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Tender, Juicy Slow Cooker Split Chicken Breasts

These bone-in chicken breasts (also called split chicken breasts) are made in the slow cooker, and turn out juicy, tender, and flavorful every time. Serve them as a main dish accompanied by your favorite sides. Or shred them to use for casseroles, tacos, or soups. As an added bonus, you can remove the meat and put the bones right back into the slow cooker to make a healthy batch of homemade bone broth. So if that sounds good to you, and you’re wondering exactly how to cook split chicken breasts, then please read on! And if you want to know more about cooking old-fashioned cuts of meat, then check out the recipe for Smothered Swiss Steak.)

Plate of Juicy, Flavorful Split Chicken Breasts made in the slow cooker.

Going to the grocery store these days, you never know what you will or won’t find. One day there may be boneless, skinless chicken breasts on the shelf, another day, the shelf may be bare. Couple that with the skyrocketing prices and grocery shopping has become a bit of an adventure, to say the least. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by it all.

And so in order to cope with today’s uncertainties, I’m focusing on returning to basics. To eat simply, to be more flexible, and not rely so heavily on conveniences like boneless, skinless chicken. I like to think of my grandmothers and great-grandmothers. They were not only experts in frugality and resourcefulness, but they also didn’t have a dizzying array of items to choose from at their local grocery store. You can bet that back in the day, Grandma purchased whole chickens or bone-in chicken parts because boneless, skinless chicken breasts only became a thing around 30 or so years ago. 

Why Split Chicken Breasts?

Of course, bone-in chicken thighs and chicken drumsticks or leg quarters are also delicious. But if you prefer white meat over dark meat, then split chicken breasts are the answer. 

And I have been finding lately that bone-in split chicken breasts are both affordable and readily available at the supermarket. Aside from this, they’re also superior to boneless breasts when it comes to flavor.  The boneless breasts are convenient for sure, but they can be lacking in flavor and tend towards the dry side. A bone-in chicken breast is much more flavorful and juicy. Plus, you have the added bonus of using the leftover bones to make a batch of delicious chicken bone broth. Waste not, want not!

How to Cook Split Chicken Breasts:

In fact, today I rarely ever come across a modern recipe that calls for a bone-in chicken breast, so I’m guessing there are probably a lot of folks who aren’t familiar with how to cook them. But that’s OK, because I’m an old-fashioned kind of gal, and I’m here to tell you how to prepare a juicy split chicken breast.

And in this recipe, we’ll be using the crockpot. Because while it’s not hard to roast the split chicken breasts in the oven, I often turn to an even easier preparation by using my slow cooker. This is an especially good method to use on a busy day, or if you need white meat chicken to use in a casserole, chili, or another dish later. You don’t get a crispy skin from the crockpot, but this is easily remedied by popping the cooked chicken breasts under the broiler for a few minutes before serving if desired.

Split Chicken Breasts in the Slow Cooker

What Ingredients do I need to make Tender, Juicy Slow Cooker Split Chicken Breasts?

The ingredients for this Split Chicken Breast recipe are simple:

Split Chicken Breasts – These are bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts. It’s OK if the breasts overlap a slight bit in the slow cooker, but you don’t want them to completely cover each other.

Salt – I like to use flaky Kosher salt or sea salt.  

Seasonings – My favorite seasonings to use in this recipe are listed in the recipe below, but you can use a mix of whatever you like. There are premade seasoning blends that will work or just use what you prefer. I find that dried herbs and spices work best to make a rub for the chicken. If you want to use fresh herbs, chop them and garnish the chicken with them after the chicken is cooked.

Celery, carrots, and Onions: Use coarsely chopped celery, carrots, and onion to serve as a bed for the chicken in the slow cooker.

Plate of Sliced Slow Cooker Chicken Breasts

Tips for making Split Chicken Breasts: 

Fill your crockpot but don’t overfill.  You can make as many bone-in chicken breasts as you want with this recipe. Be sure not to overcrowd the crock, and don’t use more chicken than will fit in a single layer. 

Rub with butter or olive oil (optional) – I find that rubbing the chicken breasts with a little bit of fat adds some extra flavor and makes it juicier, but this is an optional ingredient. 

Make a sauce or gravy with the drippings. Use the drippings as a sauce straight from the crockpot. You can also make gravy. Whisk the drippings with a little bit of flour or cornstarch, add about a cup of water or chicken broth and simmer on the stove for 5-10 minutes until thickened.

Optional Ingredients: Squeeze a little fresh lemon juice over the cooked chicken, or sprinkle with fresh chopped herbs.

Make broth. Take the leftover bones from the chicken and place them back into the crockpot. Add enough water to cover the chicken bones by about 2 inches. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Strain the bones, and allow the broth to cool before storing it in the fridge. 

Serve them up. To serve the chicken breasts, you can serve them on the bone or off. I often cut the cooked breast from the bone, and then slice it before serving. And if you want crispy skin, simply transfer the cooked chicken breasts to a broiler-safe pan and broil for 2-3 minutes, then proceed to slice up the chicken. 

Plate of Slow Cooker Chicken Breasts with Lima Beans and Mashed Potatoes

 


I hope you enjoy my recipe for how to cook split chicken breasts. If you try it, please let me know in the comments below. 

My Homemade Roots


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Plate of Juicy, Flavorful Split Chicken Breasts made in the slow cooker.

Tender, Juicy Slow Cooker Split Chicken Breasts


  • Author: My Homemade Roots
  • Total Time: 0 hours
  • Yield: 4-5 Servings 1x

Description

Split Chicken Breasts made in the slow cooker that turn out tender, juicy, and flavorful every time!


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon paprika (sweet or smoked)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar (optional)
  • 34 Split Chicken Breasts (about 2 pounds total, depending on size of chicken breast)
  • 3 stalks of celery, cut into 3” pieces
  • 23 carrots, cut into 3” pieces
  • 1 large onion, peeled and cut into wedges (from root to tip)
  • 1/2 cup water

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, combine the first 8 ingredients. Rub this spice mixture over the chicken. For extra flavorful chicken, you can rub a little of the spice mixture under the skin of each breast, too, but this is optional.
  2. Add celery, carrots, onions, and water to the bottom of a 6-7 quart slow cooker. Place the chicken breasts on top of the bed of vegetables.
  3. Cover and cook on low until chicken is cooked through and reaches a minimum temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This will take about 4-5 hours on low, or 2-3 hours on high.
  • Prep Time: 0 hours
  • Additional Time: 0 hours
  • Cook Time: 0 hours

31 Comments

  • Jean | Delightful Repast
    May 27, 2022 at 4:31 pm

    Melissa, you are so right about the grocery situation now. We have to be flexible about our weekly menu. I usually buy boneless skinless chicken breasts and thighs, but for some things I prefer the bone-in. This sounds wonderful, and I like the idea of throwing the bones back into the slow cooker and making some broth. Going on the menu soon!

    Reply
    • Melissa
      May 31, 2022 at 2:24 am

      Thank you for your thoughtful comment! If you try the recipe, I hope you like it. Let me know how it turns out!

      Reply
  • Miz Helen
    June 2, 2022 at 5:36 pm

    We are featuring your awesome post on Full Plate Thursday, 591 this week. Thanks so much for sharing with us and come back to see us real soon!
    Miz Helen

    Reply
    • Melissa
      June 3, 2022 at 2:14 am

      Thank you, Miz Helen! I hope you have a great weekend!

      Reply
  • […] ease.  And it makes a crisp and refreshing side dish for almost any meal. Try serving it with chicken breasts, burgers, or swiss […]

    Reply
    • Bt
      November 17, 2022 at 1:42 pm

      The recipe says celery but above (in the ingredients list that’s written out in your story part) it says carrots. Do you use both or is there a typo?

      Reply
      • Melissa
        November 17, 2022 at 5:31 pm

        It’s a typo – thank you for letting me know. I typically use carrots, celery, and onions to make a bed of vegetables under the chicken breasts. But use whatever you have on hand. If you are missing carrots or celery, the recipe will still work.

        Reply
        • Darlene
          January 15, 2023 at 1:50 am

          Melissa what do you do with the carrots onion and celery after cooking chicken?

          Reply
          • Melissa
            January 16, 2023 at 6:35 pm

            I know some people just throw them away, but I hate to waste vegetables. So I either put them into a bowl and serve them, or, if they are too mushy, I make some gravy and mash the vegetables into it to thicken the gravy.

  • BT
    November 18, 2022 at 4:46 am

    Thank you for the reply! I am making this tomorrow and wanted to be sure I did it right! I appreciate the recipe and your fast response!

    Reply
  • Foothillspj
    November 27, 2022 at 11:32 pm

    I made this today and it was so delicious! I had 2 large bone-in chicken breasts and was going to make 1/2 recipe. I used my 4 qt slow cooker but could only fit 1 breast in it because meat so large so just did one. I also added 1/4 cup white wine and about 1-1/2 tsp lemon juice to the liquid. It smelled so good when it was cooking and was outstanding to eat! This beats boneless skinless chicken breast taste hands down! Way better! And so easy to make – I am very glad I found this recipe – thank you!

    Reply
  • Boo Jangles
    December 14, 2022 at 2:31 pm

    These were perfect. I omitted the sugar but against my better judgement I used some smoked paprika. I was out of celery but used carrots. We eat a ton of Spanish, Mexican and South american fare and for some reason, smoked paprika is the least enjoyed spice in the pantry. Even still, this dish was fantastic. DELICIOUS and moist. Had I opted for our favorite spices it would’ve been an even bigger hit. I should’ve doubled the chicken! I roasted some sweet potatoes and served with green beans. Will definitely add this amazingly easy recipe to my culinary arsenal.

    Reply
    • Boo Jangles
      December 14, 2022 at 2:33 pm

      I also broiled the skin and made gravy with the drippings. Twas glorious.

      Reply
    • Melissa
      December 14, 2022 at 6:35 pm

      I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe. Definitely use your favorite spices to make it even better!

      Reply
  • Flo
    February 26, 2023 at 1:57 pm

    I would like to make this in my oven. What temperature would you recommend? Time? Any further adjustments other than covering the roasting pan with foil?

    Reply
  • Jovina
    April 1, 2023 at 2:39 pm

    This was excellent! I threw everything in the crockpot and cooked 1/2-bone in chicken on high for 2 hours. It came out perfect.

    Reply
    • Melissa
      April 2, 2023 at 6:40 pm

      I’m happy you liked the recipe! Please come back and visit again soon!

      Reply
  • […] Tender, Juicy Slow Cooker Split Chicken Breasts […]

    Reply
  • Becky
    May 5, 2023 at 10:15 pm

    Oh My Gosh… I used your tip about blending the Carrots, Celery, and Onions into the drippings to start the Gravy, and I’m not sure I need to do anything else! It is SO FLAVORFUL. In fact, after using the immersion blender to make the “Sauce”, I put it back on the heat and added the chicken breasts back in to get more of the flavor. I can’t wait for dinner! 🙂

    Reply
  • Bri Ann
    July 16, 2023 at 2:47 am

    I used this recipe tonight and the chicken came out tender and delicious! I didn’t have celery or cumin, but it turned out great anyway. Now I’m about to make the bone broth! Thank you for this recipe!

    Reply
  • […] 15. Tender, Juicy Slow Cooker Split Chicken Breasts […]

    Reply
  • Terry
    October 19, 2023 at 6:13 am

    Can you take the skin off to eliminate some fat.

    Reply
    • Melissa
      October 20, 2023 at 4:13 pm

      You definitely can remove the skin. I prefer to remove the skin after it cooks because it keeps the chicken juicier while cooking, but you can choose to remove the skin before or after cooking.

      Reply
  • Frank Schneider
    October 28, 2023 at 2:47 am

    Made this Friday and it was great! Followed the recipe this time, just to taste and check out. Very good as written. Next time I will cut the cumin by half and increase the salt.( just to my taste). Thanks!! I now have another go to chicken recipe.

    Reply
    • Melissa
      October 31, 2023 at 5:58 pm

      I’m happy you liked the recipe!

      Reply
  • Janet H
    November 6, 2023 at 3:44 am

    Perfect recipe, thanks. Can you please tell me the name of the dishes pictured in this recipe? Thanks so much.

    Reply
    • Melissa
      November 6, 2023 at 5:30 pm

      It’s a platter by Pioneer Woman.

      Reply
  • D.W
    January 16, 2024 at 6:47 pm

    I made this recipe yesterday. They were absolutely delicious and tender! I had to omit the cumin as I was out of it, but still amazing.

    Reply
    • Melissa
      January 24, 2024 at 6:49 pm

      I’m so happy you liked the recipe!

      Reply
  • Brenda Deaton
    February 14, 2024 at 12:07 am

    This is AMAZING

    Reply
    • Melissa
      February 15, 2024 at 5:43 pm

      Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe and come back soon!

      Reply

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