This Crockpot Cranberry Chicken is sweet, saucy, and sassy… just like you! With each bite, the holiday-glam flavors will make your mouth dance with joy! Just 4 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep, and dinner is done!
Prepare to be dazzled with the festive flavors of this merry crockpot cranberry chicken.
It’s so unbelievably amazing, the mere possibility of leftovers will make your heart flutter with joy!
Heather writes: "An absolutely delicious meal!!! Will be making again. And SO easy!"
With the perfect blend of sweet and savory, this cozy comfort food dish tastes just like home.
It also makes a fabulous addition to your holiday meals. The first time I experienced it was at a Christmas dinner at my Uncle and Aunt’s house… and it was love at first bite!
I personally love the simplicity of crockpot cooking, and this easy slow cooker cranberry chicken is one of our family’s favorite Slow Cooker Holiday Recipes. It ranks right up there with my Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing, Crock Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu, and Crock Pot Parmesan Garlic Chicken.
And… I’m pretty sure your family is going to LOVE it, too!
Seriously, this cranberry chicken crock pot dinner is my hubby’s most requested dish. Of all recipes we have, this is one he always goes CRAZY for!
The combination of tangy whole berry cranberries, flavor-packed dry onion soup mix, and sweet Catalina dressing, work together to create an unexpected 3 ingredient cranberry chicken sauce that is simply divine.
So do yourself a favor this week, when you create one of those unforgettable Chicken Dinner Recipes that solicits unexpected hugs and smiles galore…
Ingredients
It takes just a few simple ingredients to make the BEST crockpot cranberry chicken recipe!
First check your freezer, fridge, cupboards or pantry, then add the following to your next grocery list to make sure you’ve got everything on hand…
- Boneless Chicken Breasts – fresh or thawed if previously frozen.
- Catalina Dressing – to add a sweet and tangy flavor to your cranberry and chicken sauce.
- Cranberry Sauce – you’ll want to use the ‘Whole Berry’ variety.
- Dry Onion Soup Mix – this will balance out the sweetness, and add a deep savory flavor to the dish.
Like so many of my easy Fall Crockpot Recipes, you’ll also need a 5 – 6 quart Crockpot to prepare your crock pot cranberry chicken.
How to Make Crockpot Cranberry Chicken
It’s actually SO simple to make this slow cooker chicken cranberry.
Just grab your slow cooker, and follow these simple steps…
1. Cook your chicken in your crockpot, and then drain and discard the juices.
2. Pour the cranberry chicken sauce mixture over your chicken and continue cooking.
3. Once done, serve it up and enjoy every last delightful bite!
That’s it, so simple. Just a few simple steps, and you’ve got one of those Easy Thanksgiving Recipes and Christmas Eve Ideas for Dinner that can rival even my wildly-popular Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce!
Scroll down for the printable crockpot cranberry chicken recipe card with detailed, step-by-step instructions.
Variations – Cranberry Pork Chops
Want to change your crockpot cranberry chicken up a bit and indulge in some sweet and savory pork chops instead? Just follow these simple steps to create the most amazing 5 ingredient cranberry pork chops!
1. Use the ingredients listed below, plus a 14.5 ounce can of Chicken Broth. Then substitute 1.5 pounds of Boneless Center Cut Pork Loin Chops.
2. Pour the can of chicken broth into your Crockpot, then place the pork chops in next.
3. Cook for 3.5 hour on LOW heat before draining the juices and adding your Cranberry sauce.
4. Pour the sauce over the pork chops, and cook on LOW heat for 30 more minutes until done. Easy peasy!
Storage Tips
Leftovers of your crock pot cranberry chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can reheat the next day for another easy weeknight meal!
What To Serve With Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken
You can enjoy a taste of Thanksgiving and Christmas anytime you serve this cranberry chicken with a side of my Fluffy Mashed Potatoes, topped with either my 10 minute Chicken Gravy Recipe or 10 minute Brown Gravy from Scratch.
Then, you can make this crockpot cranberry chicken even better when you pair it with some Baked Cheesy Cauliflower, and fresh or toasted bread topped with my Homemade Garlic Butter!
Reviews
Here’s what your frugal friends are saying about this easy slow cooker cranberry chicken recipe…
Vickey writes: “Came out great! Easy and tasty.”
Naomi writes: “Yummy chicken dish and so easy. I made stove top dressing to go with this. Mmm mmm good”
Jana writes: “Yummy! Family really liked this.”
Bev writes: “This recipe is always a hit with our family. We give it 5 stars for sure.” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shaw writes: “Very delicious. Served with mashed potatoes and it was a huge hit with everyone I’ve ever made it for.”
Marsha writes: “Made this one several times. Great recipe!!”
Linda writes: “This was absolutely delicious!”
Marlene writes: “Made this in the crockpot today. It was amazingly very good. The sauce was great with my mashed potatoes. Will absolutely make again.”
Patti writes: “Nice easy weeknight meal. I served it with jasmine rice and green beans for the side. It was a hit.”
Tabitha writes: “It’s always delish! We usually serve it with couscous.”
Margi writes: “We did it with rice. Everyone really liked it.”
Sandy writes: “It is so good! I take it out of the crockpot and brown the top of the chicken under the broiler for a few minutes. Great served over a bed of rice using the sauce spooned over the chicken with a simple green salad!”
Ashley writes: “I made this in the oven for dinner tonight and it was great! Everyone really liked it.”
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Did You Enjoy This Recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leave a comment & review below!
Crockpot Cranberry Chicken
Doubling Recipe Tip
If doubling or tripling recipe with buttons below, ingredient notes found after comma will not adjust. Increase ingredients as needed.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, fresh or thawed
- 14 ounces Ocean Spray Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce, (1 can)
- 1 ounce Dry Onion Soup, (1 packet)
- 8 ounces Kraft Catalina Dressing, (Russian Dressing can be substituted)
Instructions
- Gather your crockpot cranberry chicken ingredients.
- Cook chicken in Crockpot on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6 hours (covered).
- After 3 hours on HIGH or 6 hours on LOW, drain juices from crockpot.
- Mix together Catalina Dressing, Cranberry Sauce and Dry Onion Soup Mix.
- Pour mixture over chicken, and cook on HIGH for 30 more minutes (covered), or until done.
Notes
- How To Store: Your slow cooker cranberry chicken leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can reheat the next day for another easy weeknight meal!
- FAQ’s: For answers to Frequently Asked Questions or tips for common substitutions and variations, please refer to the detailed information above this recipe card.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!
I’m totally not getting the instructions. It says cook the chicken first for a few hours, drain the liquids, and then pour the sauce later and cook for additional 30 minutes. Am I reading it wrong. For the first step what goes in with the chicken.
Hi Marie ~ you won’t need to add anything else with the chicken. The chicken will end up cooking in its own juices that it releases. Those are the juices that you will drain later, before adding the sauce. Hope that helps! 🙂
Looks so good! Going to make this soon.
You are in for a treat Diane! It’s one amazing chicken dinner!!
Sweet, tangy and perfectly juicy, this easy cranberry chicken was a hit with the FAM. This recipe will go on our monthly dinner menu plan.
I am so glad you all liked the recipe. It’s also one of my husband’s favorites!
Sunday dinner – family really liked.
I am so glad to hear that Sandy. Thank you for letting me know and I hope you have a beautiful week!
Ohhhh! I LOVE the pairing of the cranberry jelly with the Catalina dressing! Such a great flavor profile! I ended up cubing the chicken so I could put this in tacos, wraps and on grain bowls! We absolutely loved this!
I totally agree Lori. Those two flavors go so marvelously together. And I love how you decided to serve it up. So yum!!
Can I make this with chicken tenders in the crockpot? How long on high or low? This REALLY sounds delicious, and I can’t wait to make it! If I used 12 tenders, would I need to double the recipe?
I haven’t personally tried making it with chicken tenders. To start, I would suggest still using about 3lbs of chicken. I would also expect your cook time would be less, using smaller pieces of chicken. So be sure to monitor your chicken closely to make sure you don’t overcook it. You can always use a meat thermometer to verify if your chicken is done at 165 degrees.
If you do end up making this recipe using chicken tenders, please let me know how it turns out. ~ Heidi
Ed you have to add water to the soup mix or just mix it dry with the dressing and cranberry sauce?
Hi Denise – you will just add in the dry soup mix without the water. Hope that helps!
I really loved the Crockpot Cranberry chicken. It was delicious. I paired it with steamed broccoli.It was so simple to make.
I’m so glad to hear you loved it, Sonya… and steamed broccoli sounds like the perfect side dish! 🙂