Follow these steps to cook frozen chicken in a crock pot, slow cooker, or Instant Pot for a safe and delicious meal!.
If you’re like me, you sometimes remember a little too late that you’re the adult in the room. Yeah, you know, the one that’s supposed to cook dinner tonight — oops. Not being able to plan ahead at the last minute is not fun, so you may be wondering how to quickly cook frozen chicken in a crock pot or slow cooker.
I wish I could say I am always ready for everything, but the truth is, sometimes I am midway through my day at work before it dawns on me that I have no idea what I will make for dinner in just a few short hours.
Add to it the running around after work for transporting my kids back and forth for sports, friends, part-time jobs, you name it, and I don’t have a lot of time to figure something out. Sometimes, I don’t even have the time or desire to pop into the store.
Or, worse, I have fully planned out using my slow cooker to save me so much time! Perfect, right? Wrong. The meat didn’t thaw as quickly as my metabolism promised (I’m getting older, leave me alone). So now I’m stuck with my concrete dinner plans, a slow cooker, and a chunk of frozen meat. Adorable.
Let’s talk some about how we can use these horrible habits to our advantage and still come up with a dinner that’s going to impress our loved ones and make them believe we had it together this whole time.
It’s easy and tasty to make chicken dishes with frozen chicken breasts in a crock pot. But to get the best results, you need to know how long to cook the chicken for. If you cook it for too short, the chicken will be dry, and if you cook it for too long, it will be mushy and stringy. This complete guide will show you how to cook frozen chicken breasts in a crock pot and give you cooking times so you can always have tasty chicken meals.
Why Choose a Crock Pot for Cooking Frozen Chicken?
Using a crock pot or slow cooker to prepare frozen chicken breast offers several advantages
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Convenience No need to defrost chicken Simply place frozen breasts in the crock pot.
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Tender and juicy chicken: The slow, moist cooking environment helps chicken stay tender and moist.
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Infuses flavors: Chicken can soak up spices, herbs and sauce flavors as it slowly cooks.
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Hands-off cooking: Once set up, a crock pot does the work for you with no monitoring needed.
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Safe cooking: Because crock pots cook at lower temperatures for longer periods of time, chicken cooks through safely.
If you use the right methods, you can make frozen chicken breast very juicy and flavorful in a crock pot.
How Long Does it Take to Cook Frozen Chicken Breasts?
Cooking time can vary considerably based on the size and thickness of frozen chicken breasts, the number of pieces, and heat setting used. Here are general guidelines:
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Small frozen breast pieces: 4-5 hours on HIGH
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Boneless frozen breasts (6 oz): 6-8 hours on LOW or 3-4 hours on HIGH
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Bone-in frozen breasts: 8-10 hours on LOW or 4-6 hours on HIGH
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Small whole frozen chickens: 8+ hours on LOW or 4-6 hours on HIGH
Checking for doneness and using a meat thermometer is recommended as cook times can vary.
Helpful Tips for Cooking Frozen Chicken in a Crock Pot
These tips will help you cook frozen chicken breasts safely in a crock pot so that the meat is tender and juicy:
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Use small pieces: Shred or cut chicken breasts into smaller 1-2 inch pieces before freezing for faster thawing.
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Don’t overfill: Chicken shouldn’t be tightly packed. Leave space for even cooking.
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Add liquid: Use chicken broth, salsa, barbecue sauce or other liquids to prevent drying out.
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Cook on HIGH: The high setting brings food to safe temperatures faster.
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Use a thermometer: Check inner temperature reaches 165°F for safety.
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Natural release: Let pressure release naturally before opening lid for maximum moisture.
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Rest before serving: Let chicken rest 5-10 minutes before shredding or slicing for juiciness.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for cooking frozen chicken breasts in a crock pot:
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Prep: Cut chicken breasts into 1-2 inch chunks if not pre-cut. Defrosting beforehand is optional.
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Season: Season chicken all over with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, Italian herbs or other seasonings.
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Add liquid: Pour 1-2 cups chicken broth, salsa or barbecue sauce over chicken.
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Cook on HIGH: Add chicken and liquid to crock pot. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3-4 hours until 165°F.
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Shred and serve: Use forks to shred chicken. Serve chicken in tacos, sandwiches, salads, pasta and more!
Helpful Variations and Tips
- Use salsa or barbecue sauce for added flavor
- Mix in vegetables like potatoes, carrots or peppers
- Shred before freezing for faster crock pot cooking
- Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours for more tender meat
- Use chicken thigh for more moist, tender meat
- Make chicken salad by shredding cooked chicken and mixing with mayo, celery, etc.
- Pair with rice or quinoa for a complete meal
Common FAQs
Got crock pot chicken questions? Here are some commonly asked questions:
Is it safe to cook frozen chicken in a crock pot?
Yes, it’s safe provided you use the right temperature and cook time. Make sure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Should you add liquid when cooking frozen chicken?
Yes, liquid helps to steam and distribute heat evenly. Use chicken broth, salsa, barbecue sauce or similar.
What temperature should you cook chicken at?
High heat (300°F) is best for cooking frozen chicken safely in a crock pot. Cook until 165°F.
Can you overcook chicken in a crock pot?
Yes, overcooking can lead to dry, stringy chicken. Use recommended cook times and check temperature.
How do you keep chicken moist in a crock pot?
Adding liquid, cooking on HIGH, shredding, and allowing a natural pressure release all help keep crock pot chicken moist.
Ready to Cook Frozen Chicken in Your Crock Pot?
Now that you know how long to cook frozen chicken breasts in a crock pot and helpful tips, you can start making deliciously moist and tender chicken dishes with ease. reference the cook times, follow the simple directions, and experiment with flavors. In no time, you’ll be serving up amazing crock pot chicken tacos, sandwiches, salads and more that your family will love. Give this handy cooking method a try next time you have frozen chicken waiting to be cooked.
How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken
It will take approximately 4-6 hours to cook chicken from frozen in a slow cooker, depending on the amount of chicken and the specific functions of your slow cooker. And of course, it will depend on the size of the frozen chicken pieces — there’s a big difference between a few chicken thighs and a whole frozen chicken. Smaller pieces will cook faster.
A slow cooker is called a slow cooker for a reason, right? This way of cooking chicken from frozen takes a while.
If this slow cooking process is too long to wait, you can help the chicken thaw more quickly by sealing it in a bag and placing it in a bowl of cold water. Never use hot water for this step! It may take about an hour to thaw, but it keeps you out of the danger zone for food-borne illnesses. Do not leave thawed chicken out at room temperature for more than two hours for the same reason.
The good news is you can always defrost chicken in a microwave if needed.
Ingredients for making frozen chicken in a crock pot or slow cooker:
- Frozen chicken breast (or two)
- Butter (optional)
- Poultry seasoning
- A little bit of salt and black pepper
The seasoning mix is up to you. It could include chili powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, jerk chicken seasoning, or our chicken taco seasoning. These will all give you a flavorful chicken.
How to make frozen chicken breasts in a crock pot or slow cooker:
- Put chicken breasts, butter, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper in the crock pot.
- For 6 hours on low heat or 4 hours on high heat
- A meat thermometer should be used to make sure that the chicken has reached at least 165°F on the inside.
Can I Cook Frozen Chicken in a Crock Pot?
The USDA recommends thawing meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker.
They cite the fact that frozen pieces will take longer to reach safe internal temperatures, which is a known cause for foodborne illness. Additionally, frozen or partially frozen foods will also cool everything else in the slow cooker and contribute to a longer cooking time and a less safe cooking environment.
With all of this in mind, some meals are designed for use in the slow cooker that may be frozen. The manufacturer’s instructions will be your best bet for food safety and preparation.
The USDA has also addressed slow cooker food safety guidelines that will help users make the best choices and use the best practices when making meals with a crock pot. We strongly suggest reading these no matter what you plan to make!
When cooking chicken in a slow cooker, it’s best to make the chicken by itself, without any other sides. This prevents the cooling of other food items, and the transfer of temperatures between ingredients.
If you cook frozen chicken in the crock pot, you can get great shredded or pulled chicken that you can use in many recipes.
Here are some of our favorite recipes to make with your shredded crock pot chicken!
