Slow Cooker Smothered Chicken

A fork taking a piece of smothered chicken on a plate with rice.

5 from 1 vote

Slow Cooker Smothered Chicken is a comforting dish that is perfect for busy nights. This easy crockpot chicken recipe delivers fall-apart tender chicken breasts which are lightly floured, browned in a skillet for deep flavor, and then slow-cooked with onions, celery, garlic, lemon zest and rich, silky gravy.

Prep Time25

Cook Time5

Total Time5 25

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 338kcal

Author: Tammi

Ingredients

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ cup all purpose flour
2 tablespoons oil or butter
1 onion thinly sliced
2 stalks celery thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic minced
1 strip lemon zest
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup chicken broth
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Tablespoon cornstarch + 1 tablespoon water, or slurry
¼ cup heavy cream
fresh parsley for garnish, optional

Instructions

Season the chicken: In a wide bowl or plate, combine salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin.
Flour the chicken: Place the flour in a shallow dish and dredge each chicken breast lightly, shaking off excess. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the leftover seasoned flour for thickening later.
Brown the chicken: Heat oil/butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.Brown chicken 3–4 minutes per side until golden. Transfer to the slow cooker.
Add aromatics to slow cooker: Scatter the onion, celery, and garlic around the chicken.Add the strip of lemon zest.
Build the gravy base: In the same skillet, add the reserved 1 tablespoon flour and cook for 30 seconds.Whisk in the chicken broth, lemon juice, and Worcestershire.Bring to a brief simmer to thicken slightly, scraping up browned bits.
Slow cook: Pour the skillet mixture over the chicken and vegetables.Cook on LOW 5–6 hours or HIGH 3–4 hours, until the chicken is very tender.
Finish the gravy: Remove and discard the lemon zest strip.Stir in the heavy cream and the cornstarch slurry (if using). You may find this easier to do if you remove the chicken breasts to a plate, and then return them to the slow cooker. Allow the sauce to cook for 10 minutes.
Serve: Spoon gravy over the chicken and garnish with parsley, with your choice of sides.

Notes

Serving Ideas

Spoon over buttered egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or rice for a simple, comforting meal.
Pair with greens like spinach, kale, or green beans for a complete dinner.
Add crusty bread on the side for a classic homestyle touch: Perfect for mopping up every bit of gravy.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can freeze cooked chicken and gravy in airtight containers for up to 3 months.

Nutrition