Crockpot chicken and onions is a flavorful recipe that uses simple ingredients. Your preferred cut of chicken slow cooks with onions, a duo of broths, and basic herbs and spices. The result is falling apart tender chicken and tasty onions. Instructions to make this smothered chicken and onions recipe in the Instant Pot are also included.
Ingredients For Crockpot Chicken and Onions
- Chicken (any cut)
- Onion
- Chicken Broth
- Beef Broth
- Butter
- Seasonings: dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper
How To Make Chicken and Onions In The Slow Cooker
- Season the chicken with the dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add seasoned chicken to the bottom of the slow cooker. You can also season the chicken directly in the slow cooker.
- Add the sliced onion on top. Pour in the both broths. Add the butter on top.
- Cook HIGH 2-3 hours or LOW 4-6
- Turn the Instant Pot to sauté. Once hot, add the butter and the onions. Cook until soft, approximately 5 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot.
- Pour the broths into the Instant Pot and deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon.
- Season the chicken with the dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add the seasoned chicken to the Instant Pot.
- Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 10 minutes. When cooking time is complete, quick release the pressure.
FAQs & Tips
What cut of chicken should you use?
Use your preferred cut of chicken! I prefer to use dark meat for this recipe: chicken thighs, legs, or even wings. What you see in the pictures is bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and legs. Can you substitute chicken breasts? Yup. Please note that chicken breasts cook faster than dark meat.
Do you have to use 2 different broths?
Nope! Normally I use chicken broth with my chicken recipes but here I use 1 cup of beef broth. I like the flavor the beef broth bring to the onions but that’s me. Feel free to use all chicken broth if you want.
How do you get crispy skin on the chicken?
The downside of cooking skin-on chicken in the slow cooker is that the skin does not come out crispy. In order to get crispy skin like you see in the pictures, you will need to remove the chicken from the slow cooker (or Instant Pot), place it on a baking sheet, and then place in the oven under the broiler for a few minutes.
How do you serve this?
The sky is the limit! This is great over rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles.
How do you store leftovers?
Store leftover slow cooker chicken and onions in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
What size slow cooker did you use?
I use a 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot for this recipe.
Easy Chicken Recipes
PrintCrockpot Chicken and Onions
Crockpot chicken and onions is a flavorful recipe that uses simple ingredients. Your preferred cut of chicken slow cooks with onions, a duo of broths, and basic herbs and spices. The result is falling apart tender chicken and tasty onions. Instructions to make this smothered chicken and onions recipe in the Instant Pot are also included.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken (any cut)
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (or more)
- 1 teaspoon garlic power
- 1 teaspoon onion power
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
Instructions
- Season the chicken with the dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add seasoned chicken to the bottom of the slow cooker. You can also season the chicken directly in the slow cooker
- Add the sliced onion on top. Pour in the both broths. Add the butter on top.
- Cook HIGH 2-3 hours or LOW 4-6
- Turn the Instant Pot to sauté. Once hot, add the butter and the onions. Cook until soft, approximately 5 minutes. Turn off the Instant Pot.
- Pour the broths into the Instant Pot and deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon.
- Season the chicken with the dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add the seasoned chicken to the Instant Pot.
- Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 10 minutes. When cooking time is complete, quick release the pressure.
Notes
- Lower the sodium content by using low-sodium beef and chicken broth.
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15 thoughts on “Crockpot Chicken and Onions”
This recipe sounds delicious! How much onion should I use?
Yikes! I can’t believe I forgot to list one of the main ingredients. 1 large onion. I updated the recipe card accordingly. Thank you so much for catching that. Enjoy!
Can you list the macros…? Carbs, fats, proteins?
Thank you 🙂
Updated with the info:-)
Can I use deboned chicken breast for this?
Absolutely!
This was *incredibly* tasty, one of the best things I have made in a crockpot.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I made this with a grass -fed beef roast and it was divine! Thanks for the recipe. The soup base will be my go to for all my meats. ?
Oooh a roast! I love that idea, I can’t wait to try it!
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This waws really good, and easy. I am mid Whole 30 right now and all of the cooking & prepping meals is definitely taking it’s toll on me also. My husband and I, and my 13 yr old daughter are all doing it. And I am trying to stay mostly compliant with my son and my other daughter. We all enjoyed this! I will def be making this again soon!
I hope you enjoy it!
I really want to make this today but my chicken is frozen. Can I use it just cook for longer amount of time?
I’ve honestly never tried it. In theory it should work. According to Crock-Pot, “Frozen meats: Can be cooked in a slow cooker, however, it is best to use the following guidelines: Add at least 1 cup of warm liquid to the stoneware before placing meat in the stoneware. Do not preheat the slow cooker. Cook recipes containing frozen meats for an additional 4 to 6 hours on Low, or an additional 2 hours on High. So I would try warming the french onion sauce first. Let me know how it turns out!