Turn ordinary chicken breasts into a delicious meal with this zesty Italian chicken with gravy recipe. If there is one thing everyone can agree on, it’s no more boring chicken dinner recipes. Your family will enjoy this meal and you’ll love how easy it is to make.
Go bold with flavor with another delicious chicken recipe using store bought dressing like our Apricot Chicken or Caesar Chicken.
Why you should try Italian chicken recipes like this one
Meals like chicken cacciatore or chicken Milanese are classic, great-tasting Italian chicken dishes we all love. But this awesome recipe is unique in that it gets its Italian flavor from using zesty Italian salad dressing instead of regular Italian seasoning blend or marinara sauce. The dressing instantly adds bold flavor.
You only need a few ingredients, many of which you might already have on hand for this Italian chicken recipe. There’s virtually no prep to cooking this chicken dish.
With baby carrots and a potato medley in the pot too, this is an amazing dish all cooked in the crockpot. You’ll make homemade gravy using the cooking liquids to pour over the flavorful chicken. And making the homemade gravy only takes a few minutes.
Recipe Ingredients
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: We used 2 pounds of chicken, which can vary between 5-8 pieces depending on weight. The cooked chicken will be pulled apart yielding plenty for your family, and possibly with leftovers too.
- Fresh Veggies: Baby carrots and baby potatoes are cooked with the chicken, providing a hearty meal. The veggies will also soak up those delicious Italian flavors.
- Sauce Ingredients: I used Newman’s Own brand for the Italian dressing but you can use your favorite Italian dressing or a homemade version. That along with ginger ale and soy sauce are the base for the sauce. These savory flavors help make tender chicken and flavorful gravy.
- Cornstarch Slurry: You’ll also need cornstarch, water, and heavy cream creating the white sauce base needed for making the gravy.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – Arrange chicken breasts, carrots, and baby potatoes in the bottom of the crockpot. If your potatoes are larger in size, cut them in half or quarter them.
Step Two – Pour the Italian dressing, ginger ale, and soy sauce over the chicken breast and vegetables. Cover and cook on LOW for 7 hours.
Step Three – When the cooking time is over, remove the vegetables and place them in a pot or warm bowl and set aside. Put the chicken pieces in a bowl to shred or chunk. Pour the cooking liquid into another saucepan.
Step Four – Whisk the cornstarch and cold water together in a small bowl.
Step Five – Add the cornstarch slurry to the liquid seasoning mixture in the sauce pan.
Step Six – Whisk everything together and heat the gravy until thickened. You can add kosher salt and pepper if desired. Whisk continuously.
Step Seven – Combine the shredded chicken and veggies in the slow cooker to keep warm. Pour the gravy into a serving dish.
Step Eight – Serve the juicy chicken, potatoes, and carrots topped with gravy. Enjoy!
What to serve with this?
- You can’t go wrong with green beans or a simple green salad with cherry tomatoes and balsamic vinegar dressing.
- For even more flavor, top the chicken with dried herbs and sun dried tomatoes. And who wouldn’t love a little mozzarella cheese or parmesan cheese?
- Crusty garlic bread made from either Italian or French loaves is always a favorite.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Instead of using boneless skinless chicken breasts, you can use chicken thighs.
You can easily create more chicken by adding chicken broth or chicken stock to create more liquid.
No. To make sure the chicken is fully cooked, allow it to defrost completely before adding it to the slow cooker. You’ll want to make sure the chicken reaches the right internal temperature and it will cook faster than if you try to cook it from frozen.
Fresh basil, garlic powder, fresh garlic, fresh parsley, and olive oil make great additions to the flavor of the Italian seasoning.
You can turn this into a baked chicken recipe by using a Dutch oven.
Put any leftovers in an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to serve it again, heat it up over medium high heat until warmed throughout.
No. Since you’re cooking with liquid, you’ll need to use a baking dish or crock pot.
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Italian Chicken with Gravy
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 lb. baby carrots
- 1.5 lbs. baby potatoes
- 1 ½ cups Italian dressing (I use Newman's brand)
- 1 cup ginger ale soda
- 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
Add at the end:
- 3 Tbsp. corn starch
- 3 Tbsp. water
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Instructions:
- Add the chicken, carrots and baby potaotes to the slow cooker. If your potatoes are on the larger size, cut them in half or quarter them.
- Pour over the Italian dressing, ginger ale and soy sauce.
- Cook on low for 7 hours.
- When the cooking time is over, over a strainer, drain off all the liquid into a sauce pan.
- Whisk the cornstarch and cold water together in small bowl. Add to the cooking liquid to the sauce pan.
- Add the heavy cream also to the sauce pan. Heat the gravy until thicken, add salt and pepper if desired. Whisk continuously.
- Serve the chicken, potaotes, and carrots topped with the gravy. Enjoy.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Adapted from Dutch Oven Daddy
This recipe was easy and delicious. The gravy made it different from anything I’ve had before. I never put Italian dressing and ginger ale together, but it sure does work. Thank you!
I would like to have more gravy.
How much chicken broth?
At what stage do I add broth?
Thank you!
You can add an entire can of chicken broth at the beginning.
can you use chicken thighs?
Yes, chicken thighs will work well!
I’m looking for slow cooker recipes that I can prepare and freeze and take to my 97 year old mother who lives on her own that I can put into small containers put in her freezer and she can thaw and heat a meal for her supper in the microwave. She still does her own breakfasts and lunches on her own.
Could this be done in an instant pot with frozen chicken? All except the gravy of course.
I think so! It has plenty of liquid.
Can you make the gravy in the microwave and t I am out of propane at the moment
I think that would work fine!