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This Crockpot Chicken and Gravy is the kind of easy slow cooker dinner that always hits the spot. Tender chicken cooks low and slow in a rich, savory gravy, then gets stirred together with sour cream for an extra creamy finish. Serve it over mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, or toast for a cozy, old-fashioned dinner that tastes like pure comfort.
What makes this version work so well is how simple it is. A handful of pantry-friendly ingredients come together in the crockpot to make a thick, flavorful gravy with hardly any prep, and the shredded chicken soaks up all that creamy, savory goodness. It’s the kind of family dinner that feels hearty and homemade without asking much from you at all.
Want a few more easy comfort-food chicken recipes? Try my Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings or Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup. Looking for even more cozy slow cooker meals? My Chicken Dinner Recipes collection is packed with family favorites for busy nights.
✨ Before You Begin
✨ Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts of similar size. This helps the chicken cook evenly and makes shredding easier at the end.
✨ Whisk the gravy base smooth before adding the chicken. Taking a minute to smooth out the soup and gravy packets helps prevent little lumps later.
✨ Don’t add the sour cream at the beginning. Stir it in at the end so the gravy stays creamy and smooth.
✨ Let the gravy sit for a few minutes before serving. Once the shredded chicken goes back in, the gravy thickens as it rests on warm.
✨ Have something ready to serve it over. Mashed potatoes, rice, egg noodles, or thick toast all work beautifully here.
Crockpot Chicken and Gravy Ingredients + Key Notes
This is just a quick glance at what you’ll need. For exact measurements and the full ingredient list, head down to the recipe card below.
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Condensed cream of chicken soup: This is the shortcut base that gives the gravy body and rich, savory flavor.
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Dry chicken gravy mix: Helps build that classic homestyle gravy texture and boosts the savory flavor.
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Water: Loosens the soup and gravy mix so everything cooks into a smooth, spoonable sauce.
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Black pepper: Adds just enough warmth to balance the creamy gravy.
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Garlic powder: Gives the gravy a little extra depth without making the ingredient list complicated.
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Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: These cook low and slow until tender enough to shred right into the gravy.
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Sour cream: Stirred in at the end for a creamy, tangy finish that makes the gravy richer and smoother.
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Parsley: Optional, but a little fresh parsley brightens up the finished dish.
🥣 How to Make
Mix the gravy base. Add the condensed soup, gravy packets, water, black pepper, and garlic powder to the crockpot and whisk until smooth.
Cook the chicken low and slow. Add the chicken breasts and turn them in the gravy so they’re coated. Cover and cook until the chicken is tender and easy to shred.
Shred and finish. Remove the chicken, shred it with two forks, then stir the sour cream into the gravy until smooth. Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot, let it sit on warm for a few minutes so the gravy thickens, then serve hot over your favorite side.
⭐ Pro Tips
⭐ Stir the gravy base well at the start
Making sure everything is smooth before the chicken goes in gives you the best final texture.
⭐ Don’t overcook the chicken if your slow cooker runs hot
Chicken breasts can go from tender to dry if they cook too long, so start checking once they’re easy to shred.
⭐ Add the sour cream off the highest heat
This helps it blend in smoothly and keeps the gravy from looking separated.
⭐ Let the chicken soak in the gravy after shredding
That extra rest on warm gives the shredded chicken time to absorb more flavor.
⭐ Serve it with something that catches the gravy
Mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, or toast turn this into a full comfort-food meal.
🔬 Cooking Science: Why Sour Cream Makes the Gravy Better
Sour cream does two important things here. First, it makes the gravy creamier and smoother without needing extra canned soup or heavy cream. Second, it adds a little tang, which keeps the rich gravy from tasting too flat or heavy.
That’s also why it gets stirred in at the end instead of cooking all day in the crockpot. Adding it at the end helps it stay silky and keeps the flavor fresh and balanced.
Storing + Reheating + Freezing + Make-Ahead Tips
Storing
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating
Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring occasionally. If the gravy thickens too much in the fridge, add a splash of water or broth to loosen it up.
Freezing
You can freeze this dish, but the texture of the gravy may change a little because of the sour cream. It will still be safe to eat, but the sauce may not be quite as smooth after thawing. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months and thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Make-Ahead
This is a great make-ahead dinner because the flavors hold up well. Just reheat gently and stir before serving.
What to Serve With Crockpot Chicken and Gravy
Serve It Over
This is perfect served over Mashed Potatoes, rice, or Buttered Noodles — anything that soaks up that rich, creamy gravy beautifully.
Vegetable Sides
Add something simple on the side like Southern Green Beans, Creamed Corn, or Roasted Carrots and Parsnips to round out the meal.
Cozy Breads
A slice of thick toast, Homemade Crescent Rolls, Bisquick Biscuits, or Garlic Bread is perfect for soaking up every bit of gravy.
Sweet Finishes
Finish dinner with a classic comfort-food dessert like Chocolate Pudding Pie, Strawberry Jello Cake, Toll House Cookies, or Apple Cobbler.
Frequently Asked Questions
✦ Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?
Yes. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work well here and stay very tender in the crockpot.
✦ Can I make crockpot chicken and gravy without sour cream?
Yes, but the sour cream adds a creamier finish and a little tang that balances the gravy really nicely.
✦ Why is my gravy too thin?
The gravy thickens as it sits, especially after the shredded chicken is stirred back in. If it still seems thin, let it rest on warm a little longer.
✦ Why is my chicken dry?
Chicken breasts can dry out if they cook too long, especially in hotter slow cookers. Start checking once they’re tender and easy to shred.
✦ Can I use frozen chicken?
For best texture and food-safety reasons, I recommend using thawed chicken.
✦ What should I serve with crockpot chicken and gravy?
Mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, or thick slices of toast are all great choices.
✦ Can I make this ahead?
Yes. This is a very good make-ahead recipe and reheats well.
✦ Can I freeze crockpot chicken and gravy?
Yes, though the gravy texture may change slightly after thawing because of the sour cream.
Still have questions? Drop them in the comments — I love helping you bake + cook with confidence! 💗
More Cozy Chicken Dinners You’ll Love
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No Peek Chicken – A creamy, comforting chicken and rice dinner that’s easy to make and always a family favorite.
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Cream of Mushroom Chicken – Tender chicken in a rich, savory sauce makes this an easy comfort-food dinner for busy nights.
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Melt In Your Mouth Chicken – An easy baked chicken dinner with cozy, creamy flavor and barely any fuss.
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Chicken Stew – Hearty, warm, and full of homestyle comfort, this is the kind of dinner that always hits the spot.
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Chicken Tetrazzini – A rich, creamy chicken pasta bake that’s perfect when you want a classic comfort-food dinner.
Tried This Recipe
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Thanks for stopping by my kitchen today — happy cooking, friends! Kathleen 💗
Crockpot Chicken And Gravy
Ingredients
- 1 (10-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- 2 (0.87-ounce) packets dry chicken gravy mix
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 (about 2 pounds) boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 1/2 cup sour cream
Serve With:
- mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, or a thick slice of toast
Garnish:
- 1-2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Add the first 5 ingredients to the crockpot and stir until smooth.
- Add the chicken breasts (4) and flip the chicken over in the sauce to coat.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours or until chicken is fork tender.
- Remove the chicken from the crock pot and shred with 2 forks.
- Stir in the sour cream (1/2 cup) until the mixture is smooth and add the shredded chicken back to the crockpot. Cover, set on keep warm, and allow to sit for about 10 minutes. Gravy will thicken as it sits.
- Serve over mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, or a thick slice of toast. Garnish with parsley (1-2 tablespoons) and serve.
Fans Also Made:
Notes
- Stir the gravy base well at the start. Making sure everything is smooth before the chicken goes in gives you the best final texture.
- Don’t overcook the chicken if your slow cooker runs hot. Chicken breasts can go from tender to dry if they cook too long, so start checking once they’re easy to shred.
- Add the sour cream off the highest heat. This helps it blend in smoothly and keeps the gravy from looking separated.
- Let the chicken soak in the gravy after shredding. That extra rest on warm gives the shredded chicken time to absorb more flavor.
- Serve it with something that catches the gravy. Mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, or toast turn this into a full comfort-food meal.
This was delicious. I used cream of mushroom w/garlic soup. It amped the flavor up a lot! I substituted the 50% less salt dry chicken gravy packet and it was perfect. Have made it twice, I made it once over mashed potatoes and once over rice. Both delicious! Goes into my super easy cold weather rotation! Thank you!
So glad this recipe is in your regular rotation! Thanks so much for leaving a comment and the 5 star rating!
Made 1/2 recipe following exact ingredients.
Looked amazing but the gravy was bland. I added the rest of Ranch put and 1 put f low sodium powdered chicken bullion for an acceptable flavor.
Hi Ilene. Try using parchment paper instead. 🙂
Can you use breast tenders ?
Hey, Annie! Yes. That’ll work. Enjoy!
My son is a very very picky eater, this is one of his favorites now. Thank you so much for this recipe
Yaay! That’s a winner 🙂 Thank you so much Anne
Do you have to cook the chicken breasts a lil bit before putting in the crock pot?
Hi, Courtney! No need. Just place the chicken in the crockpot 🙂
The nutrition information can’t be right. One serving is about 1/2 pound of chicken breast. A 4 oz cooked chicken breast has 25 grams of protein, so a serving of this should be closer to 50 grams of protein, allowing for cooking.
Hi, Colleen. Thanks for correcting me. I ran the nutrition facts again, it’s now correct. Thanks again!
Ok to use chicken broth instead of the water?
Hi, Linda. Hmmm, it may be too salty. I suggest using low sodium or unsalted chicken broth.
The narrative mentions chicken broth but it’s not listed as an ingredient. Wanted to double check!
Hi Amy! Ooops, sorry that was just a typo. 🙂