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.
How many cals per single serving?
One serving calories is what is in the nutrition area.
How big is 1 serving?
1 chicken thigh and 1/6 of the potatoes
I want to use chicken drumsticks would I still brown them and cook for the same amount of time? Also how many drum sticks can I put in?
Same amount of time for the potatoes take the same amount of time. Use the poundage the recipe calls for.
Question, do you have to cook the red potato’s prior are just cube and place in for 5 hours?
Put them in raw. Keep the lid on the entire time or they won’t cook.
If you use boneless chicken thighs how would I adjust this recipe?
Cook for the same amount of time.
Do you have to adjust the time at all if you’re using boneless skinless chicken thighs? Looks great!
You don’t, it will still take the same amount of time to cook the veggies.
Can u use russet potatoes if you cut them small?
Yes, russet potatoes will work fine.
Hi, do you think gold potatoes would work well for this? We love gold potatoes in our home and always have them on hand. Same cook time?
Yes, I interchange red and gold in many of my recipes. Will work great.
I am the worst cook on the planet… think can I use frozen chicken breasts with broth???
Hey Sarah. How are you? I was wondering if I could use boneless skinless chicken breasts in this recipe instead as I don’t like the ones with skin on and bone in..
Best regards,
Claire
Yes, but I would add a 1/2 cup to 1 cup of chicken broth for there is less juices in chicken breasts.
Hi Sarah,
I’d like to cook you recipe, unfortunately we do not have the ranch mix here in Germany in the supermarkets. When I would import it via amazon it would cost around 24 USD. Prepare the mix from scratch isn’t an option as well because the buttermilk powder is similar expensive.
Would you make the recipe with fresh ranch sauce or do you propose a different alternative?
Best regards,
Mike
Hi Micheal! You can forgo the buttermilk and just season with plenty of salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and parsley. Still will be great.