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If there’s one meal that deserves a permanent spot in your Sunday dinner rotation, it’s Slow Cooker Baked Chicken. Yes, baked chicken, but in the slow cooker. Think ultra-tender, fall-off-the-bone meat, rich homemade gravy, and zero fuss. You can season it, set it, go to church or brunch, and walk back into a house that smells like comfort and love. It’s the perfect blend of cozy and convenient, exactly what Sunday should feel like.
Why Slow Cooker Baked Chicken?
Oven-baked chicken is delicious, but I’m personally not a fan of leaving the oven on when I’m not home, even at a low temperature. That’s why the slow cooker is my go-to for this recipe. It cooks at a steady, gentle heat, has built-in timing and safety features (hello auto shut-off), and doesn’t overcook your food if life runs a little behind schedule. It’s comforting, reliable, and honestly? Kind of a lifesaver.
And here’s the best part: This chicken tastes like it came straight out of the oven. The slow cooker does all the work to break down the meat until it’s spoon-tender, while capturing every drop of natural flavor from the chicken, onions, and whatever spices you choose.
A Meal That Gives You Time Back
Think of this as “set it and forget it” cooking. Early in the day, all you’re doing is seasoning your drumsticks, layering in onions and aromatics, and letting the slow cooker do the rest. Once you’re home, all that’s left is elevating the experience, take the flavorful cooking liquid, reduce it down into a savory gravy, and spoon it over the chicken. If you love crisp edges like I do, broil the chicken for a few minutes to broil it to perfection.
The result? A soul-soothing, hearty Sunday meal that feels both nostalgic and effortless. Perfect with mashed potatoes, rice, or warm rolls to soak up every drop of gravy.
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Baked Chicken
- Hands-off cooking: Perfect for busy days or lazy Sundays.
- Flavor-packed: The slow cooker locks in moisture and infuses your chicken with rich, natural flavor.
- Budget-friendly: Drumsticks are affordable and incredibly tender cooked this way.
- Perfect for families or meal prep: Easy to double the recipe for leftovers or guests.
- Comfort classic: The kind of meal you come home to with a smile.
Once you make this slow cooker baked chicken, it won’t just be a recipe, it’ll be an automatic Sunday favorite. The kind of home-cooked meal you’ll get asked for again and again.
Slow Cooker Baked Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds dark meat chicken pieces, drumsticks work great, or a mix of drums and wings like I used here
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp complete seasoning
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp Italian dressing
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tbsp adobo seasoning
- 1 tbsp garlic paste, for slow cooker
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce, or worcheshire sauce
- 1 sprig Fresh rosemary
- 1 sprig Fresh thyme
- 1 scallion, broken into thirds
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 white onion, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
For gravy
- 1 tbsp flour
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 white onion, sliced
- 2 cups strained gravy from slow cooker
Instructions
- In a large bowl, season the chicken with olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, complete seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, adobo seasoning, and Italian dressing. Toss to coat evenly.
- Add the seasoned chicken to the slow cooker. Top with garlic paste, hoisin sauce, fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, scallions, 1 diced onion, sliced green bell pepper and butter.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours. Don’t add any liquid, the chicken will release its own juices.
- After 4 hours, carefully remove the chicken and transfer it to a baking pan.
- Strain the cooking liquid and set aside.
- To a skillet, add olive oil and saute onions until soft, about 2 minutes.
- Add flour, mix well and then slowly pour in reserved liquid from slow cooker.
- Mix well and bring to a simmer, about 5 minutes.
- Pour the gravy over the chicken in the baking pan. Broil on high for 5 minutes to caramelize the top.
- Serve hot with your favorite sides. Enjoy the fall-off-the-bone tenderness!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
