The “Set It and Forget It” Chicken Recipe That Will Change Your Week!

It’s a beautiful Thursday afternoon, a perfect time to talk about making our busy lives a little bit easier. Have you ever dreamed of a week where healthy, homemade meals are completely effortless and stress-free? A week where you don’t have to panic about the “what’s for dinner” question every single night.

What if you could spend just five minutes on a Sunday to create a batch of the most tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned chicken? Imagine a versatile protein that is ready to be transformed into countless different delicious meals throughout your busy week. This, my friends, is the true magic of smart and simple meal prep.

Today, I am sharing the absolute easiest method for achieving this with these incredible Crockpot Chicken Tenderloins. This recipe is a true game-changer for anyone who wants to eat well without a lot of fuss. Get ready to simplify your life in the most delicious way possible.

The Ultimate Meal Prep Protein: Slow Cooker Chicken Tenderloins

This recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken Tenderloins is the ultimate meal prep protein. The slow cooker gently and evenly poaches the chicken until it is incredibly moist and tender, which makes it perfect for either slicing or shredding. It’s a completely foolproof method for creating a large batch of delicious, ready-to-use chicken with minimal effort.

A Perfect Easy Meal Prep Chicken for Simple Crockpot Dinner Ideas

You will find that this is the definitive easy meal prep chicken recipe. It requires almost no active time from you and results in a wonderfully versatile protein that you can use for salads, tacos, sandwiches, and so much more. This is also a cornerstone of simple crockpot dinner ideas, showcasing how the slow cooker can be used to create foundational ingredients for a whole week of meals.

Your Guide: How Long Does It Take to Cook Chicken Tenderloins in a Slow Cooker?

So you’re ready to get started, but you need to know, how long does it take to cook chicken tenderloins in a slow cooker? Because chicken tenderloins are a smaller and more tender cut of meat, they cook relatively quickly, even in a slow cooker. The best method is to cook them on the LOW setting, where they will typically be perfectly tender and cooked through in just 2.5 to 3.5 hours.

Why You’ll Love These Crockpot Chicken Tenderloins

You are going to fall in love with this recipe because it is one of the absolute easiest and most hands-off ways to cook chicken. The chicken is guaranteed to turn out incredibly moist and tender every single time, completely eliminating the risk of dry, overcooked meat. Best of all, it creates a wonderfully versatile “blank canvas” chicken that you can use to create dozens of different quick and easy meals all week long.

Nutritional Benefits

This incredibly simple recipe is a fantastic way to prepare a healthy, lean protein for your weekly meals. Chicken tenderloins are naturally very low in fat and are packed with high-quality protein, which is essential for muscle health and for keeping you feeling full and satisfied. The gentle poaching method used in the slow cooker requires no added oils or fats, making this one of the cleanest and most wholesome ways you can prepare chicken.

Full Recipe

Are you ready to discover the ultimate kitchen hack for a week of easy and healthy meals? This comprehensive guide will walk you through the incredibly simple “set it and forget it” process for making the most tender and juicy chicken tenderloins in your slow cooker. Get ready to master a foundational recipe that will make your busy life so much easier.

An incredibly easy and foolproof slow cooker recipe for the most tender and juicy chicken tenderloins. This simple “dump and go” method creates a perfectly cooked, versatile protein that is ideal for meal prep. Use this flavourful shredded or sliced chicken for a week of quick and easy salads, tacos, sandwiches, and more.

Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 3 hours (on low) | Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes | Yield: 6-8 servings | Category: Main Course, Meal Prep | Method: Slow Cooking | Cuisine: American | Diet: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Low-Carb, Keto

Essential Ingredients for Crockpot Chicken Tenderloins

This incredibly easy meal prep recipe requires just a handful of basic pantry staples.

• Chicken: 2 lbs (about 1 kg) of fresh or frozen chicken tenderloins
• Broth: 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• Seasoning:
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Ingredients Notes

A little more detail on our simple ingredients will ensure your chicken is perfectly seasoned and tender.

• The Chicken Tenderloins: Chicken tenderloins are the perfect cut for this recipe because they are naturally very tender and cook relatively quickly. You can use either fresh or frozen tenderloins for this method. If using frozen, there is no need to thaw them first, which makes this recipe even more convenient.
• The Broth: It is important to use a flavourful liquid like chicken broth to cook the chicken in. The chicken will absorb the savory flavour of the broth as it cooks, seasoning the meat from the inside out. Using a low-sodium broth allows you to have complete control over the final saltiness of your chicken.
• The Seasoning: A simple, all-purpose seasoning blend of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper is perfect for creating a versatile chicken that can be used in a wide variety of dishes. The paprika also adds a lovely, subtle color to the chicken as it cooks. You can easily customize this blend with your other favorite spices.

How to Make Flavorful Chicken Tenderloins

Let’s walk through the laughably simple “set it and forget it” process for this meal prep superstar.

• Step 1: Place Ingredients in the Slow Cooker. Arrange your fresh or frozen chicken tenderloins in a single, even layer in the bottom of your slow cooker. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle this seasoning blend evenly over the chicken.
• Step 2: Add Liquid and Cook. Pour the chicken broth over the seasoned chicken.
• Step 3: Let the Slow Cooker Work Its Magic. Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on the LOW setting for 2.5-3.5 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and very tender.
• Step 4: Shred the Chicken. Once the chicken is cooked, you can either remove it from the slow cooker to slice or chop it, or you can use two forks to easily shred it directly in the pot.
• Step 5: Use or Store. Your delicious, tender chicken is now ready to be used in your favorite recipes for the week.

Storage Options

This crockpot chicken is the ultimate meal prep recipe, and it stores beautifully. Once the chicken has been shredded or sliced and has cooled completely, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator along with a little bit of the cooking broth to keep it moist. It will stay fresh and delicious for up to 5 days, ready for you to create quick and easy meals all week long.

This cooked chicken also freezes exceptionally well. Simply portion the cooled chicken into freezer-safe zip-top bags, removing as much air as possible, and it will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Variations and Substitutions

This simple recipe creates a perfect “blank canvas” chicken that you can easily customize with different flavour profiles right in the slow cooker. For a Mexican-inspired version, you can substitute the broth with a jar of salsa and the seasoning with a packet of taco seasoning. For an Italian flavour, you could add some dried oregano and a bay leaf to the pot as it cooks. You can also easily use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs instead of tenderloins, though they may require a slightly longer cooking time.

Practical & Valuable Tips

For the most even cooking, try to arrange your chicken tenderloins in a single layer in the bottom of the slow cooker if possible. To keep the chicken as tender as possible, it is always best to use the LOW setting on your slow cooker, as the gentle heat is more forgiving. Finally, for the fastest shredding imaginable, you can remove the warm, cooked tenderloins to a bowl and use an electric hand mixer on low speed for about 15 seconds to get perfectly shredded chicken.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs instead of tenderloins? Yes, absolutely! Chicken breasts or thighs work wonderfully with this method. You will just need to adjust the cooking time slightly; breasts may take closer to 3-4 hours on low, while thighs may take 4-5 hours to become fall-apart tender.
2. Do I have to use chicken broth, or can I just use water? While you can use water, your final chicken will be much less flavourful. The chicken broth is a key ingredient that infuses the meat with a savory flavour as it cooks. If you are in a pinch, you could use water with a chicken bouillon cube dissolved in it.
3. Can I cook this recipe on the HIGH setting to make it faster? You can, but it is not the recommended method for the most tender result. If you are very short on time, you can cook the tenderloins on HIGH for about 1.5-2 hours. Just be sure to watch them closely to prevent them from becoming dry.
4. How do I know for sure when the chicken is cooked through? The chicken is done when it is very tender and easily shreds with a fork, and the meat is opaque with no pink remaining. The most reliable method is to use an instant-read meat thermometer to ensure the chicken has reached a safe internal temperature of 74°C (165°F).
5. What are the best ways to use this shredded chicken? The possibilities are truly endless! You can use it for quick tacos or quesadillas, as the protein for a chicken salad sandwich, on top of a green salad, or stirred into a simple soup or pasta dish. It’s the perfect versatile ingredient to have on hand for a week of easy meals.

Conclusion

This recipe for Crockpot Chicken Tenderloins is the ultimate secret weapon for smart and simple meal prepping. It’s a dish that proves you can create a delicious, healthy, and incredibly versatile protein with just five minutes of effort. It is a true game-changer that will save you an immense amount of time and stress during your busy weeks. This recipe for Flavorful Chicken Tenderloins is one you will use forever. If you love this easy meal prep hack, don’t forget to share it and save it to your favorite slow cooker recipes board on Pinterest!