Description

Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken is a deliciously tender and flavorful dish featuring boneless, skinless chicken breasts slow-cooked in a tangy cranberry sauce blended with onion soup mix, soy sauce, garlic powder, and chicken broth. Perfect for an easy weeknight meal, this recipe requires minimal prep and lets your slow cooker do all the work, resulting in juicy shredded chicken with a vibrant, sweet-tart sauce that can be garnished with fresh parsley for an elegant touch.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Sauce

1 cup cranberry sauce (canned or homemade)
1 packet onion soup mix (about 1 ounce)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon black pepper

Additional

1 cup chicken broth
Optional: Fresh parsley for garnish

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Instructions

Prepare Chicken: Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts at the bottom of the slow cooker, ensuring they are evenly spread out for uniform cooking.
Mix the Sauce: In a separate bowl, combine the cranberry sauce, onion soup mix, soy sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir well until all ingredients are thoroughly incorporated.
Add Sauce to Slow Cooker: Pour the prepared cranberry sauce mixture over the chicken breasts in the slow cooker, making sure the chicken is completely covered to infuse maximum flavor during cooking.
Add Chicken Broth: Pour the chicken broth around the chicken breasts to help keep the meat moist throughout the slow cooking process.
Set Slow Cooker: Close the lid securely and set the slow cooker to low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours, depending on your timing preferences.
Check for Doneness: When cooking time is complete, check that the chicken is tender and can be easily shredded with a fork, indicating it is fully cooked.
Shred Chicken (Optional): For a uniform texture, shred the cooked chicken directly in the sauce before serving, stirring to combine the flavors.
Garnish and Serve: Optionally garnish with fresh parsley for color and freshness before serving. Serve hot and enjoy your flavorful cranberry chicken.

Notes

You can use either canned or homemade cranberry sauce based on your preference.
Shredding the chicken in the sauce helps the flavors meld and makes for easy serving.
Adjust the cooking time based on slow cooker settings and chicken thickness.
For a thicker sauce, remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking to reduce liquid.
Serve with rice, mashed potatoes, or your favorite side to complement the sweet and savory flavors.