Slow Cooker Apple Chicken (5-Ingredients!)
The ultimate in simplicity, this slow cooker apple chicken is made with just 5 ingredients and comes together with just 5-minutes of prep. Chicken breasts (or chicken thighs) cook low and slow along with onions, apple, and apple cider to create the tenderest, juiciest chicken –a super easy crockpot meal that’ll have you going back for seconds.
5 star review
“I made this tonight and my husband and I absolutely loved it!! This is a keeper! Thank you so much for this healthy and yummy recipe!!”
– Mrs. P
Apple Cider Pulled Chicken? Yes, Please!
Well, hello fall! I’m sort of in denial that summer’s over, but there’s no denying that the season is changing, and the good thing about the season transition is the food!
Fall is my absolute favorite time of year for so many reasons, with food coming in right at the top of the list.
It’s also the beginning of slow cooker season for some (hello simple & cozy fall slow cooker recipes), though honestly every season is slow cooker season to me.
Plus, if you’re running kids around to activities after school or working long days, the slow cooker becomes absolutely essential this time of year.
I came up with this recipe as a way to ease into fall — that season where the temps are still high, but when something fresh and light and packed with seasonal produce like apples.
Chicken and apples happen to be one of my favorite unexpected flavor combos (try this amazing chicken apple skillet, this tasty chicken salad w/ cranberries & walnuts, & this insanely easy chicken sausage & apples skillet for more proof), plus you can’t go wrong with apple cider chicken in the crockpot.
For this ultra simple slow cooker apple cider chicken, the chicken gets a low and slow bath in the delicious sauce made up of fresh apples, onions, and apple cider.
Then the chicken gets shredded and topped with an optional but super simple crunchy quick apple slaw.
So good! Our family loves the versatility of pulled chicken, since everyone can enjoy it in their own way, as it’s equally delicious piled high into a bun as it is in a bowl or as part of a salad. You really can’t go wrong!
Welcome to My Kitchen! Let’s Make Slow Cooker Apple Cider Chicken
Serving & Storing
Serve over greens, on top of rice or quinoa, as a filling for baked sweet potato, or piled high into buns, then top with Quick Apple Slaw.
Store the leftover shredded chicken tightly covered in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-4 days or the freezer for up to 3 months.
Store the Quick Apple Slaw, separately, for up to 3 days. Drain off any extra liquid prior to serving.
THIS RECIPE IS . . .
Dairy FreeGluten FreeNut FreePaleoWhole30
Slow Cooker Apple Chicken (5-Ingredients!)
Ingredients
- 2 medium medium sweet, crisp apples (such as Honeycrisp or Fuji, or Gala), cored and diced
- 1 medium yellow onion, very thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- ¾ cup apple cider
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, or thighs
Apple Slaw (Optional)
- 6 cups finely shredded green cabbage
- 1 medium medium sweet, crisp apples (such as Honeycrisp or Fuji, or Gala), shredded for finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh leaf parsley
Equipment
Instructions
- Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with an ½ teaspoon salt and the garlic powder.
- Place the apples and onions in the base of a 6-quart slow cooker. Sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt, tossing to combine. Pour over ½ cup apple cider.
- Nestle the chicken into the onion and apple mixture. Cover and cook on high for 3-5 hours or low for 5-7, or until the chicken very tender and cooked through.
- Remove the chicken to a cutting board. Shred with two forks or dice, then place back into the slow cooker. Add the remaining ¼ cup apple cider, stirring to combine. Taste and add additional salt or apple cider to taste.
- Serve the apple chicken topped with the optional Quick Apple Slaw in buns or in bowls.
Apple Slaw (Optional)
- Combine the cabbage, apple, vinegar, oil, salt, pepper and parsley in a large bowl, tossing to combine. Let sit for at least 10 minutes for the flavors to combine. Serve on top of the Apple Chicken in buns or bowls.
Whaaa!? Why have I never thought to add apples to my crockpot chicken? Why is this not on a plate in front of me right now? These are just some of the questions I have. One thing I do know is that this looks AH-MAZING.
You’re too cute! I love apples in everything. I hope you do too and enjoy this one! 🙂
Printing this for my meal plan next week, thank you! Where does one find unsweetened apple cider?
Dawn, great question! Most apple cider is unsweetened, which simply means there is no sugar added. Just check the ingredients, the only thing on the list should be apple cider. 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
We went to an apple orchard this past weekend to pick apples, and I’m still trying to use them! Going on our meal plan for Monday! Yay! Thank you for this!
Perfect timing, Melissa. I hope you and your family enjoys!
Hi Robyn! This looks delicious! I have a question, I’m sorry if you have addressed it elsewhere – I think most of your recipes are written for a 6 qt slow cooker. Would they work in a 4 qt cooker instead? I am thinking of investing in a new slow cooker with fall because I want a programmable one, but would love to know if these will work in my 4 qt in the meantime… Thank you!
Joyce, I haven’t adapted this recipe for a 4-quart, but it should work. It’s really about ratios, so do your best to cut it down by 1/3 (there is a lot of wiggle room with this particular recipe, so it should be fine). Let us know how it turns out! 🙂
Hi Robyn! I have made this recipe and it is deliciou! . I would like to make it for a large group. Is there a way I could double this recipe in a 6qt slow cooker?
Kristin, so glad you enjoyed! I image you could double this recipe in a 6qt slow cooker. You may need to add some additional cook time, and taste for seasoning at the end/adjust as necessary. Let us know how it turns out!
Hi – my kitchen smells great with this cooking. What do you do with the apples and onions at the end of the cooking time?
Kathleen, add the shredded chicken back to the slow cooker, along with the cooked apples, onions, and cooking juices, and stir together. Hope you enjoy!
I made this tonight and my husband and I absolutely loved it!! This is a keeper! I served it on whole grain buns with tomatoes, avocado, radish, cucumber and arugula for adding to the sandwich as well as the yummy slaw! I substituted fennel for the scallion and used 1 cup of green cabbage, 1 cup of purple cabbage, and two cups of jicama and all the rest of the ingredients and the slaw was delish! Thank you so much for this healthy and yummy recipe!!
Sounds lovely–love all the tasty veggie additions. So glad you enjoyed!
Hi! This looks delicious! I’m making this for dinner tomorrow evening- but purchased enough ingredients for 2 batches. Would you recommend freezing this in the raw form or cooking it first?
Hi Jodi, I think this one freezes best after it’s cooked. Hope you enjoy!
Is there a printable version??
Yep, it’s right there in the post.
How do you print?
Hi Hayley, there’s a print button right under the recipe.
I was confused when your said 3/4 cups of apple cider divided. I do not cook and had no idea what you meant by this. People who cooked do not get it when someone says they do not cook. Believe them and dumb it down.
Barb, sorry to hear this was confusing for you. The good news is that I did dumb it down! When an ingredient is listed as “divided” it means that you don’t add the whole amount all at once. However, you don’t need to know what that means for the recipe to work for you because I tell you exactly how much to add at each step of the recipe (1/2 cup apple cider in step 2, 1/4 cup in step 3). I hope you enjoy the recipe.
I was hoping the chicken would be flavorful, but was disappointed. There was only a hint of the cider flavoring and for all of the hours slow-cooking, I really did expect more. Won’t bother with this recipe again.
Sorry to hear this one wasn’t a hit for you Linda. You’re correct in that a long slow simmer in the slow cooker ins’t going to concentrate the flavors of the cider. I try to address this by adding the fresh cider at the end, as well as serving with the apple slaw. If you really wanted a concentrated flavor you could reduce simmer 1/2 cup cider until reduced to a syrup and add that at the end as well. Either way, thanks for sharing your thoughts, and sorry this one wasn’t for you.