WW Recipe of the Day: Easy Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy
I got the idea for this easy slow cooker chicken and gravy from The Magical Slow Cooker, where Sarah cooked 1 pound of chicken breasts in a simple gravy for 8 to 10 hours on LOW.
I loved the idea, but realized I would need to do a little tweaking to make this slow cooker chicken and gravy work for me. And I also needed to determine the nutritional and Weight Watchers *Points realities.
How Many Calories/Points in this Slow Cooker Chicken with Gravy?
According to my calculations, each serving of the crock pot chicken and gravy (4 ounces chicken + ¼ cup gravy) has 228 calories and:
3 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
2 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
2 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
6 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!
Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy Recipe Notes
As a longtime Weight Watcher, I tend to think of gravy as "fattening." And I'd never really paid attention to how low in fat gravy mixes are.
According the the nutrition details on the gravy mix packages, I used McCormick (affiliate link), each quarter cup serving has just 20 calories, 0.5 g fat, 4 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein, *1 WW PointsPlus, *1 WW SmartPoint.
I used Campbell's Healthy Request Cream of Chicken Soup, which is lower in fat and sodium. And decided to cook 2 pounds of chicken breasts so we could have plenty of leftovers.
For those opposed to the whole "cream of chicken soup and packaged gravy" thing, you could always cook the chicken breasts in 2 cups of chicken broth until tender, shred the meat and make your own gravy right in the slow cooker, which should take about 15 minutes on HIGH. 🙂
This recipe for easy slow cooker chicken and gravy is really tasty. Served with mashed potatoes, green beans and cranberry sauce, it was a big hit. But, there's not much that makes my husband or me happier than mashed potatoes and gravy for dinner!
Tomorrow night, I'll use the leftovers to make open-faced hot chicken and gravy sandwiches. And serve them with cranberry sauce and a mixed green salad.
I love the whole cook once, eat twice concept. It makes life in the kitchen so much easier!
My 4-Quart slow cooker (affiliate link) must cook "hot" because my chicken breasts were done in way less than 8 to 10 hours.
I cooked mine on LOW for about 4 hours and then flipped the switch to WARM. If they had cooked 8 to 10 hours, I'm afraid they would have been really tough and stringy.
Already, I can see the need to invest in a programmable slow cooker (affiliate link) for those days I'm not here to flip the switch to warm manually 🙂
This easy slow cooker chicken and gravy is a real keeper for when we are wanting a comfort food fix.
How to Thicken Watery Gravy?
A few commenters have posted that their gravy turned out too thin and watery. Even with simple recipes results can vary depending on so many things including ingredients, kind of slow cooker and cooking time.
These days many producers inject chicken with a 15% or more solution of saline and water or chicken broth. The amount can be even higher if using pieces of individual quick frozen chicken.
So some chicken will result in releasing more water during cooking than others. You'll also get more water released if the chicken was still frozen, or partially frozen.
The good news is that too thin gravy is a pretty easy fix. This article from Real Simple provides great tips/techniques for thickening too thin gravy.
Enjoy!
Are You Ready To Slow Cook Yourself Slim?
If you like this lightened up slow-cooked chicken and gravy, be sure to check out my other easy, healthy Weight Watchers friendly slow cooker recipes including WW Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala, 3-Ingredient Creamy Italian Chicken, Skinny & Delicious Southwestern Slow Cooker Chicken, Lightened Up Slow Cooker Beef & Mushrooms and Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs Osso Buco
If you've made this Slow Cooked Chicken with Gravy, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Easy Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy Recipe Made Lighter
Ingredients
- 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5-6 ounces each, about 2 pounds total)
- 2 packages chicken gravy mix (I used McCormick)
- 1 can (10-¾ ounces) low-fat, low-sodium cream of chicken soup (I used Campbell's Healthy Request)
- 2 cups water
- Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Ideal slow cooker size: 4-Quart.
- Place chicken in the slow cooker.
- In a bowl, mix together the dry gravy mix, soup, water and pepper with a whisk until the gravy is as smooth as you can get it.
- Pour the gravy mixture over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on LOW for about 4 hours, until the chicken registers 165 on an instant read meat thermometer (affiliate link) stuck into the center of the breasts.
- Serve over mashed potatoes, brown rice or toast, if desired.
Recipe Notes
*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
Here's another way to make crock pot chicken and gravy:
More Weight Watchers Friendly Crock Pot Recipes
- Slow Cooker Turkey Breast with Gravy (SkinnyTaste)
- Crock Pot Beef Stew (LaaLoosh)
- Slow Cooker Sweet & Tangy Chicken (EmilyBites)
- Salisbury Steak Meatballs (SkinnyTaste)
- Slow Cooker Beef Tips & Gravy over Mashed Potatoes (MealPlanningMommies)
- Turkey Meatball Stroganoff (SkinnyTaste)
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
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Linda
I put the ingredients in the WW app and it came up with 2 points. Still the most delicious meal I’ve had in a long time. Thanks for sharing this one. ?
Martha McKinnon
Glad you liked it!
Kris g
We really liked this! I used only 1 1/2 cups water and the gravy was just right! I used instant potatoes for my family and I ate it over riced cauliflower. A keeper, thanks!
Sarah
Is there a way to measure a serving without separating ingredients after it’s done.
Say 1 heaping cup is so many points?
Martha McKinnon
Sure, Sarah, you can measure this however you like!!
Brittany
So would 1 cup equal about 2 points maybe?
Machelle Vaughan
This recipe is delicious. My family loves it. I only added a 1/2 cup of celery and chopped onions. It tastes and smells wonderful. This is a real keeper.
Cheryl
Followed your recipe to the letter. My husband and I thought it was delicious. Made a great Sunday dinner served with mashed potatoes. Turned the leftover chicken and gravy into chicken rice soup for my lunch during the week.
NANCY CARTER
For 1 to 2 people Quick and easy dinner
Roasted chicken from the grocery store
Sliced off breast of the chicken WW 0 Pts
Put chicken on 1 pt slice of bread WW 1Pt or 2 Pts if using 2 slices
1/4 c of Heinz chicken gravy WW 1 Pt. I sometimes will use 1/2 c for 2PTs
Vegetable of your choice
Martha McKinnon
Hi Nancy, thanks so much for sharing your quick and easy chicken and gravy dinner for 1 to 2 people with us! Using rotisserie chicken and jarred gravy is a wonderful busy day alternative to using the slow cooker 🙂
janet
Thank you for this super simple but delicious recipe! Made it tonight and served it with mashed potatoes,mixed veggies, and, of course, cranberry sauce. Great flavor and everyone loved it! Mine was done in 4 hours as well. This one is a keeper!
Julie
Wow - this was delicious!!! I just ate it by itself, may try leftovers with potatoes or faux mashed potatoes. Yummy!
Rebecca
Martha, your recipes have been a diet saver for me. On this recipe, do you shred the chicken before serving? The recipe doesn't call for it but the picture shows it shredded.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Rebecca, you can shred it or not. Totally your choice! Hope this helps. ~Martha
Jennifer
5 stars! I loved how easy it was and how tasty! I paired with half cup rice for 3 points and steamed veggies! Fabulous 4 point dinner! Thanks so much for making my journey easier!
GailA
Easy and delicious. My husband loved it! Served over cauliflower rice.
Michele F Baker
This recipe was very tasty! I am just confused about the freestyle points. I figured what was posted with the recipe on the WW app and it came up to 3 fs points not the 1 fs point that was listed.
Thanks,
Michele
Sarah
Maybe it's the kind of cream of chicken soup you used. Did you get 98% fat free?
Sarah
I've made this recipe 3 times in the last 3 weeks. We have eaten it over mashed potatoes, egg noodles, and toast. Tomorrow I'll be eating the leftovers with cauliflower rice for a low-point lunch. It's great to have a simple dish that the whole family loves!
Kristina Gordon
ABSOLUTELY delicious, and very family friendly recipe!
Lisa Evans
Love this recipe. I have made it many times. I add chopped celery and carrots and a bag of cauliflower rice. It is very delicious.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Lisa, love your additions of celery, carrots and cauliflower rice. Thanks for sharing! ~Martha
Christine @ myblissfulmess
Very simple and very yummy. It makes for a delicious easy weeknight meal. I served it over mashed potatoes and a side of green beans. It would be good over toasted bread for an open faced sandwich, or over rice.
Liz capizano
Do you think this would work with a can of chicken broth instead of cream of chicken soup? My husband does not care for cream soups of any kind!
Martha McKinnon
Hi Liz, I think chicken broth would make it too runny and not very "gravy" like. It might work if whisked tother with a couple tablespoons of flour to act as a thickener, but I haven't tried it so make no guarantees about how it will turn out 🙂 I also often use instant granulated tapioca as a thickener when cooking with the crockpot. Hope this helps. ~Martha
Leann Hillmer
I fund this just too bland. And tought. I made it in a 4 qt. slow cooker with two pounds of chicken breast. At 4 hours n low, they were not done,so continued to c9ook abother two hours. Is this what made the chicken string and tough. Now I am stuck with stringy chicken. It is not the recipes fault, but what makes chicken in the crock pot stringy? This doesn't haen when I saute a chicken cutlet or breast or smaller pieces of chicken. It is almost unchewably tough. Can you help?
Martha McKinnon
Hi Leann, In my experience overcooking can lead to tough, stringy chicken breasts. This is less of an issue with chicken thighs because they contain more fat. To avoid waste, I would shred and/or chop up the chicken to use in tacos, burritos, chicken salad, sliders, etc. Hope this helps. ~Martha
Grace
Made this with thick pork chops, thought I had pulled chicken breast out of freezer, added an envelope of ranch dressing, used mashed potatoes for side dish, was delicious, on green plan, really thought would be more points...thank you
Elizabeth Reid
I used Turkey Gravy as I couldn't find the chicken gravy and used cream of mushroom soup because I had it on hand. Delicious