Print

Easy Never-Dry Crockpot Chicken Breast Meal Prep

easy never-dry crockpot chicken breast meal prep - featured image
Print Recipe

This easy never-dry overnight crockpot chicken breast meal prep is the kind of recipe you make once and immediately text your friends about. It is forgiving enough for beginners, flexible enough for picky eaters, and reliable enough that you will never go back to dry chicken again.

Ingredients

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts (2-3 pounds, about 4-6 breasts)
  • Low-sodium chicken broth (1/2 cup)
  • Olive oil (2 tablespoons)
  • Garlic powder (1 teaspoon)
  • Onion powder (1 teaspoon)
  • Smoked paprika (1 teaspoon)
  • Dried thyme (1/2 teaspoon)
  • Salt (1 teaspoon)
  • Black pepper (1/2 teaspoon)

Instructions

  1. Prep the chicken (5 minutes): Trim excess fat or connective tissue from chicken breasts. Pat dry with paper towels. If very thick (more than 1.5 inches), cut in half horizontally.
  2. Season the chicken (3 minutes): Mix garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl. Drizzle olive oil over chicken, then sprinkle seasoning mixture evenly over both sides. Rub in with hands.
  3. Arrange in the crockpot (2 minutes): Place seasoned chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot in a single layer. Pour chicken broth around the edges, not directly on top.
  4. Set the timer (30 seconds): Put lid on crockpot and set to LOW heat. Set timer for 6-8 hours. For overnight cooking, aim for 7 hours.
  5. Let it cook (6-8 hours): Do not lift the lid during cooking.
  6. Check the temperature (2 minutes): When timer goes off, use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature of thickest piece. It should be 165°F. If not, cook another 30 minutes.
  7. Rest the chicken (10 minutes): Remove chicken from crockpot and place on cutting board. Let rest for 10 minutes before shredding or slicing.
  8. Shred or slice (5 minutes): Use two forks to shred chicken into bite-sized pieces, or slice with a sharp knife.
  9. Reserve the cooking liquid: Pour cooking liquid through a fine-mesh strainer into a jar or container. Use to moisten chicken when reheating or as a base for soups.
  10. Portion and store (5 minutes): Divide chicken into meal prep containers (4-6 ounce servings). Spoon a little reserved cooking liquid over each portion. Let cool completely before refrigerating.

Notes

Do not skip the resting step; it keeps the chicken juicy. For meal prep, season different containers differently (e.g., add barbecue sauce to one, buffalo sauce to another). Use a crockpot liner for easy cleanup. Do not overcrowd the crockpot; cook in batches if needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot chicken, meal prep, overnight chicken, slow cooker chicken, never-dry chicken, easy chicken recipe

Find it online: https://eliplate.com/easy-never-dry-crockpot-chicken-breast-meal-prep/