Slow cookers are a convenient appliance that allow you to start dinner in the morning and come home to a hot, home-cooked meal. With a slow cooker, tough cuts of meat become fall-off-the-bone tender and flavors have a chance to meld together into a delicious dish. While you can certainly cook chicken in the slow cooker, there are some important safety considerations when working with raw chicken.
Is It Safe to Cook Raw Chicken in a Slow Cooker?
Yes, it is safe to cook raw chicken in the slow cooker as long as you follow proper food safety guidelines. The low, moist heat environment of the slow cooker will gently cook the chicken to a safe internal temperature of 165°F as measured with a food thermometer. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when adding raw chicken to your slow cooker recipe.
Thaw Fully Before Cooking
It is important that raw chicken is fully thawed before placing it in the slow cooker. Putting frozen chicken directly into the slow cooker may prevent it from heating thoroughly and poses a food safety risk. Be sure to plan ahead and thaw chicken in the refrigerator overnight before adding to a recipe.
Brown First for Food Safety
Many chefs recommend quickly browning or searing raw chicken on the stovetop before adding it to the slow cooker. This helps seal in juices and gives the chicken nice color and flavor. More importantly, searing helps kill any bacteria on the external surfaces of the chicken.
While searing is not 100% necessary from a safety standpoint if the chicken will be cooking for several hours, it provides an extra layer of protection against potential foodborne illness. When in doubt, take the extra couple minutes to sear your chicken.
Don’t Overfill
When layering raw chicken and other ingredients into the slow cooker, be careful not to overfill. The cooker should be a maximum of 2/3 full for optimal safety and cooking. Overfilling can inhibit the chicken from heating evenly.
Cook on Low for Best Results
Cooking raw chicken on the low setting for the full recommended time ensures the chicken reaches safe internal temperatures. Quick cooking on high may not allow the temperature to distribute properly throughout the dish.
Check Internal Temperatures
The only way to confirm chicken has cooked to a safe temperature is to check with a food thermometer. Chicken should reach 165°F internally once fully cooked. Check in multiple spots to be sure.
Don’t Keep Warm Too Long
While the “keep warm” function of slow cookers is convenient for serving chicken over an extended period, take care not to keep cooked chicken warm for longer than 1-2 hours. Bacteria can still grow even at keep warm temperatures.
Tips for Cooking Chicken in the Slow Cooker
Follow these tips for safely cooking moist, flavorful chicken in the slow cooker every time:
Use the Right Cook Time
To ensure chicken reaches safe internal temperatures, follow recipe cook times closely. Whole chickens and bone-in pieces typically need 6-8 hours on low or 4-6 on high. Boneless chicken breasts and tenders cook faster at 4-6 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high.
Layer Properly
Place vegetables, onions, aromatics, and liquids into the slow cooker first. Nestle raw chicken down into the liquid. This ensures even cooking and helps chicken absorb flavors as it simmers.
Protect Delicate Pieces
Boneless chicken breasts and tenders can dry out easily or overcook in the slow cooker. Place them on top of veggies or nestle into sauce to keep moist. Foil slings can also help shield delicate pieces.
Add Liquid
The moist environment of the slow cooker ensures tender chicken. Add broth, cream, tomatoes, or water to the pot so that the chicken pieces are about 2/3 submerged. The liquid will evaporate and concentrate flavors.
Use Sauces and Seasonings
Slow cooking chicken is a great way to infuse it with flavor. Try tomato-based sauces, southeast Asian coconut curry, salsa, teriyaki, or hearty barbecue sauce. Dry seasonings also have plenty of time to penetrate the meat.
Shred, Slice, or Cube
Tender cooked chicken can be easily shredded with forks for tacos, sandwiches, and bowls. Slicing or dicing gives a texture perfect for soups, casseroles, and stir fries. Prepare as desired once fully cooked.
Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
Here are some delicious recipes for cooking moist, flavorful chicken in the slow cooker:
Chicken and Dumplings
Tender chicken and vegetables in a rich, savory broth topped with fluffy dumplings. The dumplings can be added in the last 30-60 minutes so they don’t get soggy.
Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken slowly infused with aromatic spices in a creamy, tomatoey Indian curry. Serve over rice.
Jerk Chicken
Caribbean seasoned chicken cooked until fall-off-the-bone tender. Great served with rice, black beans, and mango salsa.
Buffalo Chicken
Shredded chicken tossed in a buffalo wing style hot sauce then piled on buns for easy pulled chicken sandwiches.
Chicken and Rice Soup
Hearty, filling chicken soup with carrots, celery, onions, rice, and tender chunks of chicken. Perfect for cold weather.
Barbecue Pulled Chicken
Chicken cooked in a sweet and smoky barbecue sauce until it pulls apart easily. Serve on buns or over cornbread.
Chicken Parmesan
Simple parmesan crusted chicken breasts cooked in marinara sauce. Serve over pasta.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put frozen chicken in my slow cooker?
No, chicken must be fully thawed before placing it in the slow cooker. Frozen chicken may not reach safe internal temperatures fast enough.
Does raw chicken need liquid to cook in the slow cooker?
Yes, the liquid creates steam and moisture to gently cook the chicken. Use broth, tomatoes, cream or water and cover chicken about 2/3 of the way.
How long does it take to cook chicken in a slow cooker?
On low, whole chicken pieces take 6-8 hours. Boneless breasts take 4-6 hours. High reduces times by 2 hours. Always check doneness with a thermometer.
Should you sear chicken before the slow cooker?
It is recommended to quickly sear or brown chicken before slow cooking to enhance flavor and kill surface bacteria. However, searing is not 100% necessary.
What temperature should chicken reach in the slow cooker?
Chicken is safe to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F all the way through. Check in a few places with a food thermometer.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, cooking raw chicken in the slow cooker can be completely safe and result in ridiculously juicy, tender meat. As long as you follow proper food safety precautions like fully thawing chicken, cooking on low for the full time, and checking internal temperatures, you can enjoy fall-off-the-bone chicken from the convenience of your slow cooker.
With a little practice, you can nail delicious slow cooker chicken recipes from comforting soups and stews to perfectly sauced shredded chicken. Next time you need an easy dinner, throw some raw chicken in the crock, let it work its magic, and look forward to amazing results!