If you’re not cooking with frozen chicken breasts, you’re missing out on some frugalicious and fast dinners! They're a busy mom's secret to quick and easy dinners.
10 reasons you should be cooking with frozen chicken breasts…
- They're a frugal shoppers delight! Costco sells a 6.5-lb. bag of frozen chicken breasts for $17. If you're not a member of Costco or Sam's, you'll discover that frozen chicken breasts are frequently on sale at your neighborhood grocery.
- A 6.5-lb. bag has about 24 chicken breasts, and that's enough for at least 6 meals.
- There's less waste because you don't have to worry about expiration dates.
- Fewer trips to the grocery because you don't have to pick up a fresh package of chicken just to make dinner.
- No need to thaw before cooking…throw them on the grill or in the crock pot!
- No trimming or stinky parts to deal with, and when you’re a vegetarian mom cooking for a family of carnivores – this is really important!
- If you always have a bag of frozen chicken breasts, you'll always have something for dinner! No more excuses for eating out!
- A busy mom's go-to dinner.
- Chicken Tacos…an effortless dinner that starts with frozen chicken breasts in a crock pot!
- Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole, Chicken Enchiladas, King Ranch Chicken…these recipes start with shredded chicken that you'll prepare in your crock pot.
How to Cook Frozen Chicken Breasts in a Crock Pot
Many crock pot recipes start with frozen chicken breasts like my Chicken Taco recipe, and you just add a few ingredients for an effortless dinner.
If you have a recipe that calls for shredded chicken, you can prepare perfectly shredded chicken by putting 4 frozen chicken breasts in your crock pot with 1/2 cup water on low for about 6 hours and then use 2 forks to shred. The meat should shred easily. (Note: cooking times vary from crock pot to crock pot, so start checking your chicken breasts after 4 hours).
Please leave a comment to share your favorite recipes that start with frozen chicken breasts.
Just wondering if I can use frozen chicken breasts to make a chicken and rice meal. And how long should it cook for?
Frozen chicken is usually pre-cooked. I think it’s safe to go in a crockpot with other items, as long as it’s pre-cooked.
For dinner today, I’m putting 2 huge chicken breast, Parmesan cheese, and zesty Italian dressing in a crockpot for 8 hrs. Only difference is breast were thawed.
Michele,
Can you share the recipe you used? I’d love to know how much of each you put in the crockpot!
I would like to make 2 frozen chicken breasts in a crock pot with seasoning n I should put 1/2 cup water …. does n e one kno can I add quinoa to the water n chicken n cook this all @the same time in the crock pot ?
I need to cook & shred 8 chicken breasts. How long would you cook for double the chicken?
This article has the heading that less me to believe that it tells you how to cook frozen chicken breast in a slow cooker, but I don’t see what setting and for how long, which is what I expected to find in this article.
This article DOES tell you the setting, and for how long.
“with 1/2 cup water on low for about 6 hours and then use 2 forks to shred.”
Wow! this is great food. Please more details.
Bahahaha how many chicken breasts do you eat a meal? 24 chicken breasts is 24 meals!!!
She DID say she has more than one person in her family…
Please fool!!!! just eat a can of dog food that should work for ya…
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Is it safe to use frozen chicken in the crock pot? I would like to keep using frozen chicken but I read that it isnt safe?!!!
We suggest to thaw the meat first–perhaps a day or two before. Or you’re in a hurry, use the defrost setting on your microwave to gently thaw out the meat then transfer it to the crockpot to cook.
But isn’t this article specifically for using frozen chicken breasts in a crockpot without thawing it first? lol
Invest in a thermometer, and eliminate your worries of undercooked chicken. No matter how you cook chicken breast if its internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (75 Celsius) then the meat is 100% safe to eat. I can achieve a temperature of 165 degrees F when I cook frozen chicken breasts in a Crock-Pot for 4hrs on high. The makers of Crock-pot agree. Enjoy FABULOUSLY moist chicken, no hassle, no annoying thaw time, no worries!
I need to be out of the house for longer than 4hrs, can I cook it on low and for how long? Thanks!!!
Never mind, sorry! I reread it and u already said low would need to cook for 6hrs! Thanks, can’t wait to try it!! 🙂
Hi Ang, that makes sense. If the internal temperature is according to the meat you’re cooking, there shouldn’t be a problem cooking frozen chicken in the crock pot. It is summertime here in California so I’ve been looking for crock pot recipes so that I don’t have to turn on my stove or oven. The idea of not having to defrost chicken breasts saves me time and makes sense that it CAN cook in the crock pot, safely, if you use wisdom. Thanks for sharing.
I use a hand mixer every time I need to shred chicken, or any meat. It literally takes maybe 30 seconds. It’s so awesome
I do the same! Makes pulled pork so easy!
I had a brand new large oval crockpot crack, I called the help desk on the box and the lady explained to be I did not have enough liquid in the crockpot which causes it to crack she said it needed to be at least half full of Liquid. The newest crockpots come to a boil very quickly and are much hotter than the older models. She also sent me a replacement crock since it was still under warranty.
Seems like an awful lot of liquid! I’m glad I have a vintage crockpot (from the Salvation Army store).
I only use frozen cx breasts in the crockpot, love it!! I also add some seasonings to it when cooking… when cooking mexican I add taco seasoning and sometimes some salsa or diced tomatoes. Or at least salt/pepper/poultry seasoning. Yum!
Yum! Love that. Can you share your recipe?
Do you put the seasoning in at the beginning?
Could you use chicken broth instead of water for more flavor?
Absolutely!
I use Swanson broth for everything instead of water. Gives more flavor. But I use the one with “less sodium” and I add spices depending on what meat I’m cooking.
Why does my crockpot Crack when adding frozen food ? I’ve lost 3 crockpots from doing this. 🙁
Am I the only one this happens to ?
What kind of crockpot do you have? I’ve had a few crack myself and it is very frustrating.
Is the crockpot warm when you put the chicken in? I was told to put frozen chicken in before you turn on the crockpot, then turn on & let them warm up together. I almost always use frozen chicken vs raw & have never had it crack, 11 years strong. I think if you add frozen food to a hot crock that probably causes it to crack. I hope that was the problem & helps!
You are not the only one! I have an expensive All-Clad crockpot that cracked due to putting in frozen chicken. I had other ingredients and liquid in there, too. And it was a very thick crock. I say just don’t do it! Thaw first. Cost me $60 to replace the crock. I know I can buy a new crockpot in another brand for that price, but I love my All-Clad!
you need to thaw it in the fridge first.
lol i use my hands to shred chicken every week for my elderly beagle,,,works GREAT and only have my hands to wash up…[cook in crockpot chicken carrots..shred chicken mash the carrots then.freeze in bags..thaw add chicken broth [frozen in small containers] add small amount of canned chicken dog food and vitamins… and brown rice… she loves it and can eat it w/o teeth…VERY HEALTHY
Hi there,
I want to make the chicken taco recipe but I have a question. I noticed that your basic recipe calls for 1/2 cup of water. However, in your chicken taco recipe there’s no water being called out. Was that an oversight or is it not needed?
Thanks!
Kalli
You only need to add water when you’re just making shredded chicken that will be used in a recipe like my Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole. The Chicken Taco recipe is completely made in the crock pot, and the salsa provides plenty of liquid. Enjoy!
You can put the chicken breast in a Kitchen aid type mixer with the paddle attachment and it will shred the chicken perfectly for you.
If I only had a Kitchen Aid Mixer!
You can also let it cool for just a couple of minutes, throw it into a gallon zip back, and then break it up with your hands. So easy, not messy, and no mixer to wash.
I like this ziplock bag idea! Thanks.
Thanks for this! Another easy way to shred chicken is to use a hand or stand mixer and turn it loose on the chicken.
A mixer…how clever!