Crockpot Creamy Garlic Chicken: A Weeknight Hug (Print Version)
Easy Crockpot Creamy Garlic Chicken: Enjoy tender, slow-cooked chicken in a rich garlic sauce. Perfect for a simple, comforting weeknight dinner.
# Recipe Info:
Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 4 Hours minutes
Total Time: 19 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Gluten-Free (if using GF broth/cornstarch)
# Ingredients:
→ Chicken & Dairy Base
01 -
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
02 -
1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
03 -
1/2 cup heavy cream
→ Aromatic & Flavor Boosters
04 -
1 cup chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
05 -
4-6 cloves garlic, minced (or more, I always add more!)
→ Seasonings & Thickener
06 -
1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
07 -
1/2 tsp onion powder
08 -
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
09 -
2 tbsp cornstarch
→ Finishing Touches
10 -
2 tbsp cold water (for cornstarch slurry)
11 -
Fresh parsley or chives, chopped (for garnish, optional but pretty!)
# Instructions:
01 -
First things first, grab your chicken pieces and give them a quick pat dry with a paper towel. This little step helps them brown better if you decide to sear them, which, honestly, I often skip on busy days. Pop them right into your slow cooker. Then, in a small bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, cream cheese (make sure it's softened, or it'll be a lumpy mess, I learned that the hard way!), minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and onion powder until it's mostly smooth. You want those flavors to start mingling right away!
02 -
Pour that glorious, aromatic mixture right over your chicken in the crockpot. Give it a gentle stir to make sure every piece of chicken is coated and happy. Cover your slow cooker and set it to low for 4-6 hours, or high for 2-3 hours. The smell that starts to waft through your kitchen during this time? Oh my goodness, it's heavenly. It's the kind of smell that makes you peek under the lid every half hour, even though you know you shouldn't! Just let it do its thing, hon.
03 -
Once the cooking time is up, your chicken should be ridiculously tender. Seriously, it'll practically fall apart when you look at it. Carefully remove the chicken from the crockpot and place it on a cutting board. Grab two forks and start shredding! It's super easy at this point, and you can make the pieces as chunky or as fine as you like. I usually go for a rustic, slightly chunky shred for this Crockpot Creamy Garlic Chicken, it just feels more homemade.
04 -
Now for the magic touch! In a small bowl, whisk together your cornstarch with a few tablespoons of cold water until you have a smooth slurry. Pour this into the bubbling sauce in the crockpot, stirring constantly. Let it cook on high for about 15-20 minutes, or until the sauce thickens to your liking. It should coat the back of a spoon beautifully. This is where I always taste it and adjust the salt and pepper, sometimes I forget the pepper, oops!
05 -
Once the sauce is thick and luscious, stir in the heavy cream. This is the moment where the sauce goes from great to absolutely divine. It becomes super silky and even more rich. Let it warm through for just a few minutes; you don't want to boil the cream, just get it nice and hot. This step truly rounds out the flavors and adds that luxurious mouthfeel to your Crockpot Creamy Garlic Chicken.
06 -
Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot, stirring it gently into that incredible, creamy garlic sauce. Let it hang out for another 5-10 minutes, just to let the chicken soak up all that goodness. The finished dish should be wonderfully fragrant, with tender chicken swimming in a rich, garlicky, creamy sauce. Serve it up hot and watch everyone dig in! It's so satisfying to see happy faces around the table, especially after such minimal effort.
# Notes:
01 -
Always soften your cream cheese before adding it to the broth; a cold block will give you lumps, trust me, I've been there!
02 -
This Crockpot Creamy Garlic Chicken stores wonderfully in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge.
03 -
If you're out of fresh garlic, use a teaspoon of garlic powder for every 3 cloves, but fresh is always best, hon!
04 -
Serve this deliciousness over mashed potatoes with a sprinkle of fresh parsley for a truly comforting meal.
# Tools You'll Need:
01 -
Slow cooker (Crockpot)
02 -
whisk
03 -
cutting board
04 -
forks
# Nutrition Facts (Per Serving):
Calories: 450
Total Fat: 30g
Total Carbohydrate: 8g
Protein: 35g