Made with boneless chicken breasts, crisp bacon, and chicken gravy mix, this Slow Cooker Chicken with Bacon Gravy is an easy, flavorful one-pot alternative to a restaurant-style meal. Rich and comforting, it’s the kind of dinner that families ask for again and again.
Serve this hearty dish with a generous scoop of mashed potatoes or rice and a green vegetable for a complete meal.
Why try this creamy bacon gravy chicken
This recipe builds on a classic slow-cooker chicken-and-gravy foundation but adds crispy bacon for smoky, savory depth. While the slow cooker won’t produce a breaded, crunchy crust like a restaurant, it excels at turning chicken tender and infusing it with a thick, creamy bacon-flavored gravy. With short prep and mostly hands-off cooking, it’s ideal for busy evenings yet delivers a comforting, restaurant-style finish.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless — cook evenly and shred easily.
- Chicken gravy mix: Two packets of dry chicken gravy mix.
- Bacon: Sliced and cooked until crisp.
- Seasonings: Ground pepper, dried thyme, and minced garlic (or garlic powder).
- Water: Used to dissolve the gravy mix.
- Heavy cream: Stirred in at the end to enrich and thicken the gravy. Light cream or half-and-half can be used if preferred.
Step-by-step directions
Step One – Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker. Season with pepper, sprinkle on the dried thyme and minced garlic, then scatter the cooked bacon over the top.
Step Two – In a small bowl whisk the two gravy mix packets with 1¼ cups of water until smooth.
Step Three – Pour the prepared gravy over the chicken, covering evenly.
Step Four – Cover and cook on HIGH for 3½ hours or on LOW for 6 hours. Avoid opening the lid while it cooks so heat and moisture stay trapped. When the time is up, shred the chicken with two forks.
Step Five – Stir in the heavy cream to enrich and slightly thicken the gravy.
Step Six – Mix gently to combine, then serve the chicken and bacon gravy over mashed potatoes, rice, egg noodles, or your preferred side. Enjoy!
How to serve
- Serve this creamy chicken and bacon gravy over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles to soak up the sauce.
- Suggested sides: green beans, roasted carrots, or a simple salad to balance the richness.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work well and will remain tender and flavorful.
The gravy will thicken during cooking. If you prefer a thicker sauce, whisk a small slurry of flour or cornstarch with water or milk and add it when you stir in the cream.
Cool and transfer leftovers to an airtight container. Refrigerate up to 4 days or freeze for longer storage. Reheat gently on the stove over medium heat.
It’s best to thaw chicken before cooking in a slow cooker to ensure even, safe cooking.
A pressure-cooker adaptation is possible. For example, cooking on high pressure for about 7 minutes (depending on thickness) worked well for others, though flavor can differ slightly from the slow-cooker method.
Slow Cooker Chicken with Bacon Gravy
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How to Video
Equipment
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Slow cooker – 3 quart or larger
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- 1 tsp. minced garlic
- 6 slices bacon, sliced and cooked
- 1.74 oz. chicken gravy dry mix (2 packets, 0.87 oz each)
- 1 1/4 cup water
- 2/3 cup heavy cream (add at the end)
Instructions
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Add the chicken to the slow cooker. Sprinkle over the pepper, thyme, garlic and bacon.
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In a small bowl whisk together the gravy mix and 1¼ cup water until smooth. Pour the gravy over the chicken.
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Cover and cook on HIGH for 3.5 hours or on LOW for 6 hours without opening the lid during cooking.
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When cooking is complete, add the heavy cream. Shred the chicken with two forks and stir gently until the chicken and gravy are combined.
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Serve over rice, mashed potatoes, or noodles.
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Enjoy!
Notes
- Store leftover chicken and gravy in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze for longer storage. Reheat gently on the stove.
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be substituted for breasts if you prefer.
Nutrition
| Carbohydrates: 7g
| Protein: 42g
| Fat: 33g
Nutrition info is an estimate. Use your own calculations if you follow a specific diet.
More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes:
Slow-cooker shredded chicken is great for meal prep. One-pot meals like chicken with potatoes and green beans or a Mississippi-style chicken are simple, satisfying options. Italian-style chicken with gravy or a fiesta chicken casserole bring bold flavors, while chicken fajitas and a whole slow-cooked chicken are excellent for variety.