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I’ve got a new favorite WW friendly slow cooker chicken recipe to share today — Cranberry Apple Chicken in the crock pot. It is light, flavorful, and so easy to make with just a few simple ingredients.

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts simmer with tart cranberries, sweet apples, and apple juice to create a healthy slow cooker chicken dinner that’s perfect for fall or the holidays. I love that it is naturally low calorie and Weight Watchers friendly, yet hearty enough to serve with rice, mashed potatoes, or sweet potatoes for a complete meal.

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Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Chicken on dinner plate with fresh apple and cranberries on the side.
Easy, Low-Calorie Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Chicken

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Easy and hands-off – The slow cooker does all the work.
  • Light but filling – Each serving is under 200 calories and WW friendly.
  • Naturally festive – The apples and cranberries make this perfect for fall and holiday gatherings.
  • Family-friendly – The sweet and tangy flavors appeal to kids and adults alike.
  • Flexible – Works with chicken breasts or thighs, fresh or frozen cranberries, and even different types of apples.
Slow Cooker with two apples and bowl of cranberries in front.

Recipe Ingredients

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts – About 5 ounces each. Boneless thighs also work well if you prefer dark meat.
  • Fresh or frozen cranberries – Add tartness and beautiful color.
  • Green apple – I use Granny Smith, but any apple you have on hand will do.
  • Brown sugar – Balances the tart fruit; swap in your favorite non-calorie sweetener if you prefer.
  • Unsweetened apple juice or cider – I love cider when it’s available for extra depth of flavor.
  • Minute tapioca (affiliate link) – A classic slow cooker thickener you’ll find in the baking aisle.
  • Salt and pepper – To season the chicken and bring all the flavors together.

How Many Calories and WW Points in Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Chicken?

According to my calculations, each serving has:

  • Calories: 190
  • WW Points: To see your Points for this recipe, track it in the WW app.
    (You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
  • Old Plan: 4 PointsPlus

How to make Easy Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Chicken, Step-by-Step

Step 1: Prepare the chicken

Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper and place them in a 4-quart slow cooker (affiliate link).

Step 2: Add the fruit

Sprinkle the cranberries and apples evenly over the chicken.

Step 3: Mix the sauce

In a medium bowl, stir together the brown sugar, apple juice (or cider), and tapioca. Pour this mixture over the chicken and fruit.

Step 4: Cook low and slow

Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through.

Step 5: Serve and enjoy

Plate the chicken with a spoonful of the fruit and sauce, then enjoy hot.

Variations

  • Make it savory – Replace the brown sugar with Dijon mustard for a tangier twist.
  • Holiday style – Add a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg for a cozy Thanksgiving-style flavor.
  • Lower sugar – Use a sugar substitute to cut down on points.
  • Different apples – Try Honeycrisp for sweetness or Pink Lady for a balance of tart and sweet.
skillet roasted brussels sprouts with crumbled bacon oval white dish from above
WW Friendly Skillet Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Serving Suggestions

This slow cooker cranberry apple chicken is light, flavorful, and pairs well with simple sides:

If you’ve made low fat Cranberry Apple Chicken, 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.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Chicken - 4 Weight Watchers SmartPoints
3.85 from 64 votes

WW Friendly Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Chicken

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts simmered with cranberries, apple and apple juice until tender. This simple and delicious slow cooker recipe has just 2 WW Points!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 6 hours
Total: 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 6
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Ingredients 

  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 5 ounces each)
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1 green apple, peeled, cored and sliced
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 cup unsweetened apple juice or cider
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons minute tapioca (affiliate link)

Instructions 

  • Ideal slow cooker size: 4-Quart.
  • Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper and place in the slow cooker. Sprinkle with cranberries and apples.
  • In a medium bowl, stir together the brown sugar, apple juice and tapioca and pour over the chicken and fruit.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is tender.

Notes

Serving size: 1/6th recipe
WW Points: 2
Check the WW Points for this recipe and track it in the WW app.
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
4 PointsPlus (Old plan)
Variations
  • Make it savory – Replace the brown sugar with Dijon mustard for a tangier twist.
  • Holiday style – Add a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg for a cozy Thanksgiving-style flavor.
  • Lower sugar – Use a sugar substitute to cut down on points.
  • Different apples – Try Honeycrisp for sweetness or Pink Lady for a balance of tart and sweet.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/6th recipe, Calories: 190kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 91mg, Sodium: 167mg, Potassium: 615mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 69IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 15mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @simplenourishedliving or tag #simplenourishedliving!

Source: Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly Revised & Updated: 600 Healthy, Low-Fat Recipes For Your Slow Cooker

More Easy WW Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes You’ll Love

If you enjoyed this Cranberry Apple Chicken, you might also like some of my other WW-friendly chicken favorites:

Ready for More Easy WW-Friendly Meals?

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About Martha McKinnon

Weight Watchers Lifetime Member, Yoga Practitioner and Blogger who loves to share her passion for trying to create a happy, healthy, balanced life in what often feels like an overwhelming out of control world.

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3.85 from 64 votes (58 ratings without comment)

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30 Comments

  1. I made this on Sunday using fresh cranberries and a Granny Smith apple. It was WAY too tart with only 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. If I make it again, I will use a sweeter apple and brown sugar
    Splenda and maybe Craisins/

    1. Hi Bonnie, Thanks for taking the time to let me know. I hope you enjoy this with your sweeter apple and brown sugar splenda. ~Martha

    1. Yes, Megan you can use chicken breast tenderloins. Because they are smaller they will cook more quickly. ~Martha

  2. 5 stars
    Hi!

    Can I use dried cranberries or “Craisins” instead of fresh cranberries? I find fresh cranberries too tart.

  3. A question: can I use dried cranberries or “Craisins” for this recipe? I find fresh cranberries to be too tart.

  4. Made this for Sunday dinner. We loved it. Next time I will use a sweeter apple such as a fugi. This was a little too tart for us as I used unsweetened frozen cranberries. 2nd day, the sauce was much thicker & delish!

  5. 5 stars
    This is a firm favourite in our house. I canโ€™t source fresh or frozen cranberries but found that dried (which are readily available locally) work just as well.

  6. 5 stars
    Made this last night and it was a hit! The only thing I had problems with is that the tapioca didn’t thicken the sauce, so I ended up adding cornstarch to get it a little thicker. Next time I make it, i might heat the apple juice and add the tapioca to ensure it dissolves to get a nice sauce. Can’t wait for the leftovers!