;)
I love the simplicity of crock pot cooking, and Crockpot Cranberry Chicken is one of our family’s favorite Slow Cooker recipes!
My Aunt Jeannie shared this recipe with me years ago, and it’s absolutely delish!
It is fun & festive around the holidays, but we also enjoy it year round!
And… Heavenly Hashbrown Casserole makes an oh-so-yummy side!
What You’ll Need:
- 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 1 can Whole Berry Cranberry
- 1 pkg. Dry Onion Soup
- 8 oz. Catalina Dressing {Russian Dressing can be substituted}
What You’ll Do:
Cook chicken in crock pot on high for 3 hours {covered}.
After 3 hours, drain juices from crockpot.
Mix together catalina dressing, cranberry sauce and dry onion soup.
Pour cranberry mixture over chicken, and cook on high for 30 more minutes {covered}.
That’s it ~ now wasn’t that easy?? You could even serve with some Heavenly Hashbrown Casserole as a tasty side!
We absolutely love Crockpot Cranberry Chicken ~ give it a try, and see what you think!
So… what are some of your favorite Crock Pot Meals?
Leave a comment & share!
See Also:
More Tasty Recipes You’ll Love!
Quick, Easy & Thrifty Meal Ideas
How to Affordably Feed Hungry Teenage Boys
That sound delicious! I'm always looking for new and yummy ways to use the chicken breasts I get on sale in a slow cooker. Thank you for posting!!!
I remember you talking about this recipe, but hadn't remembered exactly how you made it, so I'm glad you shared again! I will definitely have to add this to my recipe collection! Loving all of your great recipes!
Thanks!!! I bought Catalina dressing when it was on sale, thinking I would use it in the jelly/onion soup recipe. The cranberry sauce version sounds way yummier. I can't wait to try it.
Found you through beautyandbedlam.com, and mmmm, this sounds good! I think I'll try this recipe this weekend.
Cranberries and chicken love the two together, THANKS!!! for the YUMMY!!! and EASY!!! recipe. Geri
That looks so yummy and I bet using a turkey breast would make it seem like Thanksgiving dinner!
Thanks for sharing.
Kim
This sounds YUMMY!!! I love cranberries and turkey. Never thought of cranberries and chicken, THANKS!! for the GREAT!!! recipe. Geri
Looks great! I'm always looking for good crock-pot recipes. I'm going to try this one. Thanks!
I did half crock pot n half oven, because of time. I also used skinless ckn legs. Next time will try jellied cranberries. Daughter didn’t want the whole berries. Everyone loved it. I served it over rice w/ remaining sauce. Put crushed red peppers on top for Sweet n Spicy version! Will def make again!! Very easy n yummy!! Thanks!!
Hi there,
I went to the store and couldn’t find Dry onion soup??? Is this in a packet? And where exactly would I find this?
Hi Juliene ~ yes… the dry onion soup is in a packet. Lipton is one of the brands that is often sold at the grocery store. This is often found on the soup aisle.
I hope this helps!
~ Heidi
Should I set the temp on low or high for three hours? Do you add water to the chicken or just let it sit for three hours be itself?
Hi Shauna ~ set your crock pot on high.
And… no water is needed ~ just cook the chicken in there by itself.
Later, you’ll drain the juices from the chicken and add in the sauce mixture.
Hope this helps!
~ Heidi
How can I use chicken legs and thighs in this recipe? Just got some on sale and would like to try this recipe.
Hi CC ~ I’ve used dark meat in this recipe before, however the sauce soaks into skinless meat the best. I’d just suggest removing the skin from the thighs or legs prior to cooking. I hope that tip helps!
~ Heidi
This looks like a great recipe! I love cooking in my crock pot this time of the year when things are starting to get really busy! Thank you for sharing it with us!!!
anyone know a good substitute for the dry onion soup mix? We have a milk allergy and we have a # of great recipes that call for the onion soup mix, which contains milk!
I’d love to try this!
Thanks!
Hi,
I would recommend using just dried onion that you can find in the spice aisle. My grocery store offers the fine onion powder and also onion flakes. I would suggest the flakes. Onion soup mix also has a LOT of salt, so you may want to add a dash of salt to the onion flakes.
Look for Kosher Pareve onion soup mix. Lipton makes one, Goodman’s & Osem. Lipton and Goodman’s will probably be the best choice for this recipe. There are many Kosher items that you can substitute that do not have dairy in them, just google kosher pareve items and you will find many distributors.
I can’t wait to try this…it sounds so yummy!! Quick question tho, is Russian Dressing the same/similar to Ranch Dressing? I ask because my son is allergic to anything with Ranch flavoring…weird allergy, I know…LOL We hope he outgrows it. But I would love to try this recipe!! Thank you for sharing it with us!!
Would using the cranberry jelly be good? I am stationed in Germany and not sure where to find whole cranberries.
My daughter is on Facebook and told me about this recipe. My question is I need at least 8 chicken breasts. Will the chicken cook throughly in 3 hours with this many breasts in the crockpot? Do I need more time for cooking? I’m sure I would need to double the ingredients. Right? Thank-you, Susan
Rebecca, I make my own onion soup mix. Here is the recipe. This will make more than you need. http://www.food.com/recipe/copycat-liptons-onion-soup-mix-24952
Thanks for the Onion soup mix recipe. I use that alot.
Russian dressing is not ranch, it’s a thousand island style.
Hi Susan ~ yes… you’ll want to double the ingredients of the recipe if you’re making this with 8 chicken breasts. If you have a larger crock pot {slow cooker}, the timing for cooking the chicken may be pretty similar. You’ll just need to keep an eye on it. I have a large slow cooker, and often cook 7 chicken breasts at a time in it for the same length of time.
~ Heidi
Hi Rebecca,
You could also try using onion powder, or just skip that ingredient all together. My poor hubby is allergic to onions, so we just leave this ingredient out. {although it makes it so tasty!!}
~ Heidi
Hi Nancy N ~ the Russian and Catalina dressings are more of tomato-based dressings.
They can be found with the salad dressings at your local grocery store, so I’d just check the ingredients to make sure your son isn’t allergic to anything in them.
Hope that helps!!
~ Heidi
We make this all the time! I know the ingredients sound weird together, but it really is yummy. We serve it over rice.
Hi Amber ~ Hmm… I’ve honestly never tried this with just cranberried jelly, although I’m thinking it could work as a variation. It would probably be a bit more runny, but if you give it a try, let us know how it works!
~ Heidi
Thank you Sarah and Heidi!!! That’s great to know!
Try adding half a cup of apricot or peach jam. It makes it even better! Sometimes if I don’t have the cranberries, i make it without. It is still very very yummy!
Sounds great! I made up a very easy cranberry crockpot chicken recipe just the other day! I combined 1 can jellied cranberry sauce (didn’t have any whole berry), 1/2 can frozen OJ concentrate (the small can-6oz I think), and 2 tsps ground ginger. After mixing that up really well in the crockpot, I added 4 chicken breasts and made sure they were covered in sauce. Cooked on low all day. It was so good even the picky eaters had seconds!
Linda,
I do something similar, but I add 2 tablespoons of orange peel or marmalade with it also. If I use the marmalade, I do cut back slightly on the oj concentrate. It is quite delicious!
Esther
I made MY version of this today too. :>)
Mine is SLIGHTLY easier. Since I am gone all day, I can’t do the add things later. I also do not like all the salt in the dry onion soup. So-give mine a try some time.
LAYER in order – 4 frozen chicken breasts
1 can wholeberry cranberry
1 cup barbecue sauce
1 cup catalina or russian dressing
1 large onion thickly sliced
DO NOT SITR OR MIX!!
Low for 6-8 hours. Serve over rice.
p.s. I crock pot ALL the time!
OMG!!! I made this for my family tonight and EVERYONE loved it even my one year old who is in a very picky stage right now!!! I adore your website and LOVE all the awesome tips and tricks! From one very busy mom I wholeheartedly thank you!!! I have made this recipe, the baby hair clips and hairbands as well as print out my coupons weekly, keep it coming…. I AM HOOKED!!!!
Any chance this can be made in the oven instead??
Aww ~ thanks so much for the kind words Marisa ~ you made my day!
~ Heidi
Hi Emily ~ yes… this can definitely be made in the oven! Just cook the chicken in a covered casserole dish at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or so. Drain the juices, then add the cranberry mixture, and cook uncovered for 20 minutes more. Enjoy!!
~ Heidi
I make this all the time for my family but another just as good variation is substituting the cranberry sauce for apricot preserves and keep everything else the same or add the apricot preserves with the cranberries and dried apricots. So YUMMY!!!!!
I also make it in the oven as well as the crockpot and both ways are just as delish
This sounds delicious!! I just bought whole fresh cranberries, do you think they will work in this dish?? Maybe I would need to cook them a bit first???
This was awesome!! Looking forward to having this again. Thank you for sharing!!
ok i am finally getting around to making this, after I salivated after seeing this! haha So I bought the frozen chicken breasts in a bag, should i defrost them first?
Hi Lisa ~ yes… you can defrost them first, or you can just microwave them for a few minutes to help them get started.
~ Heidi
That sounds delicious. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks so much.
This was so good! It’s hard to find a good chicken crockpot recipe that doesn’t dry the chicken out. I made it with wild rice and mashed potatoes. It was like a little Thanksgiving preview. Nice, hearty meal and so easy! Will definitely do again. I’ll be if you used turkey breast cutlets it would be good too and even more Thanksgiving-y!
Hi Petra ~ oh good… I’m so glad you liked it! You’re right ~ the turkey breast cutlets would be another yummy twist on this recipe!
~ Heidi
Going to try this for tonights dinner! Cannot wait!
I’m allergic to the dressing any substitutes recommendstions
You cook the chicken by itself in the crockpot?? Not with the sauce,correct? Wont the chicken burn on bottom?
Hi Sara ~ the juices from the chicken will keep it from burning. I like to add the sauce at the end, because then I can drain out all of the fat prior to adding the sauce.
~ Heidi
Does the chicken need to be spiced at all
Hi Sara ~ the chicken does not need to be spiced… the seasoning/sauce mix will give it plenty of flavor. Enjoy!!
~ Heidi
one of our favorite crock pot meals -Chicken Stroganoff
3 or 4 boneless/skinless chicken breast
1 family size can of cream of mushroom soup
1/2 can (soup can) of milk
1 or 2 small cans of mushrooms pieces.
chicken on the bottom of the pot, mix the soup/milk and pour over chicken, add mushrooms pieces. Let cooks 6-7hours. Chicken will shred or fall apart. (if not shred it).
Serve over egg noodles or white rice w/ garlic bread.
My kids love it.
Amy – I was going to try this original recipe for the cranberry chicken, but was looking for a recent comment to see how people liked it after trying. Glad now I kept reading… your Chicken Stroganoff sounds good!! I was going to cook portobellos tonight!
Ooh ~ sounds delicious, Amy! Thanks so much for sharing your recipe!!
~ Heidi
I make the same recipe but I also add some bacon to the crock pot for extra flavoring. I serve it with garlic mashed potatoes.