Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Chicken
19 Comments Jun 16, 2023
Updated Jun 03, 2025
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This Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Chicken is sweet, tangy, and full of rich flavor thanks to a simple marinade that cooks right into the meat. It takes just minutes to prep and makes a great weeknight dinner
If you love dump-and-go recipes, try this 3-ingredient brown sugar chicken. This unique recipe is my family’s favorite and makes you look forward to chicken again in the crockpot.
Key Ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients Brown Sugar Chicken. The full recipe is in the recipe card below the images.
- Italian dressing – Adds tang, herbs, and just the right amount of acidity
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts – Stay tender and soak up all the flavor
- Light brown sugar – Adds sweetness and helps create a rich, caramelized glaze
Cook’s Notes
Dressing Swap: If you want to use dry Italian dressing mix, follow the directions on the packet (with vinegar and water) then use the amount of dressing in the recipe.
Thighs: You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts.
Veggie Addition: If you want to add vegetables, great options are sliced onion, carrots and small diced potatoes.
How to serve
- Serve the chicken whole or shredded with the brown sugar sauce drizzled over the top.
- We love it served over steamed rice, mashed potatoes, or egg noodles. For side dishes, try crockpot mac and cheese, slow cooker collard greens, or corn on the cob.
- You can also pile the shredded chicken onto toasted buns for easy sandwiches.
Featured Comment
Made this tonight with 2 chicken breasts, and I also used Wishbone Italian Salad dressing. I also used 1/3 cup of brown sugar and it turned out really delicious! Thank you for this wonderfully easy recipe that makes weeknight dinners simple and tasty. Will be adding this to my meal plan rotation!
– CS
Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ⅔ cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup Newman's Own Family Style Italian dressing
Serving ideas
- Rice or mashed potatoes
Instructions
- Add the chicken breasts to the slow cooker. Add the brown sugar on top of the chicken.
- Pour over the dressing.
- Cook on low for 6 hours. Serve whole or shred.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
Try cozy favorites like Chicken Biscuit Casserole, Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti, or ultra-easy Slow Cooker Chicken Breast. Want a complete meal that feeds a crowd? Try my Slow Cooker Whole Chicken.
For something bold, go with Mississippi Chicken or Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken. Craving something rich and comforting? Slow Cooker Butter Chicken hits the spot.
Really yummy! Thank you for sharing! So good my boys ate it up in no time! Super easy too!
The first time I made it exactly as recipe and it was wonderful! The next time, I didn’t have any Italian salad dressing but I did have a pack of Good Seasons Italian mix. I made it with olive oil and red wine vinegar and used that. I never even got more than one bite! It was devoured by my teens! They mixed it with the single servings of cooked rice.
If I use chicken thighs instead of breast, should I still follow the cooking time in the recipe?
Yes, it will work well.
I made it. It was delicious. I thickened the sauce with a cornstarch slurry.
If I bake the brown sugar chicken what setting and for how long
You may want to follow a reicpe like this for a baked version: https://diethood.com/garlic-brown-sugar-baked-chicken/
Making this tomorrow, can this be cooked on high and if so for how long?
3.5 – 4 hours should be just right.
Yummy! Made this with four boneless thighs because it is just my husband and me. Used 1/4 cup sugar and a package of dry Italian dressing. Used only 1/4 cup each of vinegar and water. I will be making this again. Although I served it with mashed Yukon Golds, I will try rice next time.
Can the Italian dressing be substituted with chicken broth/stock?
Yes, though it will have less flavor to it.
Made this tonight with 2 chicken breasts, and I also used Wishbone Italian Salad dressing. I also used 1/3 cup of brown sugar and it turned out really delicious! Thank you for this wonderfully easy recipe that makes weeknight dinners simple and tasty. Will be adding this to my meal plan rotation!
I made this today using chicken thighs.. It was delicious!! The Newman’s Italian dressing is the key and the brown sugar made it!
I served it over mash potatoes and honey glazed carrots. I will definately make it again!!
excellant and so easy yo make.