Surprise everyone with this Fall and Winter favorite Crockpot Cranberry Chicken Recipe that delivers big flavors almost effortlessly!
I love the simplicity of crockpot cooking, and this Crockpot Cranberry Chicken Recipe is one of our family’s favorite Easy Crockpot Recipes!
These Crockpot Cranberry Chicken breasts are such a simple way to capture the flavors of Fall, and are just like a cozy taste of home. Plus, slow cooker cranberry chicken can make the perfect addition to your holiday meals, too!
The combination of tangy whole berry cranberries, flavor-packed dry onion soup mix, and sweet Catalina dressing creates an unexpected sauce that is seriously addicting. Then when you serve this chicken up with a side of mashed potatoes or stuffing, it can really feel like Thanksgiving and Christmas any day of the year!
Seriously… this simple crockpot dinner is my hubby’s most requested dish! Of all recipes we have, this is one he always goes CRAZY for!
So are you ready to make some Crock Pot Cranberry Chicken with Catalina Dressing? You’ll just need these 4 easy ingredients…
Crockpot Cranberry Chicken Recipe
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How to Make Cranberry Chicken
- Cook Chicken – First, you’ll cook the chicken in your slow cooker, then drain the excess juices. This will make sure you end up with a thick and flavorful sauce, not one that had been watered down.
- Mix up Sauce – Then, you’ll mix the Cranberries, Dry Onion Soup Mix {without water}, and Catalina dressing to create a perfectly tangy, delicious sauce.
- Pour Sauce on Chicken – Finally, you’ll pour your sauce over the chicken, and cook for 30 more minutes to heat it up. Talk about EASY, right?
What Your Frugal Friends Are Saying About This Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken Recipe…
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.”
Patti writes: “Nice easy weeknight meal. I served it with jasmine rice and green beans for the side. It was a hit.”
Jenn writes: “It was a great meal to do while helping my mom and dad after an illness.”
Marsha writes: “Made this one several times. Great recipe!!”
Sandy writes: “I have been making this recipe for over 20 years. 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!”
Crockpot Cranberry Chicken Recipe!
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 packet
- 8 ounces Kraft Catalina Dressing {Russian Dressing can be substituted}
Instructions
- 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.
That’s it… now wasn’t that easy?? We absolutely love Crockpot Cranberry Chicken and I highly recommend you try adding it to your menu this week. It won’t disappoint!
What You’ll Need To Make This Crockpot Cranberry Chicken Recipe:
5 – 6 quart Crock Pot
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So have you tried this Crockpot Cranberry Chicken Recipe yet?
Share with us in the comments below!
Fonda says
Do the ingredients change if using 1.5 lb turkey thigh?
Denise says
Ed you have to add water to the soup mix or just mix it dry with the dressing and cranberry sauce?
Heidi says
Hi Denise – you will just add in the dry soup mix without the water. Hope that helps!
Sonya says
I really loved the Crockpot Cranberry chicken. It was delicious. I paired it with steamed broccoli.It was so simple to make.
Heidi says
I’m so glad to hear you loved it, Sonya… and steamed broccoli sounds like the perfect side dish! 🙂
Patricia walton says
Made this tonight. The only thing I did different was the Cannes cranberry sauce came in 14 ounces and I added it all. I also cooked it a half an hour longer after I put the sauce on it. It was so good. It’s a keeper.
Heidi says
I’m so glad you liked it, Patricia! It’s definitely a favorite around here, too… my husband LOVES this one! 🙂
Heather says
An absolutely delicious meal!!! Will be making again. And SO easy! Love your website. I use it daily!
Heidi says
Thanks so much for the sweet comment, Heather… and I’m so glad to hear you loved the Cranberry Chicken! Isn’t it so simple to make?
Heather says
So simple! And so delicious
Marla says
I finally made this but I used my homemade Cranberry Sauce and Catalina Dressing. Thank you for the idea! It was delicious!
Robin says
Made this tonite and followed the directions exactly, except I have a 6 or 8 qt crockpot, it only took 2 hours for the chicken to cook before I added the sauce…it was scrumptious!! OH MY!! Will make again, and again. My husband does not like cranberries, but he REALLY enjoyed this dish!!
Heidi says
Yay ~ so glad you liked it, Robin! It’s one of my husband’s favorite dinners! 😉
Amy Borden says
I make a version of this chicken too I love it! I don’t use the Catalina dressing. I add all ingredients to the crock pot at one time and add two tablespoons of tapioca to the mix and start it for four or six hours depending on if I put it on high or low. The tapioca thickens the sauce making it a gravy and this way I can just put it on and leave it until I get back from work or running errands.
Donna says
Thank you for the tapioca idea!
Joycli says
I’ve used this recipe for years with lite dressing in the oven. My mom got it at a Weight Watcher meeting. Glad to find the crockpot version.
Angela says
They have a recipe almost identical to this in the fix it and forget it cookbook. The difference there is you use a whole chicken and you combine all the other ingredients and pour over the chicken in the crock pot and refrigerate overnight, then cook the next day. It us very yummy! I am looking forward to seeing what the differences in taste are between the two versions.
Abby says
Any idea if this can be done on low heat? Or for how long if done that way? I need to be able to cook it for 6-7 hours due to work schedule
Heidi says
Hi Abby ~ yes… you can cook the chicken on low for 6 – 7 hours. Then just drain the juices, add the sauce, and cook for 30 more minutes, or until done. Hope that helps! 😉
Mary says
Could you cook the chicken with the sauce already on top of it? Not sure if there is a reason chicken is cooked alone. Thanks
Heidi says
Hi Mary… yes ~ you could add the sauce at the beginning, it will just be more of a watered down sauce. I prefer a nice thick sauce, so that is the reason for draining the juices and adding the sauce near the end. Hope that helps! 😉
Pat Ruhle says
Just tried this and it was easy and yummy.
Heidi says
I’m so glad you liked it, Pat! 😉
sxymamaceta says
WOW!!! This was amazing! I had thin chicken breast and cooked that in a fry pan with salt/pepper. No onion soup mix, used red onion on bottom and mixed a teaspoon of minced garlic in the cranberry/catalina, cooked on low for 3 hours. This would be great with turkey or pork as well. Thank you!
Stacey Kennedy says
I do a modified version of this.
Catalina Dressing
jellied cranberry sauce
1 bag frozen onion & pepper mix
1 can of chunk pineapples
8-10 chicken tenders – frozen.
I toss it all in the crock pot for 3 hours on high
make with a side white rice – it’s like a sweet & sour chicken dish.
Judy Golden says
I had seen the recipe on a PBS cooking show a couple of years ago but they used a boneless turkey breast but did not call for the catalina dressing, only the whole berry cranberry sauce and Lipton onion soup mix. No liquid is to be added. It makes its own gravy. You can also use chicken or a brisket. It is great to cook the turkey for Thanksgiving as it frees up the oven.
Mary @ The Mommy Job says
I love this recipe! I first tasted it when a friend brought me this meal after I gave birth to my twins. Now I make it for new parents too.
We’ve nicknamed it “Baby Chicken” – every one loves it!
Melody Finn-Kinswa says
I make something like this to put over a pork roast. You mix one can of cranberry sauce, 1 Tbsp of rosemary, 1/2 cup of italian dressing and pour over the roast and cook it in the crock-pot all day. Delish!
Cathy says
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.
Amy Frazier says
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.
Michelle says
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!
Heidi says
Ooh ~ sounds delicious, Amy! Thanks so much for sharing your recipe!!
~ Heidi 😉
Sara says
Does the chicken need to be spiced at all
Heidi says
Hi Sara ~ the chicken does not need to be spiced… the seasoning/sauce mix will give it plenty of flavor. Enjoy!!
~ Heidi
Sara says
You cook the chicken by itself in the crockpot?? Not with the sauce,correct? Wont the chicken burn on bottom?
Heidi says
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
Jessica says
Going to try this for tonights dinner! Cannot wait!
Petra says
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!
Heidi says
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
Anita J says
That sounds delicious. I can’t wait to try it. Thanks so much.
Heidi says
Hi Lisa ~ yes… you can defrost them first, or you can just microwave them for a few minutes to help them get started. 😉
~ Heidi
Lisa says
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?
Christine says
This was awesome!! Looking forward to having this again. Thank you for sharing!!
Lisa says
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???
Melissa says
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
Heidi says
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
Heidi says
Aww ~ thanks so much for the kind words Marisa ~ you made my day! 😉
~ Heidi
Emily says
Any chance this can be made in the oven instead??
Nicole says
YES! I have been making this for years. Although, I have always placed ALL of the ingredients in the slow cooker together. I set it before I went to work and the house would smell like yummy goodness when I got home.
I have made it several times in the oven @ 350° and it is equally delicious.
Served with white rice and broccoli as a mock-chinese-takeout.
Marisa Fedelin- Lopez says
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!!!!
CATEY says
p.s. I crock pot ALL the time!
CATEY says
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.
Linda says
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!
Esther says
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
Kristi says
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!
Nancy N says
Thank you Sarah and Heidi!!! That’s great to know!
Heidi says
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
Chelsea Forsythe says
We make this all the time! I know the ingredients sound weird together, but it really is yummy. We serve it over rice.
Heidi says
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
Heidi says
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
Heidi says
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
Sarah says
Russian dressing is not ranch, it’s a thousand island style.
Siobhan says
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
Anita J says
Thanks for the Onion soup mix recipe. I use that alot.
Alisa says
Yes, thank you!! I’ll be using this too!
Nancy N says
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!!
Frances Gay says
Catalina, to me is more like French, nothing like Ranch! We use Catalina as a stuffing with cream cheese to put in our celery sticks.
Erika says
My daughter is also allergic to ranch!
Carole says
Ranch dressing contains MSG. Maybe they are allergic to that. A lot of people are.
Rebecca says
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!
Kath says
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.
Kosher Maven says
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.
Sheri Euten says
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!!! 🙂
Heidi says
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
CC says
How can I use chicken legs and thighs in this recipe? Just got some on sale and would like to try this recipe.
Heidi says
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
Shauna Altman says
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?
Juliene bubeck says
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?
Heidi says
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
Ayechichacho! says
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!!
Karen says
Looks great! I'm always looking for good crock-pot recipes. I'm going to try this one. Thanks!
heartnsoulcooking says
This sounds YUMMY!!! I love cranberries and turkey. Never thought of cranberries and chicken, THANKS!! for the GREAT!!! recipe. Geri
The Real Me! says
That looks so yummy and I bet using a turkey breast would make it seem like Thanksgiving dinner!
Thanks for sharing.
Kim
heartnsoulcooking says
Cranberries and chicken love the two together, THANKS!!! for the YUMMY!!! and EASY!!! recipe. Geri
Joyful Juggler says
Found you through beautyandbedlam.com, and mmmm, this sounds good! I think I'll try this recipe this weekend.
Lisa @ akawest says
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.
Jen says
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!
I'm So Pretty says
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!!!