There’s something irresistibly cozy about this Slow Cooker Chicken and Stuffing Recipe—the way tender chicken meets fluffy, buttery stuffing all cooked low and slow. It’s the kind of meal that fills your kitchen with warm, comforting aromas and makes weeknights feel special without any fuss.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Honestly, this recipe ticks so many boxes for me whenever I make it. It’s hands-off cooking at its best, but still delivers big-time on flavor and texture. Every time I serve it, friends ask for the secret, and it’s just this lovely blend of simple ingredients coming together effortlessly.
- Effortless comfort food: It’s basically a slow-cooked hug on a plate, perfect when you want something satisfying without standing over the stove.
- One-pot convenience: Vegetables, chicken, creamy sauce, and stuffing all cook together, making cleanup a breeze.
- Versatile and forgiving: You can swap broccoli for other veggies or adjust seasonings to suit your taste.
- Perfect for busy days: Start it in the morning, and dinner’s ready when you walk through the door.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient here plays a role in creating that comforting, homestyle feel. The combination of two creamy soups adds richness while keeping things simple, and the herb-seasoned stuffing mix brings that golden, buttery crunch on top. Choosing the right chicken cut means juicy, tender results every time.
- Carrots: I like peeling and slicing them thin to ensure they cook through perfectly alongside the chicken.
- Broccoli florets: Frozen works great for convenience, but fresh gives a bit more texture and brightness.
- Chicken thighs or breasts: Thighs are my go-to for moist, flavorful meat, but chicken breasts work fine if you keep an eye on cooking time.
- Condensed cream of mushroom soup: Delivers that earthy, savory undertone to the sauce.
- Condensed cream of chicken soup: Boosts creaminess and adds classic chicken flavor that ties it all together.
- Water (or chicken broth): Keeps the sauce from getting too thick and adds moisture for the stuffing.
- Pepperidge Farm Herb-Seasoned Stuffing Mix: The seasoned stuffing is the signature crunch and herbaceous note that makes this dish sing.
- Butter: Melted and drizzled on top, it helps crisp up the stuffing mix to golden perfection.
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper: Simple seasoning to enhance all the other flavors.
Make It Your Way
I love mixing things up depending on what I have on hand or the mood I’m in—slow cooker meals are perfect for that kind of flexibility. Feel free to swap veggies or add your own twist with herbs and spices. It’s your comfort dish, after all!
- Variation: One time, I swapped the broccoli for green beans and added a sprinkle of shredded cheddar on top near the end—it was a total hit with the family.
- Dietary changes: Using low-sodium soup cans and broth helps control salt for a healthier version.
- Texture tweak: Stir the stuffing halfway through cooking if you want it less crusty and more like a thick casserole topping.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Slow Cooker Chicken and Stuffing Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Veggie Base
First up, spray your slow cooker with nonstick spray—this makes cleanup so much easier. Layer the peeled and sliced carrots along with the broccoli florets on the bottom. This gives the veggies enough time to soften without turning mushy. Trust me, putting the veggies down first helps keep everything balanced.
Step 2: Season and Add the Chicken
Grab your chicken thighs or breasts and season them generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place the chicken right on top of your veggie bed. This layering helps the chicken steam and remain juicy while soaking up some veggie flavor.
Step 3: Mix and Pour the Creamy Sauce
In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, and water (or broth if you prefer). Pour this over the chicken evenly, coating everything gently. The sauce is key for that luscious, comforting texture in your final dish.
Step 4: Top with Stuffing and Butter
Next, sprinkle the dry Pepperidge Farm Herb-Seasoned Stuffing Mix over the top. Drizzle the melted butter evenly across the stuffing; that buttery touch is what crisps it up beautifully during cooking.
Step 5: Slow Cook to Perfection
Cover with the lid and set your slow cooker to low for about 4 to 6 hours, or choose high for 2 to 3 hours. I prefer low and slow because it makes the chicken extra tender and the flavors meld just right. Just make sure to check that the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F before serving.
Top Tip
I’ve learned over the years that the key to this dish’s success is not rushing the cooking and layering flavors thoughtfully. These simple tips saved me from a few soggy or bland batches early on, and now I can confidently recommend them to you.
- Season generously: Don’t skimp on salt and pepper on the chicken—it’s the backbone of the flavor.
- Use thawed frozen broccoli: Gives a better texture than adding it frozen right on top.
- Butter drizzle matters: That step turns the stuffing into a golden, crispy topping rather than a soggy mess.
- Resist lifting the lid: Opening the slow cooker often slows cooking and affects texture.
How to Serve Slow Cooker Chicken and Stuffing Recipe
Garnishes
I usually garnish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or thyme leaves right before serving to add a fresh pop of color and a hint of brightness. Sometimes a squeeze of lemon over the chicken just before plating really lifts the flavors.
Side Dishes
I love pairing this with simple sides like steamed green beans, a crisp garden salad, or lightly sautéed garlic spinach. They add a nice fresh balance to the richness of the main dish.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I’ve served this slow cooker chicken and stuffing recipe in beautiful shallow casserole dishes and topped with extra toasted stuffing crumbs. You could even portion into oven-safe ramekins for individual servings with a sprinkle of melted cheese on top for a fancy twist.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled, I store leftovers covered tightly in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keeping it in an airtight container prevents the stuffing from drying out. When I reheat, I add a splash of water or broth to bring back some moisture.
Freezing
This dish freezes surprisingly well—just portion into freezer-safe containers before cooking or after if you’ve got leftovers. When freezing cooked leftovers, I recommend freezing the chicken and vegetables separately from the stuffing for best texture upon reheating.
Reheating
For leftovers, I reheat gently in the oven at 350°F, covered with foil to avoid drying out, or in the microwave with a sprinkle of broth and a lid. This helps keep the chicken tender and the stuffing moist and delicious.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Chicken breasts work well too, but they cook a bit faster and can dry out more easily, so I recommend checking them at the earlier end of the cooking time.
Yes, you can layer all the ingredients in your slow cooker the night before and store it in the fridge overnight. Just add an extra half hour to cooking time when you start it the next day.
If you want a homemade version or need to avoid canned soups, a simple thick béchamel sauce with sautéed mushrooms and chicken broth works wonderfully and keeps the creamy texture.
Drizzling melted butter over the dry stuffing mix and cooking it on top of the chicken helps it crisp up nicely. Avoid stirring the stuffing during cooking to preserve that lovely crunchy texture on top.
Final Thoughts
This Slow Cooker Chicken and Stuffing Recipe has been my go-to for cozy family dinners and casual get-togethers because it’s so reliable and downright tasty. I’m confident you’ll find it just as comforting and convenient, turning simple ingredients into a meal everyone gathers around happily. Give it a try—you might just find yourself making it on repeat, like I do!
Print
Slow Cooker Chicken and Stuffing Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This comforting Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing recipe combines tender chicken thighs or breasts with fresh vegetables, creamy mushroom and chicken soup, and herb-seasoned stuffing mix, all slow-cooked to perfection for an easy and hearty meal.
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1 (12 ounce) bag frozen broccoli florets or 4 cups fresh broccoli florets
Chicken
- 1 ½ - 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts
Sauces and Seasonings
- 1 (10.75 oz) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 (10.75 oz) can condensed cream of chicken soup
- ¼ cup water or low-sodium chicken broth
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Ground black pepper, to taste
Stuffing
- 3 ½ cups (about 7.5 ounces) dry Pepperidge Farm Herb-Seasoned Stuffing Mix
- ⅓ cup butter, melted
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker: Spray the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Add vegetables: Place the peeled and sliced carrots along with the frozen or fresh broccoli florets at the bottom of the slow cooker, forming a vegetable base.
- Season and add chicken: Season the boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts with kosher salt and ground black pepper. Place the seasoned chicken on top of the layered vegetables.
- Mix sauces: In a medium bowl, whisk together the condensed cream of mushroom soup, condensed cream of chicken soup, and water or low-sodium chicken broth until smooth.
- Pour sauce: Pour the combined soup mixture evenly over the chicken and vegetables in the slow cooker, ensuring the chicken is well coated.
- Add stuffing: Sprinkle the dry Pepperidge Farm Herb-Seasoned Stuffing Mix evenly over the top of the chicken and sauce layer.
- Drizzle butter: Drizzle the melted butter over the stuffing mix to add richness and help it brown during cooking.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on LOW for 6 hours for tender and juicy chicken and fully cooked stuffing, or cook on HIGH for 3 hours if short on time.
- Serve: Once cooked through, carefully fluff the stuffing and serve portions ensuring a balanced mix of chicken, stuffing, and vegetables on each plate.
Notes
- Use low-sodium chicken broth instead of water to boost flavor without adding excess salt.
- Chicken thighs yield more tender and juicy results, but chicken breasts are leaner and suitable for a lighter meal.
- To make this recipe gluten free, substitute the stuffing mix with a certified gluten-free alternative.
- Adjust seasoning at the end of cooking if needed, as the soups and stuffing mix contain salt.
- If using fresh broccoli, add it in the last hour of cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain texture.
- To crisp the stuffing topping, transfer cooked dish to an oven-safe dish and bake uncovered at 375°F for 10-15 minutes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 /6 of the recipe
- Calories: 854 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 2501 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 121 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 41 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
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