This zesty, ridiculously easy two ingredient Italian Crockpot Chicken pairs beautifully with rice or pasta and any veggie you choose. While we’ve had this here on our site since early 2014, it’s become a Tik Tok viral recipe lately.
I love my crock pot, because I can just throw dinner in and forget about it. Are you the same?
Then, at the end of the day or a few hours later, I have a meal that will feed my entire family and didn’t require a ton of work.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- It’s a quick, easy recipe that is perfect for busy weeknights.
- With only TWO ingredients, it’s budget friendly too!
- As long as you use a quality, flavorful Italian Dressing, you will wind up with a moist, super flavorful chicken that is perfect as is, or you can dress up and make it a meal.
- It pairs beautifully in pasta dishes, rice dishes, casseroles and more.
- It freezes once cooked, and can be saved for other meals.
How To Cook
Pretty easy, just toss it all in the crockpot, set it and go. More details in the printable recipe card below.
We’ve included pro tips and information throughout the post to help you get the best meal you can get.
Pro Tip: When you get to this state (photo above), about halfway through (maybe the last hour or two) add any additional ingredients you’d like to add (see our list below) and re-baste covering the chicken or flipping it. It will ensure that the flavors are infused throughout the whole chicken.
FAQ
It’s great to pair with some brown rice and a salad, for a perfectly healthy and hearty dinner. Or go a different route.
This Italian Crockpot Chicken goes really well with almost any vegetable, grilled or fresh – and if you’re daring enough, you could even toss some in with the chicken.
While this is an easy crock pot meal, Italian Crockpot Chicken doesn’t actually have to be made in the crockpot.
It can easily be made in the oven or using your stove top. Or your Instant Pot.
In the recipe card, I have also included information for cooking on the stovetop or in the oven.
What you need to make this easy crockpot two ingredient chicken
Fresh Chicken – Even if it’s frozen, just make sure it’s thawed before it goes into the crockpot. It will help pull all the flavors. The flavors won’t infuse much before it’s thawed, so it won’t be as flavorful.
Italian Dressing – I’ve used several brands and they all have a unique flavor. Try a new one each time you make it, or just choose your favorite you love with salad. Or even make your own.
See the next section for substitutions.
Additions and Substitutions
Substitutions
Chicken: If you wanted to use pork, turkey or any other poultry, I believe this would work well. We haven’t done it though, so no testing on that one.
Salad Dressing: If you don’t have a good Italian Dressing, you could substitute with a make up of your own, we absolutely love Natasha’s Italian Dressing. But you can also substitute with a vinaigrette or other salad dressing.
Additions
- fresh chopped tomatoes
- any fresh chopped herbs – think oregano or basil to keep it as close to the Italian theme as you can. We usually sprinkle with some Italian Parsley just before serving.
- a bag of frozen veggies – mixed veggies, broccoli, cauliflower, peas
- spices and seasonings
Serve with/over
We love this served over some rice. Pasta is another great choice. Also sliced chicken compliments both salads and pasta salads beautifully.
The chicken comes out tender and moist and literally falls apart as you’re cutting it.
Printable Recipe
Italian Crockpot Chicken | Two Ingredients
Ingredients
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups Italian Salad Dressing
Instructions
For Crockpot:
- Layer the chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot.
- Pour the salad dressing over the chicken breasts completely coating.
- Cook for 4-6 hours on high, 8-10 hours on low.
For Oven:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray 13×9-inch pan with cooking spray.
- Layer chicken breasts in a glass baking dish.
- Pour the salad dressing over the chicken breasts, completely coating.
- Cover with foil; bake 20 minutes. Turn chicken; bake uncovered 20 to 30 minutes longer or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut.
For Stovetop:
- Spray a large heavy skillet with cooking spray, place on medium high heat and brown chicken. When browned on both sides, pour in the Salad Dressing and simmer, turning chicken once, until cooked through, about 15-20 minutes longer.
- You’re ready to enjoy!
I absolutely love Italian Crockpot Chicken. I have 2 people who won’t eat it any other way. Amazing
Can I add a vegetable such as fresh broccoli into the crackpot with the chicken and if so how when do you add it
I haven’t done that but I can’t see why you couldn’t. I would suggest adding it about a half hour before the time is done. Check it at that point and make sure it has softened enough with fresh broccoli. With frozen broccoli it should be done in a half hour, but might require more time too. Hope that helps!
Could I add pasta to the crockpot
Yes you can, but you will also need to add more liquid to essentially “cook” the pasta unless you are adding already cooked pasta. The dry pasta will absorb any liquid in the crockpot and there isn’t enough liquid to actually cook the pasta in this recipe as is. I don’t actually recommend adding cooked pasta and having it cook for more than 2 hours because the pasta begins to disintegrate into the crockpot over time. We add cooked pasta to ours usually at the very end.
I made this tonight on the stove top. It was delicious!! I definitely will make it again.