Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes
112 CommentsUpdated Mar 20, 2026
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This slow cooker meal combines tender chicken and well-seasoned potatoes for an easy, comforting dinner with classic ranch flavor.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fall off the bone chicken
- Fork-tender ranch flavored potatoes
- Dinner will be ready when you get home
- Economical ingredients
Key Ingredients
Here’s what brings all the flavor and heartiness to this simple recipe:
- Chicken Thighs – A rich, flavorful cut that turns tender as it cooks.
- Red Potatoes – Hearty and perfect for soaking up savory juices.
- Ranch Dressing Mix – Delivers that classic herbed, tangy flavor.
- Butter – Adds richness and helps the seasoning coat everything evenly.
- Oil – Used for browning to lock in flavor before slow cooking.
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes
- Start by giving the chicken a quick sear to build flavor.
- Layer everything into the slow cooker with seasoning and butter.
- Let it slow cook until the chicken is tender and the potatoes are perfectly soft
Cook’s Tips & Variations
Want to switch it up? Italian dressing mix or Lipton onion soup mix both taste great with the chicken and potatoes.
Other vegetables you can add to the crock are green beans, baby carrots, mushrooms, and onions.
If you want to use boneless chicken, you’ll want to add a 1/2 cup of chicken broth.
Featured Comment
The best recipe I have ever done!!!!
– debbi
Slow Cooker Chicken and Potatoes
How to Video
Ingredients
- 2 ½ lbs. bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 2 Tbsp. cooking oil
- 2 lbs. red potatoes, cubed
- 1 oz. pkt. ranch dressing mix
- 3 Tbsp. salted butter, melted
Instructions
- In a large skillet set to medium-high heat, add the oil after the pan is hot. Brown the chicken thighs on both sides, no need to cook through. Set aside.
- Add the red potatoes to the slow cooker. Sprinkle over half of the ranch packet. Drizzle over the butter.
- Add the chicken thighs on top of the potatoes.
- Sprinkle over remaining dressing mix over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 5 hours without opening the lid during the cooking time.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More crockpot chicken recipes:
Chicken and Gravy, Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken, and Chicken, Potatoes and Green Beans are easy, comforting favorites. If you want a creamy chicken and potatoes meal, try my Creamy Ranch Chicken and Potatoes recipe.
Try Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Chicken, Crockpot Whole Chicken, or Crokcpot Tuscan Chicken for rich, flavorful meals with minimal prep.
Fiesta Chicken Casserole and Chicken Enchilada Casserole are bold, cheesy dishes your whole family will love.
Can you cook this in the oven and how long you think?
I wasn’t sure if your August reply re chicken breasts applied to boneless skinless or bone in split breasts. I was wondering if you would add more butter and a little liquid with split breasts, if the time is the same and if you can have two layers of chicken because the pieces are so much larger. Would a 14 oz can of broth be too much liquid?
My family goes crazy for this chicken! I made two substitutions: instead of using a ranch packet, I use a packet of dry Onion soup mix, and instead of potatoes, I put a few big handfuls of fresh green beans on the bottom. It’s a home run dinner every time- thanks so much for the recipe!
So glad to hear! Thank you for letting me know about the onion soup mix!
Could you throw the green beans in the crockpot too??
Yes! that would work great.
I would like to put it on low but don’t know for how long…any idea?
7-8 hours on low would be my best guess.
Can you use boneless skinless thighs?
Yes, I’d add a little more butter for liquid or a touch of water, since there will be no juices from the skin.
Could you use frozen chicken with this? And if so how would I need to adjust cook time?
you may need to go a little longer on the time.
This sure looks like much more than a package of ranch dressing. Would this be two ?
I only used one 🙂
can I use something other than potatoes?
you could leave them out. Sweet potatoes may be good, or green beans.
What about using frozen green beans??
Yes, those will work great.
Could this be done in an oven? How ?