The cooking time for chicken in a slow cooker varies based on the cut and size of the chicken and the heat setting:
- For a whole chicken of about 2-3.5 lbs, cook 3 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low.
- For a larger whole chicken of 3.5-5 lbs, cook 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.
- For boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cook about 2.5-3.5 hours on low.
- Bone-in chicken breasts take approximately 4 hours on low.
- Boneless chicken thighs cook in about 2 hours on low; bone-in thighs about 3 hours.
- When cooking chicken breasts with sauces or in larger quantities, 3-4 hours on high or 7-8 hours on low is common.
- Chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F for safety.
Using liquid in the slow cooker helps keep the chicken juicy, and placing the chicken on a trivet or foil ring above the liquid can prevent sogginess. Always check the doneness with a meat thermometer for best results.
