Quick Crockpot Italian Dressing Chicken

Here’s my go-to crockpot Italian dressing chicken recipe, featuring tender chicken breasts, zesty Italian dressing, and a handful of simple seasonings that come together in your slow cooker with minimal effort.

This chicken dish has become my family’s favorite weeknight dinner solution. I often prep two batches – one for dinner and another to use in sandwiches and salads throughout the week. Nothing better than having ready-to-eat protein in the fridge, right?

What Kind of Chicken Should I Use?

For this crockpot recipe, boneless, skinless chicken breasts are your best bet since they’re easy to work with and soak up all those tasty seasonings. While you could use chicken thighs instead, breasts are perfect here because they stay intact during the long cooking process and shred beautifully when done. Fresh chicken works great, but if you’re starting with frozen breasts, just make sure they’re completely thawed before adding them to your slow cooker. For the most even cooking, try to choose chicken breasts that are similar in size – if some are much thicker than others, you might want to give them a quick pound with a meat mallet to even them out.

Options for Substitutions

This easy crockpot recipe is pretty forgiving and allows for several substitutions:

• Chicken breasts: You can easily swap chicken breasts for boneless chicken thighs – they’ll actually stay even more moist! If you prefer, turkey breasts work too, but might need a slightly shorter cooking time.
• Zesty Italian Dressing: Regular Italian dressing works fine here, or you can make your own by mixing olive oil, vinegar, and Italian herbs. If you’re in a pinch, Greek dressing can work too – it’ll give a slightly different but still tasty flavor.
• Ranch seasoning mix: No Ranch packet? Mix together 1 tablespoon each of dried parsley and dried dill, plus 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder and onion powder as a substitute.
• Minced garlic: You can use garlic powder instead – about 1/2 teaspoon will do the trick. Or use 2 whole garlic cloves, finely chopped.
• Chili powder and cumin: These spices add flavor but aren’t crucial – you can skip them or replace with Italian seasoning for a different taste profile. If you like heat, paprika makes a good substitute for chili powder.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when making crockpot Italian dressing chicken is lifting the lid too frequently during cooking, as each peek adds 15-20 minutes to your cooking time and lets valuable moisture escape. Another common error is adding too much liquid – while it might seem counterintuitive, crockpots create their own moisture, so stick to the recommended amount of water and dressing to avoid a soupy result. To prevent dry, overcooked chicken, make sure you’re using similar-sized chicken breasts and don’t cook them longer than 6-7 hours on low or 3-4 hours on high – the chicken is done when it reaches 165°F internal temperature. For the most flavorful results, take a minute to sear the chicken breasts before adding them to the crockpot, as this extra step creates a richer taste and better texture.

What to Serve With Italian Dressing Chicken?

This zesty crockpot chicken pairs perfectly with simple sides that can soak up all those tasty Italian-ranch juices. A bed of fluffy rice or creamy mashed potatoes makes an excellent base, letting you spoon all that flavorful sauce right over top. For some green goodness, try roasted broccoli or a simple garden salad – the Italian flavors in the chicken will match really well with any vegetables you choose. If you’re in the mood for pasta, this chicken is amazing served over fettuccine or penne, with some extra sauce from the slow cooker drizzled on top.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: This Italian dressing chicken is perfect for meal prep! Place your cooked chicken in an airtight container with its juices and pop it in the fridge – it’ll stay good for up to 4 days. The flavors actually get even better after a day or two as the chicken continues to soak up all those tasty seasonings.

Freeze: Want to save some for later? Let the chicken cool completely, then transfer it to freezer-safe containers or bags along with some of the cooking liquid to keep it moist. It’ll keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to portion it out before freezing so I can thaw just what I need.

Reheat: When you’re ready to enjoy your chicken again, warm it up in the microwave with a splash of the cooking liquid, or heat it gently in a covered pan on the stove. If frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge first. The liquid helps keep the chicken nice and juicy during reheating.

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	180-420 minutes
Total Time	195-440 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 900-1100
• Protein: 150-180 g
• Fat: 30-50 g
• Carbohydrates: 10-15 g

Ingredients

• 4-6 chicken breasts (cleaned and trimmed)
• 1 cup zesty italian dressing (about 8 oz)
• 1 packet dry ranch seasoning mix (around 3 tablespoons)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1/2 tablespoon chili powder
• 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

Begin by trimming any excess fat from the chicken breasts.

This step ensures a leaner final dish.

Once trimmed, place the chicken breasts into your chosen cooking appliance, whether it be a crockpot, Instant Pot, or oven-safe dish.

Step 2: Season the Chicken

Pour Zesty Italian Dressing over the chicken, followed by Dry Ranch Seasoning, Water, Minced Garlic, Chili Powder, and Ground Cumin.

Stir everything together to ensure all the chicken breasts are thoroughly coated with the seasoning mixture.

This step is crucial for infusing the chicken with flavor.

Step 3: Cook the Chicken (Crockpot Method)

Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender enough to shred with ease.

Always ensure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F for safety.

Step 4: Cook the Chicken (Instant Pot Method)

Secure the Instant Pot lid and ensure the vent is set to ‘Sealing’.

Select the ‘Manual’ or ‘Pressure Cook’ function and adjust the time to 10 minutes on HIGH pressure.

After the cooking cycle concludes, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for about 10 minutes.

Then carefully turn the vent to ‘Venting’ to release any remaining steam and pressure.

Open the lid and proceed to shred.

Step 5: Cook the Chicken (Oven Method)

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Place the seasoned chicken breasts in a 9×13 glass baking dish.

Bake for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.

Ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F before removing from the oven.

Step 6: Shred and Marinate

Once cooked, remove the chicken from the crockpot, Instant Pot, or baking dish.

Use two forks to shred the chicken while it’s still warm for easy shredding.

Return the shredded chicken to its cooking appliance, mixing it well with the sauce.

Allow it to marinate on the warm setting or back in the oven at a low temperature for an additional 20-30 minutes to let the flavors meld beautifully.