Slow Cooker Chicken with Turkey Bacon: Easy Savory Dinner

Slow Cooker Chicken with Turkey Bacon is an easy family dinner that combines tender shredded chicken, savory turkey bacon, simple seasonings, and flavorful chicken broth. With only a handful of ingredients and about 15 minutes of preparation, this recipe works especially well when you want a satisfying meal without spending the evening in the kitchen.

The chicken breasts cook slowly in broth with turkey bacon, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. After 6 to 8 hours, the chicken becomes tender enough to shred directly in the slow cooker. A quick stir distributes the turkey bacon and seasoned broth throughout the meat.

Serve Slow Cooker Chicken with Turkey Bacon over mashed potatoes or rice, or pair it with your favorite vegetables for a simple dinner.

I enjoy recipes like this most on days when I know dinner needs to take care of itself. There is something satisfying about putting a few simple ingredients into the slow cooker in the morning and returning later to tender chicken that’s ready to shred. The turkey bacon gives the broth extra savory flavor without requiring a complicated sauce, while the garlic and onion powders keep preparation quick. I usually shred the chicken right in the cooker because that lets every small piece soak up some of the broth. Then I spoon plenty of the chicken and turkey bacon over mashed potatoes so none of that flavorful cooking liquid goes to waste.

Preparing the Chicken and Turkey Bacon

Arrange the Chicken Breasts

Start with 2 pounds of chicken breasts.

Place them in the bottom of your slow cooker, arranging them in a relatively even layer.

Keeping the chicken toward the bottom allows it to sit in the broth as it cooks.

Next, measure 1 cup diced turkey bacon.

Scatter the turkey bacon over the chicken breasts.

The pieces will cook alongside the chicken throughout the slow cooking period. As a result, their savory flavor becomes part of the cooking broth.

This straightforward preparation keeps Slow Cooker Chicken with Turkey Bacon beginner-friendly. You don’t need a long ingredient list, and you don’t need to prepare several separate components before starting the slow cooker.

Once the chicken and turkey bacon are arranged, you’re ready to add the seasonings.

Add the Simple Seasonings

Sprinkle 1 teaspoon garlic powder over the chicken.

Next, add 1 teaspoon onion powder and 1 teaspoon black pepper.

Try to distribute the seasonings evenly rather than placing everything in one spot.

Then pour 2 cups chicken broth into the slow cooker.

The broth gives the chicken plenty of moisture during the long cooking period. Meanwhile, it collects flavor from the turkey bacon and seasonings.

This savory cooking liquid also becomes useful after you shred the chicken because the shredded meat can absorb some of it.

Once everything is in place, cover the slow cooker with the lid.

At this point, your hands-on preparation is essentially finished until the chicken becomes tender.

Slow Cooking and Shredding the Chicken

Cook the Chicken Until Tender

Set the slow cooker to LOW.

Cook Slow Cooker Chicken with Turkey Bacon for 6 to 8 hours.

During this time, the chicken slowly cooks in the seasoned broth while the turkey bacon contributes additional savory flavor.

Keep the slow cooker covered during most of the cooking time. Repeatedly removing the lid releases heat and can extend the cooking process.

Near the end of the suggested cooking period, check the chicken.

It should be fully cooked and tender enough to pull apart easily.

Because slow cookers vary in size and heating strength, the exact point when the chicken becomes tender can vary.

Once it reaches that stage, you’re ready to shred it and combine everything.

Shred the Chicken in the Broth

Use two forks to pull the cooked chicken into bite-sized shreds.

You can do this directly in the slow cooker.

Alternatively, transfer the chicken to a plate, shred it with two forks, and return it to the cooking liquid.

Stir the shredded chicken with the diced turkey bacon and broth.

This step makes an important difference because it allows the flavorful liquid to coat the freshly shredded meat.

Rather than serving dry pieces of chicken separately from the broth, you get moist shredded chicken with turkey bacon distributed throughout.

Let the shredded mixture sit in the hot broth briefly while you prepare your side dishes.

Getting the Best Flavor and Texture

Keep the Chicken Moist

The broth plays an important role in Slow Cooker Chicken with Turkey Bacon.

Once you shred chicken breasts, their increased surface area allows them to pick up more of the seasoned cooking liquid.

Therefore, stir the chicken thoroughly after shredding it.

When serving, spoon a little broth over each portion instead of draining the chicken completely.

You can also adjust how much cooking liquid goes onto the plate depending on your side dish.

For example, mashed potatoes can handle a generous spoonful of savory broth. Rice can also absorb the liquid and flavor nicely.

If you’re serving the chicken with vegetables, you may prefer slightly less broth.

Either way, keeping some cooking liquid with the chicken helps maintain a moist, satisfying texture.

Adjust the Seasoning Before Serving

Once you’ve shredded and stirred the chicken, taste the finished mixture.

Chicken broth and turkey bacon can both contribute seasoning, so tasting at the end gives you the best opportunity to make adjustments.

Add extra black pepper if you prefer a stronger pepper flavor.

The garlic powder and onion powder should provide a simple savory background without overwhelming the chicken.

For the best distribution, stir Slow Cooker Chicken with Turkey Bacon one more time before serving.

That final stir helps make sure each portion contains shredded chicken, pieces of turkey bacon, and seasoned broth.

Then serve the chicken while it’s hot.

Serving and Storing Slow Cooker Chicken

Build a Complete Family Dinner

Slow Cooker Chicken with Turkey Bacon pairs easily with several familiar side dishes.

Mashed potatoes make an especially comforting option because you can spoon the chicken and savory broth directly over them.

Rice works well for the same reason. It absorbs some of the broth and turns the chicken into a hearty bowl-style meal.

For a lighter plate, serve the shredded chicken alongside vegetables.

Green beans, broccoli, carrots, peas, or mixed vegetables can all round out the meal.

You can also combine a starch and vegetable for a more substantial dinner.

With approximately six servings, the recipe works nicely for a family meal or for preparing several portions at once.

Store and Reheat the Leftovers

Allow leftover chicken and turkey bacon to cool before transferring it to covered containers.

Keep some of the cooking broth with each portion rather than storing only the shredded meat.

That extra liquid helps the chicken remain moist when reheated.

For convenient meals, divide Slow Cooker Chicken with Turkey Bacon into individual portions with rice, mashed potatoes, or vegetables.

When you’re ready to serve the leftovers, reheat them gently until hot throughout.

Stir the chicken with the broth as it warms so the moisture distributes evenly.

If necessary, add a small splash of chicken broth before reheating.

Then stir once more and serve while hot.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken breasts
• 1 cup turkey bacon, diced
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups chicken broth

Instructions

1. Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Scatter the diced turkey bacon evenly over the chicken.
3. Sprinkle the garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper over everything.
4. Pour the chicken broth into the slow cooker.
5. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, until the chicken becomes tender and fully cooked.
6. Shred the cooked chicken directly in the slow cooker using two forks.
7. Stir the shredded chicken thoroughly with the turkey bacon and flavorful cooking broth.
8. Serve hot with mashed potatoes, rice, or your favorite vegetables.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Slow Cooker Chicken with Turkey Bacon cook?

Cook the chicken on LOW for 6 to 8 hours. At the end of the cooking period, the chicken should be fully cooked and tender enough to shred easily.

Do I need to cook the turkey bacon separately?

This version adds the diced turkey bacon directly to the slow cooker with the chicken. It cooks in the broth alongside the chicken and seasonings.

Can I shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker?

Yes. Once the chicken becomes tender, use two forks to shred it directly in the cooking broth. Then stir it thoroughly with the turkey bacon.

What should I serve with slow cooker chicken?

Mashed potatoes, rice, and vegetables all pair well with this recipe. Mashed potatoes and rice work particularly well because they can absorb some of the savory cooking broth.

How can I keep the shredded chicken moist?

Keep some of the seasoned cooking broth with the shredded chicken. After shredding, stir the meat into the broth and spoon a little liquid over each serving.

Conclusion

Slow Cooker Chicken with Turkey Bacon makes a satisfying dinner from just six main ingredients.

Chicken breasts slowly cook with diced turkey bacon, chicken broth, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. After 6 to 8 hours, the chicken becomes tender enough to shred easily.

Instead of discarding the flavorful cooking liquid, stir the shredded chicken directly into the broth with the turkey bacon. This simple step distributes the savory flavors throughout every serving.

With about 15 minutes of preparation and approximately six servings, Slow Cooker Chicken with Turkey Bacon makes an uncomplicated family meal that pairs easily with mashed potatoes, rice, or vegetables.