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This incredible Crockpot chicken and rice recipe is an absolute dream. Creamy and rich like my best ever risotto, and cooked in the slow cooker for a mostly-hands-off meal the whole family will love. It turns simple ingredients into a hearty and flavorful dish that’s just as delicious as leftovers as it is freshly cooked.

Two bowls of Crockpot chicken and rice on a white table with a wicker placemat underneath.

🍚 What Makes This Recipe So Good

  • This recipe is a slow cooker version of my reader-favorite Instant Pot chicken and rice recipe, and we packed everything you love about the original dish into this one. Creamy, cheesy rice. Bite-sized pieces of juicy chicken. Light flavors and a simple seasoning. It’s truly a comfort meal in every sense.
  • Both this Crockpot chicken and rice and the original Instant Pot version are huge hits with my whole family. My kids absolutely love when we have this for dinner, even after years of having it fairly regularly. What can I say? When you find something that just works, and that everyone will eat without complaining (too much at least), you stick with it!
  • The ingredients are simple and super budget-friendly. Honestly, you probably have everything you need on hand right now. Cooking the dish is simple, too. You do need to sauté a couple of things in a skillet first, but other than that, you just dump everything into the Crockpot and let it work its magic! Not quite effortless, no, but super low effort at least.

👩🏼‍🍳 Chef’s Tips

  • Trust the process. Trust the Crockpot. The chicken and rice may not look like they’re cooking for the first 2 hours or so, but don’t stress. That’s why we say to cook for 3 to 4 hours. As long as your slow cooker works, everything will turn out the way it’s supposed to by the end of the cook time.
  • When you sear the chicken, don’t cook it so long that it cooks through completely. If it’s fully cooked when you add it to the Crockpot, it’ll be very overcooked by the end of the cook time.
  • Store-bought chicken stock works perfectly, but for a heartier dish with a little more flavor and even more nutrients, make your own! Both homemade chicken stock and homemade chicken bone broth will work well in Crockpot chicken and rice.
  • If you want to add a green element, stir in frozen peas, frozen mixed veggies, or frozen broccoli florets in the last hour of cooking. Keep in mind that the water content in the vegetables may throw off the overall consistency of the chicken and rice, though.
Overhead shot of a large white bowl of creamy Crockpot chicken and rice.

🥘 More Easy Dinner Recipes

Creamy crockpot chicken and rice in a black Crockpot insert with a wooden spoon resting against the side.
Recipe By: Cheryl Malik
5 from 17 votes

Creamy Crockpot Chicken and Rice

Prep 15 minutes
Cook 4 hours
Total 4 hours 15 minutes
A super rich and creamy chicken and rice made in the Crockpot for an easy, family-friendly dinner.
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6 servings

Equipment

  • Cutting board
  • Sharp chef's knife
  • Large skillet
  • Large wooden spoon
  • 6-quart Crockpot or similar slow cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts approximately 2-3 medium chicken breasts
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium white onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
  • ¼ cup dry white wine or ¼ cup chicken stock
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice juice from approximately 1 medium lemon
  • 1 ½ cups uncooked white rice rinsed well, see Notes
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt more or less to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper more or less to taste
  • 1 cup fresh parmesan cheese shredded or grated, plus more to taste

Instructions
 

  • Place chicken breasts on cutting board. Use sharp knife to slice chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, approximately 1-inch cubes. Set chicken aside.
  • Heat skillet over medium-high heat. When pan is warm, add butter and let melt, swirling pan occasionally to distribute butter across surface.
  • When butter is almost completely melted, add chopped onion and minced garlic to skillet. Stir to incorporate then sauté 3 to 5 minutes or until onions have softened.
    Chopped onions and minced garlic in a large silver skillet with a wooden spoon.
  • Add chicken pieces to skillet and stir to incorporate. Sauté chicken, stirring occasionally, just until all sides are opaque but not long enough to cook chicken through completely.
    Sautéed onions and garlic with bite-sized pieces of chicken in a large silver skillet with a wooden spoon.
  • Transfer sautéed onions, garlic, and chicken to Crockpot. Add chicken stock, dry white wine, water, lemon juice, white rice, salt, and pepper and stir until all ingredients have been incorporated.
    Ingredients for Crockpot chicken and rice in a black Crockpot insert with a wooden spoon.
  • Place lid on Crockpot and cook on HIGH 3 to 4 hours or until mixture is creamy and rice is tender.
  • Carefully remove Crockpot lid and stir in parmesan cheese until completely incorporated. Replace lid and cook until cheese is melted, approximately 5 minutes.
    Creamy Crockpot chicken and rice in a black Crockpot insert with a wooden spoon.
  • Once cheese is melted, divide chicken and rice into preferred portions. Garnish with additional parmesan, salt, or pepper if desired and serve warm with preferred sides.
  • Trust the process – the chicken and rice may not appear to be cooking for the first 2 hours in the Crockpot. As long as your slow cooker is working, they’ll turn out like they’re supposed to.
  • Texture: This won’t be a fluffy rice dish. Instead, the rice will be creamy and cheesy, sort of like a risotto.
  • Rice: It’s important that you use plain white rice for this recipe. Instant rice, minute rice, etc. are not recommended.
  • Parmesan: Optional, but highly recommended. Feel free to sub with the shredded cheese of your choice.
  • Make it Gluten Free: Make sure your chicken stock is 100% gluten-free, and use cheese that doesn’t have any added starches or fillers.

Approximate Information for One Serving

Serving Size: 1servingCalories: 462calProtein: 36gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 1386mgPotassium: 642mgTotal Carbs: 41gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gNet Carbs: 40gVitamin A: 399IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 235mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

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Cheryl Malik

In addition to being a certified health coach, certified yoga instructor, and mom of 3, Cheryl is also the recipe developer, editor-in-chief, food photographer, and passionate foodie behind 40 Aprons. Having spent the last 10+ years as a food blogger, she's become known for her flavorful recipes, detailed instructions, gorgeous photography, and down-to-earth approach to food and cooking in general.

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43 Comments

  3. I actually bought some Arborio rice for a risotto recipe right before all of the COVID-19 shutdowns started. Could I use this for the recipe? Any changes to measurements, if so?

    Reply

  5. Just letting you know it still says 1/2 cups rice instead of 1 1/2 cups or rice. I read in the comments where you changed it but it must not have saved it.

    Reply

  8. 1/2 cup of rice sounds low. Is this a typo? It does say “1/2 cups”, making me think a number was left off.

    Reply

      1. Can’t wait to try this. Just so you know, the recipe does still say 1/2 cup rice. I’m glad I read reviews before making this because I thought the same thing. Thank you for posting this! We are just starting to make it now 🙂

        Reply

  9. Can I just put the chicken breasts in raw, then shred at the end, or would that throw off the cooking? Thanks!

    Reply

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