Crockpot Chicken and Gravy is one of those recipes I keep coming back to because it’s easy, comforting, and doesn’t require much effort at all. I love that I can throw everything into the slow cooker, go about my day, and come back to tender chicken sitting in a rich, savory gravy.

It’s simple food, but it always hits the spot, especially on busy days when I want something warm and filling without spending hours in the kitchen. This is the kind of recipe I make when I just want dinner to work out with minimal stress.

Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Chicken and Gravy

• Zero Stress: The slow cooker does 95% of the work. It’s foolproof.
• Two Main Ingredients: At its core, it’s just chicken and gravy. It doesn’t get more straightforward.
• Versatile Comfort: Serve it over mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, or biscuits for a complete, soul-satisfying meal.
• The Gravy: It makes its own luxurious, flavorful gravy while everything cooks. No separate pan required!

Kitchen Equipment You’ll Need

• 6-Quart (or larger) Slow Cooker / Crockpot
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Whisk
• Tongs
• Small bowl or liquid measuring cup for slurry

Ingredients

• 2 – 2.5 lbs chicken breasts
• 1 packet of dry chicken gravy mix
• 1 packet of dry onion soup mix
• 1/2 stick of butter cut into chunks
• 1 can cream of chicken soup (or cream of mushroom/celery)
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• ¼ cup water
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
• Optional for serving: mashed potatoes, egg noodles, rice, steamed vegetables, biscuits.

How to Make Crockpot Chicken and Gravy

1. Layer the Foundation.

In your slow cooker, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, dry gravy mix, dry onion soup mix, and chicken broth until relatively smooth. It’s okay if it’s a little lumpy,,,,it will melt together as it cooks.

2. Add the Chicken.

Place the chicken pieces on top of the gravy mixture, skin-side up if using skin-on. Nestle them in so they are mostly submerged in the stew mixture. Season the top of the chicken with a little black pepper and add the half stick of butter cut into chunks.

3. Slow Cook

Cover and cook on LOW for one hour or on HIGH for 30 minutes.

4. Thicken the Gravy.

Once the chicken is cooked, carefully transfer the pieces to a plate using tongs. Turn the slow cooker to HIGH if it was on LOW.
In a small bowl, make a slurry by mixing the ¼ cup of water with the 2 tablespoons of cornstarch until completely smooth. Whisk this slurry into the hot liquid in the crockpot. Cover and cook for an additional 15-30 minutes on HIGH, until the gravy has thickened beautifully.

5. Serve

You can shred the chicken and return it to the pot, or simply serve the whole pieces. Ladle that glorious homemade gravy over the chicken and your chosen side (piled-high mashed potatoes are non-negotiable in my house!). Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

Tips, Tricks, & Substitutions

• The Chicken Cut is Key: For the absolute best flavor and texture, stick with bone-in, skin-on thighs or drumsticks. The bones and skin release collagen and fat into the gravy, making it rich and silky. You can remove the skin before eating if you prefer.
• Using Boneless Chicken: If using boneless, skinless thighs or breasts, reduce the cook time by about 1 hour on LOW or 30 minutes on HIGH to prevent drying out. Check for doneness earlier.
• No Canned Soup? Make a simple roux: Melt 3 tbsp butter in a saucepan, whisk in 3 tbsp flour, cook for 1 minute, then slowly whisk in 1 ¼ cups of chicken broth until thickened. Use this in place of the canned soup + 1 cup broth.
• Avoid Lifting the Lid: Resist the temptation to peek! Every time you lift the lid, you release heat and steam, adding 15-20 minutes to your cook time.
• Gravy Too Thick? Simply whisk in a splash of additional chicken broth until it reaches your desired consistency.
• Gravy Too Thin? Make another small slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp cold water) and whisk it in. Let it cook on HIGH for another 10-15 minutes.
• Add Veggies: Add 1 cup of baby carrots, sliced mushrooms, or frozen peas during the last hour of cooking for a complete one-pot meal.

More crockpot recipes

• Crockpot Meatballs (Perfect for Busy Days)