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Home / Recipes / Main Dishes / Chicken Recipes

Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken

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This cranberry chicken in the crockpot is perfect when you want a delicious chicken dinner that doesn't seem like it was cooked in a slow cooker. Bonus: this might be the easiest crock pot recipe you ever make!

The three (only three!) sauce ingredients meld to enhance flavor and provide a noteworthy texture, too—tender but with chicken breasts still holding their own, enveloped in the tangy, sweet cranberry-infused sauce.

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White serving dish with cooked chicken breasts in a sauce made from cranberry sauce with whole cranberries, French dressing, and onion soup mix beside a grey striped tea towel and a silver spatula.

A serving of chicken from this sweet and tangy chicken creates a clear main course on the plate, perfect with distinct but simple side dishes—great for a change from all-in-one crockpot meals and appealing to your "don't-want-everything-all-mixed-together" eaters.

White serving dish with cooked chicken breasts in a sauce made from whole berry cranberry sauce, French dressing, and onion soup mix with a serving fork beside two plates with seasoned green beans and the chicken and sauce over rice on a counter.

This 4-ingredient slow cooker cranberry chicken recipe is delicious served over brown or white rice or mashed potatoes. Pair it with a salad, seasoned green beans, roasted garlic broccoli, or peas for a simple meal.

Jump to:
  • Video
  • What you need to make Cranberry Chicken in the Crockpot
  • How to make Cranberry Chicken in the Crockpot
  • Crockpot tip
  • Storage and freezing
  • FAQ
  • Recipe
  • More slow cooker chicken recipes

Video

What you need to make Cranberry Chicken in the Crockpot

Pieces of uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast on a cutting board, a measuring cup with French dressing, whole berry cranberry sauce on a plate, and a small bowl of onion soup mix on a counter with a grey striped tea towel to the side.
  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You can substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs if you prefer.
  • French salad dressing. French dressing—and its cousin, Catalina dressing—comes in a range of colors indicating the balance of ingredients in each. Feel free to use the style you prefer, or experiment with different styles to see which you like best with in this sauce.
  • Whole berry canned cranberry sauce. The berries in whole berry cranberry sauce elevate this crock pot cranberry chicken recipe above the typical slow cooker fare. If you don't have access to cranberry sauce with whole berries, you can substitute plain cranberry sauce but will lose the elegance that the berries lend to this dish. If you are feeling truly inspired, you can make your own cranberry sauce from whole cranberries and use that.
  • Onion soup mix. Any brand is fine.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make Cranberry Chicken in the Crockpot

Composite image: 1 - Pieces of uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast on a cutting board, a measuring cup with French dressing, whole berry cranberry sauce on a plate, and a small bowl of onion soup mix on a counter, 2 - the French dressing, cranberry sauce, and onion soup mix being mixed in a crockpot; 3 - the sauce mixture in the crock pot with 6 pieces of boneless skinless chicken breast nestled in the sauce; 4 - the chicken in the crockpot after cooking.

Cut chicken breasts into 6 uniformly-sized pieces (1). Combine cranberry sauce, French dressing, and onion soup mix in a slow cooker (2).

Stir gently, being sure not to break up cranberries, until ingredients are well mixed. Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker, nestling them in the sauce (3). Spoon a little of the sauce on top of the chicken. Cover and cook for 5-6 hours on low, gently stirring every couple of hours as the chicken releases its juices (4).

White serving dish with cooked chicken breasts in a sauce made from cranberry sauce with whole cranberries, French dressing, and onion soup mix with a single piece of chicken lifted on a spatula.

Crockpot tip

You'll need to adjust the cooking time of this recipe based on your individual appliance. Slow cookers give different results based on brand, size, and how full they are, so keep that in mind when planning your cook time. A 6-quart crockpot will cook the same recipe much faster than a 4-quart or 3-quart crockpot.

On top of that, not all crockpots cook at the temperature they are supposed to (you can use this method to test your crockpot temperature). The bottom line is that unlike oven cooking, there is no way to exactly predict the time needed to perfectly cook in a crockpot because they vary so much.

I use a 6-quart crockpot—the size is perfect for the recipes I make, and it gives me the options I need without needing to learn complicated programming modes. I like the ability to choose how long to cook at high or low. It automatically switches to the "keep warm" function after the cooking time ends.

I tested this crock pot chicken recipe in my 6-quart crock pot, so the cook times are based on two pounds of chicken in that size appliance. Be sure to use a meat thermometer (I absolutely adore my Thermopop, which has elevated my cooking game exponentially) to determine when your chicken is thoroughly cooked (the thickest part should be a minimum of 165ºF).

A white plate with seasoned green beans and chicken in a reddish-orange sauce with cranberries served over white rice with a serving dish of the chicken in the background.

Storage and freezing

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

You can freeze the ingredients so they are ready to go if you would like. Mix the sauce ingredients in a freezer container, then add the chicken pieces. Freeze for up to six months and label as follows.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken        Date____________________

Thaw overnight in refrigerator. Place in slow cooker, cover, and cook for 5-6 hours on low.

FAQ

Is it ok to put raw chicken in the slow cooker?

Yes, slow cookers are designed to cook meats from a raw state when used as directed (never use a delay function with raw meat). Food safety experts advise not putting frozen raw meats in a slow cooker, since they may not come to a cooking temperature in a safe period of time.

Do you have to brown chicken before slow cooking?

While browning or searing can add a nice texture to chicken, it is unnecessary when cooking Cranberry Chicken in the crock pot. One of the advantages of this recipe is that there is only one pot to clean—no need to add an additional pan to clean up. If you are making this recipe using the slow cooker mode of an Instant Pot, you could sear the chicken in a bit of oil before adding the other ingredients if you wish, but it is not required.

What should I serve with cranberry chicken?

Serve crock pot Cranberry Chicken over white or brown rice or mashed potatoes, and pair it with a salad, seasoned green beans, roasted garlic broccoli, or peas for a simple meal.

Why is my chicken rubbery after cooking in the crockpot?

Undercooking or overcooking is a common culprit when chicken is rubbery. I suggest using a meat thermometer to make sure your chicken is cooked to the correct level of doneness (I absolutely adore my Thermopop). Using the right size crockpot for the amount of food you are cooking and cooking for the correct amount of time are crucial to properly cooked chicken. If you continue to have issues with rubbery texture, you might try switching from using chicken breasts to using chicken thighs, which have a higher moisture content and are less likely to dry out.

Recipe

White serving dish with cooked chicken breasts in a sauce made from cranberry sauce with whole cranberries, French dressing, and onion soup mix with a grey striped tea towel wrapped around the dish.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken

5 from 1 vote
Cook cranberry chicken in your crockpot when you want delicious chicken that doesn't seem like it was cooked in a crockpot.
The three (only three!) sauce ingredients meld to enhance flavor and provide a noteworthy texture, too—tender but with chicken breasts still holding their own, enveloped in the tangy, sweet cranberry-infused sauce.
AuthorAuthor: Mary Ann
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Print
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
Total Time 5 hours hrs 35 minutes mins
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 345

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 14 ounces whole berry cranberry sauce
  • 1 cup French salad dressing
  • 1 package onion soup mix
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Instructions

  • Cut 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts into 6 uniformly-sized pieces.
  • Combine 14 ounces whole berry cranberry sauce, 1 cup French salad dressing, and 1 package onion soup mix in a slow cooker.
  • Stir gently, being sure not to break up cranberries, until ingredients are well mixed.
  • Add the chicken pieces to the slow cooker, nestling them in the sauce.
  • Cover and cook for 5-6 hours on low, gently stirring every couple of hours.

Nutrition per serving

Calories: 345 calCarbohydrates: 6 gProtein: 32 gFat: 20 gSodium: 504 mgSugar: 6 g
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More slow cooker chicken recipes

Easy dinners like this allow me to make dinner at home on busy days. I love these easy slow cooker recipes for days when dinnertime will be rushed.

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See more Slow Cooker Recipes →

 

Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken
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Posted by Mary Ann; Updated on January 30, 2025Filed Under: Chicken Recipes, Slow Cooker Recipes

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Composite image - top is uncooked chicken in a sauce of French dressing, whole berry cranberry sauce, and onion soup mix in a crock pot; bottom is a serving dish of the cooked chicken in a reddish-orange sauce with cranberries and text 4 Ingredient Cranberry Chicken.
Composite image - top is ingredients (French dressing, whole berry cranberry sauce, onion soup mix, and boneless, skinless chicken breasts); bottom is a white plate with seasoned green beans and chicken in a reddish-orange sauce with cranberries served over white rice beside a serving bowl of the chicken in sauce and text Cranberry Chicken Crock Pot Recipe- just 4 ingredients.
Slow cooker with six pieces of boneless skinless chicken breast that have been cooked in a sauce of French dressing, whole berry cranberry sauce, and onion soup mix with text Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken with French dressing - Just 4 ingredients.
A white plate with seasoned green beans and chicken in a reddish-orange sauce with cranberries served over white rice with a serving dish of the chicken in the background.
Composite image - top is ingredients (French dressing, whole berry cranberry sauce, onion soup mix, and boneless, skinless chicken breasts); middle is the uncooked chicken in the sauce in a crock pot; bottom is two white plates with seasoned green beans and rice beside a serving dish of the cooked chicken in a reddish-orange sauce with cranberries and text 4 Ingredient Cranberry Chicken.
White serving dish with cooked chicken breasts in a sauce made from cranberry sauce with whole cranberries, French dressing, and onion soup mix with text Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken.
Composite image - top is ingredients (French dressing, whole berry cranberry sauce, onion soup mix, and boneless, skinless chicken breasts); bottom is a white plate with seasoned green beans and chicken in a reddish-orange sauce with cranberries served over white rice and text Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken - only 4 ingredients.
White serving dish with cooked chicken breasts in a sauce made from cranberry sauce with whole cranberries, French dressing, and onion soup mix with a single piece of chicken lifted on a spatula.
White serving dish with cooked chicken breasts in a sauce made from cranberry sauce with whole cranberries, French dressing, and onion soup mix.

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