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. Realizing last minute that you forgot to plan ahead isn’t any fun, so you may be wondering how to cook frozen chicken in a crock pot or slow cooker to speed things up.
Some days I don’t think about what I’m going to make for dinner until I’m already halfway through my workday. I wish I could say I’m always ready for anything, but the truth is I’m not.
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. I didn’t take the meat out in time, and it thawed more slowly than my metabolism (I’m aging, 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 about how we can turn these bad habits into good ones and still make a dinner that will wow our family and friends and make them think we had it all together the whole time.
One easy way to make moist, flavorful chicken for meals or recipes is to cook frozen chicken breasts in a slow cooker, also called a Crockpot. As soon as you put a package of frozen chicken breasts in the slow cooker, you can leave it to do the rest of the work while it cooks the chicken slowly to perfection.
But exactly how long does it take to cook frozen chicken breasts in a slow cooker? Here is a complete guide to timing, tips and tricks for ensuring your frozen chicken comes out tender and delicious every time you use this handy kitchen shortcut.
Why Use a Slow Cooker for Frozen Chicken?
Cooking frozen chicken in the slow cooker offers several advantages
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No-touch cooking: Once you put the chicken in the slow cooker, you don’t have to do any more work or pay attention to it. The machine cooks the food while you’re not there for as long as it needs to.
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Tender, juicy chicken: The low, moist heat of the slow cooker gently cooks the chicken, keeping it incredibly moist and tender.
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Adds flavor: Spices, herbs and other flavorings have time to permeate the chicken over several hours of cooking.
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Safety: The prolonged cooking time ensures the chicken is cooked through to a safe internal temperature.
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You can use the cooked chicken in many different recipes, such as casseroles, sandwiches, salads, wraps, and more. Shredded slow cooker chicken also freezes beautifully.
How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken Breasts in a Slow Cooker
Cooking time can vary based on the size and number of chicken breasts, how frozen they are and your slow cooker model. Here are general guidelines:
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2-3 hours on HIGH: 1-2 lightly frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
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3-4 hours on HIGH: 3-4 chicken breasts or a pack of frozen chicken tenderloins.
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6-8 hours on LOW: 4-6 frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
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8-10 hours on LOW: A family pack of 6-8 large frozen chicken breasts.
The best way to tell when the chicken is done is to check the internal temperature and see if it can be shred.
How to Know When Frozen Chicken is Done in the Slow Cooker
Relying on cooking time alone isn’t a foolproof way to know when chicken cooked from frozen in the slow cooker is fully cooked and ready to eat. Use these visual and temperature cues:
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165°F internal temperature: Check the temp in the thickest part of the chicken using a food thermometer. 165°F indicates it’s safe to eat.
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Shredding: The chicken should shred or pull apart easily with a fork. If it’s still stiff or firm, cook longer.
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Clear juices: Prick the chicken with a fork; the juices should run clear rather than pink or red.
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Visual color: The chicken should be white and opaque throughout when sliced or shredded, with no pink spots.
Always double check the temp even if the chicken looks done. Frozen chicken takes longer than fresh to reach a safe internal temperature.
Tips for Cooking Frozen Chicken Breasts in the Slow Cooker
Follow these simple tips for foolproof frozen chicken cooked to juicy perfection in your Crockpot:
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Partially thaw: Chicken thawed to refrigerator temperature may cut cooking time slightly. But you can absolutely cook fully frozen chicken in the slow cooker.
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Add flavor: Season chicken with spices, chopped onions, garlic, lemon, lime or fresh herbs. A small amount of olive oil or cooking oil and salt enhances flavor.
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Lift and separate: Arrange chicken so pieces aren’t stacked. Lifting and shuffling periodically allows heat to circulate.
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Don’t peek! Resist lifting the lid to peek or stir, which increases cooking time.
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Shred: Use two forks to shred or pull cooked chicken into bite size pieces for tacos, casseroles, sandwiches and more.
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Make it a meal: Cook chicken in broth along with potatoes, carrots and celery for an easy homemade soup.
How to Freeze and Store Slow Cooker Chicken
Leftover cooked chicken from the slow cooker freezes beautifully up to 3 months. Here’s how:
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Let chicken cool completely, then package in freezer bags, wrap tightly in foil or place in airtight containers.
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Exclude any cooking liquids, as they can cause freezer burn.
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Flatten packages to freeze flat for efficient storage and faster thawing.
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Label bags with contents and date.
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Thaw in refrigerator overnight before using.
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Use within 3 months for best quality.
Freezer chicken is terrific to have on hand for quick weeknight meals.
Top Recipes Using Cooked Frozen Chicken from the Slow Cooker
The uses for cooked frozen chicken breasts from the slow cooker are endless! The tender chicken works wonderfully in these recipes:
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Hearty chicken tortilla soup
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Simple chicken noodle soup
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Chicken pot pie with biscuit topping
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Easy chicken enchiladas
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Chicken alfredo pasta bake
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BBQ chicken sandwiches
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Chicken Caesar salad wraps
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Buffalo chicken pizza
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Chicken tacos with quick pickled onions
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Chicken Parmesan baked ziti
FAQs About Cooking Frozen Chicken in the Slow Cooker
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about using the slow cooker to cook frozen chicken breasts:
Do you need to add liquid to the slow cooker?
- The frozen chicken will release liquid as it cooks, so no additional liquid is needed in most cases. For extra flavor, you can add chicken broth, salsa, barbecue sauce, etc.
Should you thaw chicken before the slow cooker?
- Thawing first isn’t required, but may decrease the cooking time slightly. For food safety, only thaw chicken in the refrigerator, not at room temp.
Can you overcook chicken in the slow cooker?
- It’s difficult to overcook chicken in the slow cooker. The low temp and moist environment keeps chicken incredibly tender. Aim for 165°F internal temp or when shreds easily.
Can you cook from frozen in a crockpot overnight?
- Yes, chicken can cook low and slow in the crockpot 7-8 hours overnight, ensuring it reaches safe internal temp. In the morning, you’ll have perfectly cooked chicken ready to eat.
How long does cooked chicken last in the fridge?
- Cooked chicken keeps 3-4 days refrigerated. Freeze leftovers within this time for longer storage.
The Rewarding Convenience of Slow Cooker Frozen Chicken
Cooking frozen chicken breasts in the slow cooker makes quick work of preparing juicy, flavorful chicken for the week ahead. In just a few hours, with no need to constantly monitor or tend to the chicken as it cooks, you’ll have tender, delicious chicken ready to serve in a variety of dishes. Follow the guide above for easy timing and tips that guarantee success. With your handy slow cooker, frozen chicken on hand is an incredibly convenient shortcut to home cooked meals any night of the week!
Can You Freeze Chicken After Making It in the Slow Cooker?
Not only can you freeze it, but I strongly suggest you do!
It’s so much easier to have a bag of shredded chicken to thaw (if you remember… see above) than it is to start from scratch.
I love to buy chicken when it’s on sale and plan ahead for various future meals. Chicken is so versatile that it’s easy to think of ways to use it without feeling like it’s getting old. Even a basic chicken salad sandwich to bring to work will feel like a brand-new meal!.
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. Also, foods that are frozen or partially frozen will cool everything else in the slow cooker, which will make the cooking process take longer and be less safe.
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 preparing chicken in the slow cooker, it is helpful to make the chicken by itself, without any other sides included. 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!
