Slow Cooker Pickle Chicken

Creamy Slow Cooker Pickle Chicken is hands down one of the most flavorful chicken recipes you can make. Mini dill pickles and tender chicken thighs cook in a dreamy gravy that has a delightful and subtle zesty pop of flavor. You’re going to want to keep this recipe on regular rotation!

 

Crockpot Pickle Chicken

This yummy crockpot chicken recipe is the perfect comfort food for a busy weeknight dinner. The chicken cooks low and slow in a brown gravy-like sauce with zesty pickles that creates such a flavorful and hearty meal. No one will ever believe the slow cooker did most all of the work for you! 

Serve this tender fall-apart chicken over a bed of warm rice or some creamy mashed potatoes and you’ll have a crowd pleaser that’ll have everyone coming back for more.

I’m always looking for easy and delicious “set it and forget” it slow cooker recipes. This Slow Cooker Chili and this Slow Cooker Cube Steak with Gravy are a few of my go-to simple dinner options while this Crockpot Rotel Dip is a classic party appetizer that’s always a huge hit.

By cooking things slowly in the crockpot, it gives all the flavors time to come together. That’s one of the things you’ll love the most about this recipe. The vinegary pickles and pickle juice infuses the flavors of the rich, buttery gravy and the chicken that makes this a dish everyone will rave over.

💗 Why We Love This Recipe

• This is a super easy recipe that only requires a handful of ingredients.
• Best way to use up leftover juice in the pickle jar, plus it adds so much pickle flavor to the cooking liquid.
• Leftovers make great shredded chicken for a lettuce wrap or for slider buns or dinner rolls.

🛒 What’s Needed for this Easy Dill Pickle Chicken Recipe 

• Boneless skinless chicken thighs
• Dry ranch mix
• Brown gravy mixes
• Butter
• Mini dill pickles with juice
• Parsley for garnish

🥄 How to Make Crock Pot Dill Pickle Chicken

Use some paper towels and pat dry the chicken thighs.

Step One: Add Chicken, Seasonings and Sauce to Slow Cooker

• Place the dry, raw chicken thighs in the crockpot.
• Sprinkle your ranch dressing over and 1 of the gravy packets over the top of the chicken. Reserve 1 packet of gravy for later.
• Sprinkle the pickles and dill pickle juice all over the top.
• Place the butter on top of everything.

Step Four: Cook the Chicken

• Cook on low for 4-6 hours or high 3-4 hours until the meat is tender.

Step Five: Finish the Gravy and Serve

• Right before serving stir in the reserved brown gravy packet to thicken the gravy up.
• Garnish with parsley if desired.

  Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Crockpot Dill Pickle Chicken Variations

• Chicken: We used chicken thighs, but you can use other types of chicken if you prefer. Chicken breasts or even chicken tenders will work great. If using larger cuts of chicken, you will want to add to the cooking time. I would suggest cooking larger chicken breast on low for 6-7 hours. I would not recommend chicken legs or a whole chicken because the meat is so tender, you will end up having to fish out the bones from the sauce.

• Pickles: I like to use little petite pickles, but you can use slices or cut up spears. If you like spicy food, you could also use spicy pickles in this recipe.

• Herbs: You can add some fresh garlic cloves or some garlic powder to the sauce while cooking if you like. Adding some fresh dill will give you even more pickle flavor. For a spicier kick, add in a few red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper.

• Gravy: Want to add a tangy twist to the gravy, try adding about 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream.

• Beef: Wait … what? Yes, this variation flips the recipe all the way round! You can make a slow cooker dill pickle pot roast using this same recipe, but with a chuck roast instead of chicken. Increase the cook time to about 7 hours on low, depending on the size of the roast.

What are Some Great Serving Suggestions?

This recipe is so versatile, you can serve it with just about any side dish. It is awesome served over these Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes, with brown or white rice or over pasta.

It’s also a robust enough dish to serve alongside simple green veggies or a cool salad like this Creamy Cucumber Salad.

How Much Pickle Juice Should I Add?

This recipe calls for a cup of chopped pickles (or petite) with the juice. Add the pickles to the measuring cup, then just fill up the cup the rest of the way with the juice. It will be several tablespoons of juice in all. If you want to add more, you certainly can.

If you don’t have enough juice left in the bottom of that jar of pickles, you can just add a little water or chicken broth to make up the difference.

Can I Make This Recipe Stove Top?

You sure can. To make this recipe on the stove, you should cook the chicken thighs in a little olive oil in a dutch oven or heavy bottomed skillet over medium-high heat until they are almost completely done. Then add the other ingredients and simmer for about 15 minutes.

Can I Use Frozen Chicken?

If you are cooking this is the slow cooker, I recommended that you use thawed chicken thighs. The crockpot cooks very slowly which means frozen chicken will take a lot longer to get to the actual “cooking” phase. This could introduce harmful bacteria that should be avoided.

More Easy Chicken Recipes

• Chicken Tetrazzini
• Crack Chicken Soup
• Chinese Chicken Salad
• Chicken Tortilla Soup
• Homemade Chicken and Dumplings
• Neiman Marcus Salad
• Chicken Enchiladas
• Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
• Slow Cooker Southwest Chicken
• Copycat Chick-fil-a Chicken