Crockpot Frozen Chicken

Cooking frozen chicken in Crock pot on low turns out tender and easy to shred. Or keep whole like our Crockpot Chicken Frozen Breasts, slice and enjoy with rice. Made into sliders or a number of casseroles it is an easy way to cook frozen meat right out of the freezer.

Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Crockpot Recipe

It really doesn’t matter whether they’re bone in or without, but the latter is just so much easier. If you are forgetful and don’t always have time to defrost meat ahead of time this will be a game changer. A great way to make shredded chicken for tacos later in the day, to serve with rice, or as is as a high protein meal.

This is the best way to slow cook frozen chicken breasts by far. With just 2 ingredients you can set it and forget it in the morning and have a one pot meal done when you get home. Melt in your mouth meat you can toss with sauce or eat with just salt and pepper.

You can use water or broth if you have it. The only difference is the flavor at the end. Want it intense, use broth and bullion cubes. Seeking more bold flavors so you can use the sauce in buffalo chicken sliders instead. It’s quite simple to do this really. Yes we have made frozen chicken in the Instant Pot before too but if you have some time, low and slow is the way to go.

LOVE batch cooking but don’t have time to tend to the stove for boiled shredded chicken, this may be exactly what you’re looking for.

Ingredient Notes

I just buy a large bag of frozen chicken (boneless skinless breasts is what we prefer) medium sizes are best. I have these at home all the time because it is an easy way to make dinner like this, tossed with sauce at the end and served on buns or over rice.

You will need some liquid, water and bullion or chicken broth are best to add flavor as the meat steams and cooks in the pot.

And then add Salt and pepper or any seasonings of your choice beyond that to add flavor.

Depending on the size of your pot you could certainly double the recipe, or use multiple Crock pots to make a number of easy slow cooker chicken recipes later on. There are just 2 main ingredients. You heard me right, beyond that it is just seasonings of your choice, and/or chicken bullion.

You’d need to follow food safety guidelines to check temp, shred, cool, and then vacuum seal bags in 1 lb. increments. Lay flat and freeze to use for chicken casserole or chicken tacos later on in the months ahead.

You can see it all thrown in right here. Since water was used, chicken base was added for flavor. Garlic powder and salt are great additions as well.

How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken in a Slow Cooker

If you cover and cook on the low setting it should take 6-8 hours depending on how many pieces you’re cooking at a time. This is 3 pounds as you see it here. I do not recommend cooking on high for this one. This and as well as other proteins really need a low and slow temperature to break down tissues and get so soft they become fork tender.

Here are the basic step by step instructions. I have a printable recipe card at the bottom as well if you’d prefer that to keep it handy in your cookbook. This is for breasts. If you want to cook a frozen whole chicken in Crockpot I have instructions for that here too.

How to Cook Frozen Chicken in Crock Pot

Put breasts in pot with water and if you don’t use broth, with water you are going to want to sprinkle bullion on top as well to add flavor.

1. Close lid and cook chicken on low heat is ideal, high will dry out the outsides before the center can cook to the proper safe temp.
2. Check internal temp to see if it has reached 165 degrees F, if so you are good to go as long as they are tender enough.
3. Slice or shred with 2 forks, if this is tough to do, they need more time. Cover again for another 30 minutes and check until super soft for shredding.
4. Lift out with slotted spoon to make a number of different recipes.

Can you double this recipe?

Adding more may increase the cook time by just a bit because they are overlapping. If you’re feeding a large crowd this is sure to please though. You will get the best results if you rotate at least once so the heat can permeate each piece and get tender enough to shred. Keep on the warm setting when done and leave out all the toppings people would like to create the best chicken taco bowl.

How do you know when frozen chicken is safe to eat?

You just need a thermometer to ensure it is out of the danger zone, once chicken reaches 165 degrees F you’re good to go. Home cooks out there, this may be a major game changer for you once you learn how to cook frozen meat in the Crockpot.

If you just cool and bag it you’ll be safe eating it up to another 4 days after that. Know you won’t eat it all in that time? Packaging it up in airtight storage bags and freezing it will prolong it’s life to 3-4 months.

What can you use shredded chicken for?

OH let me count the ways we use leftover chicken breast recipes Another dish is our Crockpot Chicken Casserole Skip the sauteeing and make homemade Instant Pot chicken noodle soup with what you have left some night.

FAQ