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.
Could it be done with chicken tenderloins instead of thighs? How long would you cook it for?
4 hours on high should work fine. Check your potatoes, those take the longest time.
That looks really good I would love to make it for me and my husband
Hello again. My wife and I want to thank you for this recipe. We are having fun modifying it. My wife found boneless, skinless chicken thighs and got several packages. My son got a potful a couple of days ago. Him and his fiancee loved it. I made another batch last night, overnight. In addition to the baby carrots, we added 1 lb. mushrooms, 1 can baby corn, a chopped up red pepper, and instead of the Ranch mix, we used a small jar of chicken gravy. Also had to cut cooking time to 4-1/2 hrs. Chicken hit 200 F. and potatoes were getting mushy. Gravy didn’t work too good, too much liquid. But it was still great. We’re planning to try different veggies next time.
Hi. My wife is out right now getting the ingredients for this. It looks like we’ll be doubling this recipe. She said 1 package of thighs is a little over 3 lbs and only 6 pcs. Need enough for the family. Do I need to increase cooking time for a double recipe?
Also, just to double check…no extra liquid in the slowcooker?
Thanks
Hi! You may need to cook for about an hour longer. No liquid needed if you use chicken with the skin on.
Hi again. Looks like this is going to be a 2 parter. I just finished trimming and frying the thighs just now. 12 thighs, 7-1/2 lbs. Too late to cook now, so my wife will clean the red potatoes tonight and tomorrow morning throw everything together. (Hope it all fits in my 8 Qt.) Including 1 Lb. of baby carrots and my secret ingredient. ( Tell you if it works.)
Fantastic !! Everyone loved it. 6 hrs. was perfect. Lets see…2-1/2 lbs potatoes, 1 lb baby carrots, 1 large sauted onion, 12 chicken thighs, and diced bacon sprinkled on each thigh. Just fit my 8 Qt. Now wife is talking about adding mushrooms.
A keeper for sure. Thanks for the recipe.
Do I need extra liquid if I use skinless chicken?
Yes, for sure need to add some liquid.
How would u cook in an instant pot
I love the concept of this recipe (chicken and potatoes in the crockpot), but I have to say it was quite under seasoned, however I will make this again, I will just do my own thing with the seasonings. Thanks for sharing.
This was delicious!!! I’ve dusted off my crock pot & have used many of your recipes already. Thank you!!
Can you add green beans to it? What about adding bacon as well?
I would like to know if you can cook this on low?
Yes, I would do 7-8 hours on low.
I have made this a couple of times and it is delicious. I have added while mushrooms and carrots to it. Very easy