This 5-ingredient slow cooker chicken is the kind of budget-friendly dinner that earns a regular spot in the weekly rotation: minimal prep, familiar pantry staples, and tender chicken that cooks into a savory, family-style meal with very little effort. Recipes like this grew out of practical home cooking, where a few inexpensive ingredients are stretched into something comforting and satisfying, and using chicken tender strips makes the dish cook up especially tender and easy to serve.
Serve this chicken over hot rice, buttered egg noodles, or mashed potatoes so the sauce has something to soak into. A simple green bean side, steamed broccoli, corn, or a crisp salad rounds it out nicely, and a piece of warm bread or a biscuit works well for catching every bit of the rich slow-cooked sauce.
5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Poor Man's Summer Break Chicken
Servings: 6
Ingredients
2 pounds raw chicken tender strips
1 packet dry chicken gravy mix
1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup chicken broth
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Directions
1. Lightly coat the inside of the slow cooker with nonstick spray if desired, then spread the raw chicken tender strips evenly across the bottom.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry chicken gravy mix, condensed cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, and garlic powder until mostly smooth.
3. Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken, making sure the strips are well coated. Cover with the lid and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
4. Once the chicken is done, gently stir to coat everything in the thickened sauce. Taste and adjust with a little salt and pepper if needed, then serve hot over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes.
Variations & Tips
Add mushrooms: Stir in 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms before cooking if you want a deeper, earthier flavor. They blend beautifully into the sauce and make the dish feel a little heartier.
Use cream of mushroom soup: For a slightly different pantry-style version, swap the cream of chicken soup for condensed cream of mushroom soup. The result is still creamy, savory, and especially good over egg noodles.
Thicken the sauce: If you prefer a thicker finish, remove the lid for the last 20 to 30 minutes of cooking, or stir in a small cornstarch slurry at the end and let it heat through for a few minutes.
Watch the cook time: Because chicken tender strips are smaller than full breasts, they can overcook if left too long. Check for doneness on the early side of the suggested range so they stay moist and tender.
Make it a full meal: This chicken is easy to stretch for a larger family dinner by serving it over starches and adding a vegetable side. If you want a little color in the slow cooker itself, a handful of frozen peas stirred in at the end works nicely.