This slow cooker 4-ingredient onion soup chicken is exactly the kind of dinner that saves a hectic weekday when work runs late and nobody wants a complicated cleanup. It leans on pantry staples to create tender chicken and a deeply savory onion gravy that tastes like you worked much harder than you did, which is probably why simple onion soup mix recipes have stayed so popular in so many Midwestern kitchens for years.
Serve this chicken over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, rice, or even thick slices of toasted bread so none of that rich onion gravy goes to waste. For sides, I like something easy and fresh like steamed green beans, roasted carrots, a simple salad, or buttered corn, especially in the summer when you want dinner to feel hearty but not fussy.
Slow Cooker 4-Ingredient Onion Soup Chicken
Servings: 4 to 6
Ingredients
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs
1 packet dry onion soup mix, about 1 ounce
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup, 10.5 ounces
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
Directions
1. Lightly coat the inside of a slow cooker if desired for easier cleanup, then place the chicken in an even layer in the bottom.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the onion soup mix, condensed cream of chicken soup, and chicken broth until mostly smooth.
3. Pour the mixture over the chicken, covering the pieces as evenly as possible. Put the lid on and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is very tender and cooked through.
4. Shred the chicken lightly with two forks right in the slow cooker, or leave the pieces whole if you prefer. Stir everything into the gravy, then let it sit for 5 minutes before serving so the sauce settles and coats the chicken well.
Variations & Tips
Use chicken thighs: If you want even richer flavor and extra forgiving cook time, use boneless skinless chicken thighs. They stay especially juicy in the slow cooker and are great if dinner might sit on warm for a little while.
Thicker gravy: For a more spoon-coating gravy, remove the lid during the last 20 to 30 minutes of cooking to let the sauce reduce slightly. You can also mash a little of the cooked chicken into the sauce to help it thicken naturally.
Make it a full meal: Add baby carrots or sliced mushrooms to the slow cooker under or around the chicken for an easy one-pot dinner. The mushrooms in particular soak up that onion flavor beautifully.
Meal prep tip: This reheats well for lunches, and the gravy keeps the chicken from drying out. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, then reheat gently in the microwave or on the stovetop with a small splash of broth.