Crockpot Cranberry Chicken is one of the easiest meals for busy weeknights or just a cozy fall dinner. Made with only four ingredients, it takes 5 minutes to prepare, and the crockpot does all the work, so dinner is ready when you need it. It’s a creamy, comforting, family-friendly meal that we enjoy serving over mashed potatoes or rice.
What we love about this Cranberry Chicken
My sister, Janessa Ransom, shared this recipe with me probably 30 years ago. I always keep the ingredients for it in my food storage because it is just so simple and a go-to when I’ve needed an easy weeknight or Sunday night meal and didn’t have time to go to the store or meal prep. With only 4 ingredients, 3 of which are stored in your pantry, it is so easy, and the prep time is just 5 minutes or less.
It is a creamy chicken that everyone loves. We serve it over rice or mashed potatoes. Cooking it in the crockpot helps on days when you need to throw something in the crockpot and need it ready when you get home. When you cook it in the crockpot, you can shred the chicken in the sauce and serve it that way over the potatoes or rice, or serve it whole and drizzle the sauce over the chicken.
For another crockpot recipe, check out our Crockpot Ravioli Meatball Casserole, our Crockpot Southwest Chicken and Rice, Shredded Beef Nachos, or our Shredded Beef Sliders! I’m doing a series of our favorite crockpot recipes this fall, so more crockpot recipes to come!
What you need to make this Cranberry Chicken Slow Cooker
You will need the following ingredients:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Creamy French dressing
- Whole berry cranberry sauce
- Dried onion soup mix
Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken Substitutions
I know what it’s like when you don’t have everything on hand, and the last thing you want to do is run to the store and pick something up. Here are a few ideas to substitute items on the ingredients list if needed:
- You could substitute Catalina dressing for the Creamy French Dressing
- Apricot jam or peach preserves could substitute for the cranberry sauce if needed. Lingonberry jam or red currant jelly could also substitute.
- You can use jellied cranberry sauce, but I feel like the berry cranberry sauce stays in place a little better over the chicken and has a little better texture in this dish.
Step-by-step Instructions
Step 1. Place the chicken breasts on the bottom of the slow cooker. Pour the Creamy French Dressing over the chicken breasts. Stir the cranberry sauce and place an equal amount on top of each chicken breast. Sprinkle over the sauce 3/4 of the packet of the dry onion soup mix.
Step 2. Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Serve immediately over rice or mashed potatoes.
Tips
- I prefer using whole-berry cranberry sauce in this recipe, both for the texture and because the berry cranberry sauce stays in place a little better over the chicken, but you can substitute it for jellied cranberry sauce if desired.
- I’ve used a 7-quart and 8-quart crockpot for this recipe. We have a few crockpots of different sizes at our house. This is one that I use and like.
Frequently Asked Questions
| How to store Crockpot Cranberry Chicken? |
| a. Once cooled, place the food in an airtight container and refrigerate. You can remove it from the crockpot and spread leftovers in a shallow layer on a plate or tray to help it cool if needed. Do not leave at room temperature for more than 2 hours. Store covered in the fridge for 3-4 days and in the freezer for 2-3 months. b. I do NOT recommend storing the food in the ceramic insert of the crockpot in the fridge. Never put the electrical base in the fridge. The ceramic inserts are very hot, hold on to heat, and take a long time to cool down. Food can end up being in the “danger zone” for too long, especially in the center, if stored in them in the fridge. It’s best to transfer the food to a smaller container to cool and store. |
| How to reheat cranberry chicken? |
| You can warm it over the stovetop on medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes, stirring as needed. Microwaving until warm in the microwave is also a possibility for individual servings. To warm in the oven, preheat the oven to 350 and warm in an oven-safe dish, covered, for about 20 minutes. |
Crockpot Cranberry Chicken
Crockpot Cranberry Chicken is one of the easiest meals for busy weeknights or just a cozy fall dinner. Made with only four ingredients, it takes 5 minutes to prepare, and the crockpot does all the work, so dinner is ready when you need it. It’s a creamy, comforting, family-friendly meal that we enjoy serving over mashed potatoes or rice.
4
servings5
minutes3-4
hours on high or 6-8 hours on lowIngredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 bottle Creamy French Dressing (15 or 16 oz.)
14 -ounce can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 -ounce packet dry onion soup mix
Directions
- Spray slow cooker with cooking spray.
- Place the chicken breasts on the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Pour the Creamy French Dressing over the chicken breasts.
- Stir the cranberry sauce and place an equal amount on top of each chicken breast
- Sprinkle over the sauce 3/4 of the packet of the dry onion soup mix.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
- Serve immediately over rice or mashed potatoes.
Notes
- You can also bake this in a 350-degree oven, uncovered for 45 minutes, or until a meat thermometer measures 165 degrees Fahrenheit when inserted into the center of the chicken.
