Comforting Crock-Pot Chicken And Gravy Is Just 4 Ingredients Away

Southern comfort dishes never fail to disappoint, and chicken and gravy is no exception. There are several recipes to pick from when it comes to undeniably good chicken and gravy techniques, but don't overlook the benefits of bringing out the Crock-Pot version for this classic meal. The beauty of cooking meals in your Crock-Pot is simplicity and less hands-on cooking, and it gets even better when the ingredients are minimal. The ingredients you'll need for this easy Crock-Pot version are chicken breasts, chicken broth, canned cream of chicken soup, and brown gravy mix.

Even with the low number of ingredients, this chicken-based dish works will since slow-cooked meals have a reputation for giving you succulent meat that absorbs all the rich flavors in the pot. Simply prepare the gravy by mixing in the packets with the canned cream of chicken soup and broth, and lightly season the chicken breasts on both sides as you like. All that's left is to let the chicken cook in the liquid and then tear it into shredded pieces with a fork after it's done — that's it. 

The Crock-Pot chicken and gravy benefits from four to six hours of low and slow cooking. The simple methods allows the ingredients to come together to offer a low-effort, minimally seasoned but highly comforting meal. The meal is especially useful for those wanting the comfort of a classic dish while on a budget. It can be served with rice, which is also wallet-friendly, and seasoned with salt, black pepper, and any other preferred spices to usher in some balance and bring out the flavors a little more.

Since the recipe is so simple, there are several additions or changes you can make to bring out the flavors, including spooning in some sauces. Slow cooker staple meals benefit from hot sauce, and so a little extra spice might be all that's needed to upgrade your chicken and gravy. If you're craving a bit of tang, some cooks like to add sour cream which packs in more creaminess.

If you'd like to bring in some other flavors besides chicken into this dish, you could also swap the creamed chicken soup for creamed mushroom. This maintains the creaminess while also creating an umami taste profile. Alternatively, you could add more vegetables into the pot such as frozen peas, carrots, or bell peppers. If you prefer thicker gravy, reach for some flour or cornstarch which act as thickening agents but have a neutral taste. You could also make this meal stretch by adding more water to the broth mix so that it lasts longer and provides leftovers for days.

The Crock-Pot chicken dish doesn't just have to be served with rice either; you can serve it on top of bread for an open sandwich, in quesadillas, or even as part of a quinoa bowl. If you're a fan of mashed potatoes, this would be a filling accompanying dish and can ramp up the comfort food factor even further. Using a Crock-Pot to make such dishes that don't keep you in the kitchen all day nor require a sizeable ingredients list really is worth it.