Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken

Sweet, tangy, and beautifully festive, this slow cooker cranberry chicken turns fork-tender and juicy, coated in a glossy cranberry sauce that bursts with holiday flavor. It’s incredibly versatile — perfect served over rice, mashed potatoes, or piled high on soft buns for a cozy seasonal sandwich.

Yield
6 servings

Ingredients

For the Chicken:
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder

For the Cranberry Sauce:
1 can (14 oz) whole berry cranberry sauce
½ cup chicken broth
¼ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon Dijon or yellow mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, finely diced (optional but delicious)
½ teaspoon dried thyme
Fresh rosemary or parsley for garnish

Optional Add-Ins:
½–1 cup whole fresh cranberries
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Splash of orange juice for brightness

Instructions

Step 1: Season the Chicken
Place chicken breasts or thighs into the slow cooker.
Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

Step 2: Mix the Cranberry Sauce
In a bowl, whisk together cranberry sauce, chicken broth, brown sugar, Worcestershire, mustard, garlic, onion, and thyme.
Pour the mixture over the chicken.
Add fresh cranberries if using.

Step 3: Slow Cook
Cover and cook on Low for 6–7 hours or High for 3–4 hours, until chicken is tender and shreds easily.

Step 4: Shred the Chicken
Remove the chicken to a cutting board and shred with two forks.
Return it to the slow cooker and coat thoroughly in the cranberry sauce.

Step 5: Serve
Serve warm and spoon extra sauce over each portion.
Garnish with chopped parsley or rosemary.

What to Serve With Cranberry Chicken

This recipe is extremely flexible — here are the best serving ideas:

🍚 Over Rice

White rice
Jasmine or basmati
Wild rice blend (beautiful holiday flavor)

🥔 With Potatoes

Creamy mashed potatoes
Roasted baby potatoes
Scalloped potatoes (incredible combination!)

🍞 On Buns (Sandwich Style)

Serve on:

Soft brioche buns
Toasted dinner rolls
Pretzel buns

Top with a little slaw or extra cranberries for a pulled-chicken sandwich.

🍝 With Pasta

Serve over egg noodles or buttered pasta for a cozy comfort-food meal.

🥗 With Veggies

Pairs great with:

Roasted Brussels sprouts
Green beans
Holiday salads
Steamed broccoli

Kitchen Tips

Chicken thighs stay juicier, but breasts work beautifully too.
Add cornstarch slurry (1 tsp cornstarch + 1 tsp water) to thicken the sauce if desired.
Orange zest, cinnamon, or cloves can add extra holiday warmth.
Leftovers freeze perfectly and reheat well.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

Calories 285, Protein 28g, Carbohydrates 28g, Fiber 1g, Net Carbohydrates 27g, Fat 6g, Saturated Fat 1g, Cholesterol 95mg, Sodium 380mg, Sugars 20g, Glycemic Index Medium