Slow Cooker Chicken with Bacon Gravy


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Made with chicken breasts, crispy bacon, and chicken gravy mix, this Slow Cooker Chicken with Bacon Gravy is a delicious, one-pot substitute for a restaurant-style dinner. It’s packed with so much flavor, that your family is sure to request this comfort food more often.

Serve this delicious meal alongside a generous helping of Slow Cooker Sour Cream and Onion Mashed Potatoes and Slow Cooker Green Beans.

chicken with gravy with bacon with spoon in it.

Why you should try this chicken with creamy bacon gravy recipe

You may have seen my other recipe for slow cooker chicken and gravy. It has always been a great basic recipe for adding extra ingredients to, but never bacon. The idea for this recipe came to me when I had a delicious crispy breaded chicken with bacon gravy the other night at our favorite restaurant.

Although I can’t do crispy chicken in the slow cooker, I sure can do the chicken and bacon gravy! I’ve found this chicken and gravy recipe to be super easy to make, especially with minimal ingredients. The prep time is quick and the cooking time is perfect for yielding fork tender chicken. My family loved this restaurant-style rendition of smothered chicken with creamy gravy – yours will too!

Recipe Ingredients

Ingredients for chicken with bacon gravy on a table with text of what the ingredients are.
  • Chicken Breasts: Boneless skinless chicken breasts are the best option to use for this recipe both for cooking evenly and shredding easily.
  • Chicken Gravy: You’ll need two packets of chicken gravy dry mix.
  • Bacon: Sliced and cooked.
  • Seasonings: Pepper, dried thyme, and minced garlic (or garlic powder) are the only seasonings you need for an amazing taste.
  • Water: Mixed with the chicken gravy.
  • Heavy Cream: This is added at the end as a thickening agent. You can use light cream or even half and half.

Step-by-Step Directions

3 images showing how to add chicken, bacon and gravy mix into a slow cooker.

Step One – Add the chicken to the slow cooker. Sprinkle over the pepper, thyme, garlic, and cooked crispy bacon.

Step Two – In a small bowl mix together the gravy mix packet and the 1¼ cup water until smooth.

Step Three – Pour the gravy over the chicken.

3 images showing chicken being shredded, cream being added and the finished dish in the slow cooker.

Step Four – Cover and cook on HIGH for 3.5 hours or on LOW for 6 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time. When the cooking time is done, shred the chicken with 2 forks.

Step Five – Add the heavy cream.

Step Six – Give everything a good stir and serve over rice, mashed potatoes, or a side of your choice. Enjoy!

chicken in a creamy bacon gravy with a metal spoon in it.

How to serve

  • This delicious chicken and gravy can be served over a bed of rice, mashed potatoes, or egg noodles.
  • If you want to pair it with sides, I recommend green beans, roasted carrots, or a baked potato.
chicken and gravy with bacon on top of rice.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use chicken thighs in this recipe?

Yes. Just make sure they are boneless and skinless for the best results.

Will the gravy thicken by itself?

Yes. The gravy thickens during the cooking process. If you want it thicker, you can make a thickening slurry with flour and water or milk. Add the flour mixture after or with the heavy cream.

How do I store leftovers?

Place any remaining chicken and gravy in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. When ready to re-enjoy the leftovers, they can be warmed up over medium heat. This meal can also be frozen.

Can I use frozen chicken breast? If so, how much longer should I let it cook?

I don’t advise on frozen chicken for some studies suggest that it isn’t safe.

Can I cook this in an Instant Pot?

I have not personally tried it, but a reader did, and this is what she said: “I did the recipe as normal, on high pressure for 7 mins, and it came out fine! Not quite as flavourful as when done in the slow cooker but definitely a great option for when you need it in a hurry!”

Chicken, gravy, rice and broccoli on a plate.
chicken with bacon gravy in a slow cooker on a spoon.

Slow Cooker Chicken with Bacon Gravy

4.74 from 23 votes
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 55 minutes
Servings: 4
Tender chicken breasts cooked in a chicken bacon gravy.
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How to Video

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 packets, (2 PACKETS that are .87 oz. each)
  • 1 1/4 cup water
  • 2/3 cup heavy cream, ADD AT THE END

Instructions 

  • Add the chicken to the slow cooker. Sprinkle over the pepper, thyme, garlic and bacon.
  • In a small bowl mix together the gravy mix packet and the 1¼ cup water until smooth. Pour the gravy over the chicken.
  • Cover and cook on HIGH for 3.5 hours or on LOW for 6 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
  • When the cooking time is done, add the heavy cream. Shred the chicken with 2 forks and give everything a gentle stir until the gravy and the cream are mixed.
  • Serve over rice or mashed potatoes.
  • Enjoy!

Sarah’s Notes

  • Place any remaining chicken and gravy in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to re-enjoy the leftovers, they can be warmed up over medium heat. This meal can also be frozen.
  • Chicken thighs can be used instead of chicken breasts, just make sure they are boneless skinless chicken thighs.

Nutrition

Calories: 514kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 186mg | Sodium: 1056mg | Potassium: 734mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 681IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

Made this recipe? Leave a comment below!

More Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes:

Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken is perfect for meal prep or adding to your favorite recipes.
Chicken, Potatoes and Green Beans or Mississippi Chicken make easy, all-in-one comfort meals.

Italian Chicken and Gravy and Fiesta Chicken Casserole bring bold, satisfying flavors to the table.

Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas are great for a Tex-Mex night, and a Slow Cooker Whole Chicken is always a classic.

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Recipe Rating




272 Comments

  1. Gail says:

    To serve 8, double everything?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      I think that would work good.

  2. SARAH BEST says:

    Soooooooooooooo Yummy

  3. Vanessa says:

    Could you use creme fresh instead of heavy cream or natural fromage frais

  4. Kathi says:

    Only change I would make is loose the chicken gravy because of the MSG in it and substitute Healthy Request Cream of Chicken soup instead. Otherwise this is a great recipe. When you are MSG intolerant – you have no choice.

    1. Tiffany says:

      McCormick gravy mix has no MSG

  5. SARAH BEST says:

    Hello from Australia….. I have just put this recipe on it looks delish so hopefully in a few hours it will be! I added a leek and have some mushrooms to add 1/2 hour before its cooked……..

    1. Chantelle says:

      Hi, i am wanting to do this recipe , just wondering what chicken gravy mix did you use and where did you buy it from? i presume this is an american receipe? ta

  6. Gary says:

    Everything came out good. I modified step 2 to mix the gravy in a bowl rather than the suggested “box”. Lol

    Excellent meal the entire family love it.

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Good choice Gary! I changed my recipe to mixing in a bowl, instead of a box LOL. Thanks for letting me know. Too funny!

      1. Susan Wetzel says:

        I used a measurement shaker cup with lid to mix the gravy packets and water. The powdered gravy mix was lumpy otherwise.

  7. Tasha says:

    What kind of. heavy cream? I wanna make this but never used heavy cream before

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Hi Tasha. It’s near the milk and half and half at the store. It should say heavy cream or heavy whipping cream.

      1. Robin says:

        Can anything else be substituted for heavy cream?? I’m dairy free and don’t know if there’s anything else for me. . Thanks

      2. Sarah Olson says:

        how about dairy free sour cream? I think that would make it creamy.

      3. Gemma says:

        You can get lactose free heavy cream usually where other creams are in the supermarket
        That’s what I’m trying tonight

  8. Kristin says:

    Don’t like to use packets or cans of anything. Prefer all natural, made from scratch. So – once again, I’m out of here…

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      Great!

      1. LaWanda says:

        I agree wholeheartedly! We are surrounded by so much negativity and ugliness that we do not need anymore. Kristin could have commented on substitutions for the “… packets or cans or anything” or just said nothing at all. Your recipe looks delicious, and I will be trying it very soon! Many thanks.

      2. Sarah Olson says:

        Thank you Lawanda! 🙂

      3. Diana says:

        Sara, I agree whole heartedly I get really ticked off when people use these cooking/recipe sites as a platform to spew negativity just to make themselves seem healthier then most!, I’m constantly replying to there negativity and calling them out, there so self absorbed, Anyway Thankyou for the recipe I will be trying this tomorrow nite for dinner I’ll be having porkchops smothered in Mustard and breadcrumbs with baked red potatoes and asparagus tonight!!!

    2. Micki says:

      Kristin there are so many site’s that would satisfy your needs. Everything is not for everyone. Yet. The majority if us here are thankful. Regardless. So maybe once and for all. You’re out. Thank.

    3. Niki says:

      Kristin – it would have been very simple to just say something helpful to those of us who try and skip the packets…like “instead of using gravy mix I used chicken stock, seasonings and cornstarch”.

      Being helpful…novel idea. LOL

      Thanks for the recipe Sarah! I never would have thought of the chicken / bacon / cream combo for slow cooking. Yummo.

    4. Kathleen says:

      Hey, Kristin…
      I’ll bet it’s hard to take a dump with your head in the way.

  9. Susan says:

    Could I use cream of chicken soup instead of the gravy mix?

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      You could, maybe 2 cans and little to no water.

  10. Carolie says:

    This recipe looks amazing! Just a quick question – can I substitute the chicken gravy with chicken stock pots? Thank you x

    1. Sarah Olson says:

      I don’t think the results of this recipe would be the same with that modification, but it’s always fun to try your own thing with recipes, it may be great.

      1. Carolie says:

        Thank you x I will try my instant chicken gravy and will let you know the outcome. UK products are quite different.