or on low for 7 hours.
slow cooker garlic chicken in pot

➡️ Recipe Tips and Substitutions:

  • I wouldn’t use boneless chicken for this recipe.  The bone-in chicken keeps the meat more tender.
  • If you need to make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free flour or tapioca starch in place of all-purpose flour.
  • If you would prefer to cook this in the oven, brown the chicken in a Dutch oven, then add remaining ingredients plus 1 cup chicken broth. Cover and cook at 350 degrees F. until the chicken is cooked through and tender, about 40 minutes.
tongs putting chicken on top of risotto

✔️What to serve with Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken:

I use instant polenta as my base. I make it according to the package instructions except that I substitute 1/2 of the water for milk, add a tablespoon of butter and a spoonful of cream cheese. This makes for a delicious and creamy “side” to the slow cooker garlic chicken. You can also serve it with mashed potatoes, rice pilaf or risotto.

plate of chicken placed on top of risotto

❤️ What I Love About This Recipe:

  1. It’s super easy to make.
  2. I love it with a good base (the polenta is amazing) because there will be some drippings to drizzle on top.
  3. I like that there’s an option to prepare it in the oven.
slow cooker garlic chicken on top of risotto
slow cooker garlic chicken on top of risotto
5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken

We like this delicious chicken served over creamy polenta.
Prep: 25 minutes
Cook: 4 hours
Total: 4 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
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Ingredients

Instructions 

  • Season the chicken with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Cook the chicken, skin side down, until the skin turns golden brown (about 4 minutes).
  • Combine the onion, garlic, thyme and rosemary in a 5 to 6-quart slow cooker and season with salt and pepper. Top with the chicken, skin side up. Scrape any juices from the pan on top of the chicken. In a small bowl, whisk together the wine, broth and flour until smooth and pour it over the chicken in the slow cooker. Cover and cook until the chicken is tender, about 3½ hours on HIGH or 7 hours on LOW.
  • Serve the chicken topped with sauce. Serve over rice, couscous, polenta or potatoes.

Notes

  • This recipe is gluten-free adaptable. Substitute gluten free flour or tapioca starch for the all purpose flour.
  • A delicious accompaniment to this dish is polenta. Prepare instant polenta as directed, substituting milk for half of the water and adding in 1 tablespoon of butter and a spoonful or two of cream cheese.
  • If you would prefer to cook this in the oven, brown the chicken in a Dutch oven, then add remaining ingredients plus 1 cup chicken broth. Cover and cook at 350 degrees F. until the chicken is cooked through and tender, about 40 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 490kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 35g, Fat: 30g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 135mg, Sodium: 327mg, Potassium: 461mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 277IU, Vitamin C: 8mg, Calcium: 45mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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16 Comments

  1. Nichole says:

    My modifications:
    Used thighs but took off the skins. After browning the chicken really well, I poured a little wine in the hot pan and scrapped the chicken bits off and then poured that into the crock. I used potato starch instead of flour because it’s what I had on hand.

  2. Sheila says:

    Super excited to try this! Also – wanted to point out that its not only GF adaptable but its also milk and soy free. That’s a huge deal for me and lots and lots of other moms who have itty bitties who are allergic to milk and soy! (MSPI) Thanks so much!

    1. Lori Lange says:

      Thanks- I hope you and your family enjoy it as much as we did. My Mom is gluten-free, and we enjoyed it over polenta!

  3. Bethany says:

    Made this yesterday after finding it on Pinterest. Soooo easy, and tasted great! 🙂

  4. Shannon Wells says:

    In the picture you show using 1/3 cup flour but in the recipe it says 1/2 a cup?

  5. Bev Weidner says:

    Lori, um, I DIE. I’m tempted to crawl into the slow cooker and snuggle with the chicken all day. Good grief. Yum.

    1. Lori Lange says:

      You crack me up Girl 😉

  6. Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray says:

    This looks delicious–I slow cooker recipes 🙂

  7. Blog is the New Black says:

    Lori, this looks easy and delicious!

  8. Becki's Whole Life says:

    This sounds great. When I break out my crock pot it needs to be for a good recipe like this. Like the fresh herbs in here for some good flavor!

  9. jessica lynn says:

    This looks fantastic! I just bought a new slow cooker (a 220 volt that I can use out here and not worry about burning down the house). I may make this tomorrow to break it in!

  10. Lea @gourmetmommy says:

    Looks amazing; I’m always looking for good slow cooker meals to make a busy weeknight easy and comforting. This recipe plus a good chardonnay will be just the ticket for getting over hump day!