This Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff recipe offers all the beloved flavors of the classic beef dish, reimagined with tender, succulent shredded chicken. Prepared effortlessly in your Crockpot, this creamy, mushroom-infused delight, made rich with sour cream or cream cheese, is the perfect solution for a comforting, traditional weeknight meal that practically cooks itself. Say goodbye to complicated dinner preparations and hello to a fuss-free, incredibly flavorful family favorite.
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Table of Contents
What is Stroganoff?
Stroganoff, a globally celebrated dish, originates from 19th-century Russia, named after the influential Stroganov family. Traditionally, it features sautéed pieces of beef, often sirloin, tenderloin, or flank steak, served in a rich sauce based on sour cream. This hearty meal is typically presented over a bed of egg noodles or rice, creating a comforting and satisfying experience. While beef remains the conventional choice, adaptations like chicken stroganoff have gained immense popularity, offering a lighter yet equally flavorful alternative. The core essence of stroganoff lies in its creamy, savory sauce, which perfectly complements the chosen protein and carb base.
The Appeal of Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff
Embracing the convenience of a slow cooker transforms this classic dish into an incredibly easy and hands-off affair. The slow cooking process tenderizes the chicken to perfection, allowing it to absorb all the delicious flavors of the sauce, resulting in a fall-apart texture that melts in your mouth. This method is a game-changer for busy individuals and families, requiring minimal prep time in the morning to yield a warm, hearty dinner ready by evening. The blend of juicy chicken, earthy mushrooms, and a creamy, tangy sauce makes slow cooker chicken stroganoff a comforting and satisfying meal that requires little effort but delivers maximum flavor.
Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup Benefits
While canned cream of chicken soup offers convenience, opting for a homemade version provides significant advantages in terms of flavor control and nutritional value. Canned soups are often laden with excessive sodium, unhealthy fats, and artificial flavors. They frequently contain “modified food starch,” a processed thickener, along with vegetable oils and sugars that can detract from a healthy meal. By making your Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup, you have complete control over the ingredients, allowing you to reduce sodium, choose healthier fats, and avoid unwanted additives. This ensures a fresher, richer, and more authentic flavor profile for your stroganoff, making it not only delicious but also a more wholesome option for your family. However, if time is of the essence, a 15oz can can certainly be used in a pinch.
Choosing the Best Chicken for Stroganoff
The beauty of chicken stroganoff lies in its versatility, particularly when it comes to the type of chicken you can use. For this slow cooker recipe, boneless, skinless chicken breasts are an excellent choice. They cook down beautifully, becoming incredibly tender and easy to shred, perfectly absorbing the rich flavors of the stroganoff sauce. Alternatively, boneless chicken thighs can be used, offering a slightly richer flavor and even more moisture, which some prefer. Both options will maintain the same slow cooker time. For an even quicker preparation on the stovetop, especially if you’re short on time, fully cooked rotisserie chicken can be a fantastic shortcut. Simply combine the shredded rotisserie chicken with the rest of the ingredients and simmer until thoroughly heated through and the sauce has thickened to your liking. This flexibility ensures you can adapt the recipe to suit your preferences and schedule.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff
Making Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff is remarkably simple, transforming a potentially complicated dish into an effortless weeknight wonder. The minimal preparation and long, slow cooking time allow the flavors to meld beautifully, creating a deep, savory, and incredibly comforting meal. Follow these easy steps for a delicious result:
- Combine Ingredients: Begin by adding your chicken (breasts or thighs), chicken broth, cream of chicken soup (homemade or canned), paprika, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, chopped onions, and sliced mushrooms directly into your slow cooker. This initial mix forms the foundation of your rich stroganoff sauce.
- Stir and Cook: Give all the ingredients a good stir to ensure they are well combined. Place the lid on your slow cooker and let it work its magic. Cook on High for 3-4 hours or on Low for 7-8 hours. This slow cooking process tenderizes the chicken and allows the flavors to deepen and meld.
- Shred the Chicken: Once the cooking time is complete, carefully open the slow cooker. The chicken should be incredibly tender, making it easy to shred right in the pot using two forks. This creates a wonderful texture that is perfect for stroganoff.
- Finish with Creaminess: Now for the rich finishing touches! Add the cream cheese (if using) and white wine to the slow cooker. Stir continuously until the cream cheese is completely melted and smoothly incorporated into the sauce, creating a luscious, creamy consistency.
- Serve: Your delicious Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff is now ready to be served. It pairs perfectly with warm egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or your preferred side dish, offering a satisfying and hearty meal for the whole family.
Customizing Your Stroganoff: Additions and Substitutions
One of the best aspects of this Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff recipe is its adaptability. Feel free to experiment with additional ingredients or make substitutions to suit your taste preferences or what you have on hand. Here are some ideas to enhance your dish:
- Broccoli: Add fresh or frozen broccoli florets during the last 30-60 minutes of cooking for added nutrition, vibrant color, and a pleasant crunch.
- Asparagus: Thinly sliced asparagus spears can be stirred in during the final hour, bringing a delicate, earthy flavor.
- Green Beans: Fresh or frozen green beans are another excellent vegetable addition, providing a nice texture contrast.
- Cauliflower: For a low-carb option, cauliflower florets can be added, softening beautifully into the sauce.
- Snap Peas: These offer a sweet and crisp element if added towards the end of cooking.
- Spinach: Stir in a few handfuls of fresh spinach during the last 15 minutes; it will wilt down perfectly into the creamy sauce, adding nutrients without overpowering the flavor.
- Sundried Tomatoes: For a burst of intense, savory-sweet flavor, a quarter-cup of chopped sundried tomatoes can elevate the dish.
- Other Herbs: Fresh parsley or dill, stirred in just before serving, can brighten the flavor profile.
- Spicier Kick: A pinch of red pepper flakes can add a subtle warmth if you enjoy a touch of heat.
These additions not only introduce new flavors and textures but also boost the nutritional content of your chicken stroganoff, making it an even more wholesome and satisfying meal.
Cream Cheese vs. Sour Cream in Stroganoff?
The choice between cream cheese and sour cream can significantly impact the final texture and flavor of your stroganoff. While traditional beef stroganoff almost always calls for sour cream, chicken stroganoff often benefits from the addition of cream cheese, which provides a wonderfully rich, thick, and velvety sauce. Cream cheese helps to stabilize the sauce, giving it a luxurious mouthfeel and a subtle tang that complements the chicken and mushrooms beautifully. It also contributes to a smoother, less prone-to-curdling sauce. If you prefer a lighter, more classic tang, you can substitute with ½ cup of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream. However, be aware that while these alternatives will still create a delicious dish, the overall flavor profile and thickness might not be as rich or comparable to using cream cheese. Sour cream, traditionally stirred in at the end, adds a distinct tartness and creamy finish, but can sometimes curdle if added to a too-hot mixture too quickly. Cream cheese provides a more forgiving and consistently creamy result.
Wine or No Wine in Chicken Stroganoff?
The addition of dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio, to your chicken stroganoff contributes a layer of complexity and depth to the sauce, enhancing its overall flavor profile. The acidity in the wine helps to balance the richness of the cream and chicken, adding a subtle brightness that elevates the dish from good to great. However, if you prefer not to use alcohol in your cooking, or simply don’t have wine on hand, you can absolutely omit it without needing a direct substitute. The recipe will still yield a delicious and comforting meal. If you wish to introduce a similar subtle tang and depth, you could add a very small splash of white wine vinegar or lemon juice along with a bit more chicken broth, but this is entirely optional. The primary purpose of the wine is flavor enhancement, so its absence will not compromise the core deliciousness of your slow cooker chicken stroganoff.
Perfect Pairings: What to Serve with Chicken Stroganoff
Chicken Stroganoff is a hearty and flavorful dish that pairs wonderfully with a variety of sides, allowing you to create a complete and satisfying meal. The creamy, rich sauce complements both starchy and lighter vegetable accompaniments. Here are some ideal pairings:
- Egg Noodles: The most classic pairing. Wide egg noodles absorb the creamy sauce beautifully, making every bite incredibly flavorful and comforting.
- Mashed Sweet Potatoes: For a slightly sweeter, earthier alternative to traditional potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes offer a delicious contrast.
- Ranch Mashed Potatoes: Infused with ranch flavor, these mashed potatoes add an extra savory kick that perfectly complements the rich stroganoff.
- Roasted Ranch Potatoes: Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, these offer a textural contrast and a savory herby flavor.
- Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Quick to prepare and bursting with garlic flavor, these creamy potatoes are a perfect partner to the stroganoff sauce.
- Cauliflower Mash: A lighter, low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes, cauliflower mash provides a similar creamy base without the added carbohydrates.
- Steamed Green Vegetables: Simple steamed broccoli, green beans, or asparagus offer a fresh, healthy counterpoint to the rich sauce.
- Crusty Bread: Perfect for soaking up every last drop of the delicious, creamy stroganoff sauce.
Explore More Slow Cooker Recipes
If you’re a fan of the ease and convenience of slow cooker meals, you’re in luck! There’s a whole world of delicious dishes that can be prepared with minimal effort in your Crockpot. From hearty stews to flavorful entrees, slow cookers are perfect for busy days, allowing you to set it and forget it until dinner time. Dive into some of these other fantastic slow cooker recipes to expand your weeknight meal rotation:
- Slow Cooker Gumbo: A hearty, flavorful stew that simmers to perfection.
- Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs: Perfect for appetizers or a simple family dinner.
- Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice: A comforting and complete meal in one pot.
- Slow Cooker Chili Mac and Cheese: The ultimate comfort food fusion.
- Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili: A lighter, yet incredibly flavorful chili option.
- Pulled Pork Sliders: Tender, juicy pulled pork, perfect for sandwiches.
- Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup: A soothing classic, ideal for chilly days.
- Sugar-Free Apple Butter: A sweet and spicy spread, great for fall.
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip: A crowd-pleasing appetizer for any gathering.
More Delicious Chicken Dinners
Chicken is a staple in many kitchens, renowned for its versatility and ability to transform into countless delicious meals. Beyond stroganoff, there’s an array of chicken dinner ideas that are perfect for any occasion, from quick weeknight solutions to impressive weekend feasts. If you’re looking to add more chicken recipes to your culinary repertoire, explore these exciting and flavorful options:
- Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders: Spicy, crispy, and incredibly addictive, bringing the heat of the South to your plate.
- Air Fryer Spatchcock Chicken: Achieve perfectly crispy skin and juicy meat with this convenient air fryer method.
- Southern Chicken Spaghetti: A creamy, cheesy, and comforting casserole that’s a true Southern classic.
- Southern Smothered Chicken: Tender chicken cooked in a rich, savory gravy, perfect over rice or mashed potatoes.
- Crispy Ranch Chicken Wings: Flavorful wings with a delicious ranch seasoning, crispy to perfection.
- How to Grill Chicken Wings: Master the art of grilling chicken wings for smoky, tender results.
- Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken: A quick and easy way to get crispy, cheesy chicken with minimal oil.
Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff
Brandi Crawford
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Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 1 pound skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup chopped onions
- ½ cup sliced mushrooms
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup dry white wine (Optional, see notes. Pinot Grigio recommended.)
- 10 oz wide egg noodles
Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups milk (Any milk is fine. 2% used here.)
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup (Feel free to use a 15oz can if you wish)
- Add the chicken broth to a saucepan on medium-high heat. Bring to a boil.
- Combine the flour, milk, and seasonings in a separate bowl. Stir until the flour is combined and the mixture is smooth.
- Slowly add this smooth mixture to the boiling broth in the pot, whisking constantly to prevent lumps.
- Lower the heat to medium-low and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens to your desired consistency, typically about 6-10 minutes. Set aside.
Chicken Stroganoff
- In your slow cooker, combine the chicken breasts, chicken broth, prepared cream of chicken soup (homemade or canned), paprika, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, chopped onions, and sliced mushrooms.
- Stir all ingredients thoroughly to ensure even distribution. Cover the slow cooker with its lid. Cook on High for 3-4 hours or on Low for 7-8 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Once cooked, open the slow cooker and use two forks to easily shred the chicken directly in the pot.
- Add the softened cream cheese and dry white wine (if using). Stir the mixture vigorously until the cream cheese is completely melted and the sauce becomes smooth and creamy.
- Serve your comforting Chicken Stroganoff hot over a bed of wide egg noodles, mashed potatoes, or your side dish of choice. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Video
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Notes
- For the chicken, boneless, skinless chicken breasts are recommended for their tender results when shredded. You can also use boneless chicken thighs for a richer flavor; the cook time will remain consistent. If you’re using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, you can easily adapt this into a stovetop dish. Simply combine all ingredients (excluding raw chicken) and simmer until warmed through and the sauce thickens.
- Cream cheese is added for its creamy texture and to thicken the sauce, contributing a rich and tangy flavor. While it is optional, it greatly enhances the dish. If substituting, use ½ cup of plain Greek yogurt or sour cream. Please note that the taste and texture will differ slightly from using cream cheese, which provides a unique richness. Traditionally, Stroganoff often uses sour cream, so this is a valid alternative for a more classic tang.
- The dry white wine (like Pinot Grigio) adds a layer of depth and acidity to the sauce. If you prefer not to use wine, it can be entirely omitted without the need for a direct substitute. The dish will still be flavorful and delicious.
- Dijon mustard is a key component, providing a distinctive tang that balances the richness of the creamy sauce. If you are unsure about the flavor, start by adding a smaller amount and taste before adding the full tablespoon, adjusting to your personal preference. It can also be added at the end, allowing for more precise flavor adjustment.
- For meal prep, this chicken stroganoff stores well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. It reheats beautifully on the stovetop over low heat, or in the microwave. You may need to add a splash of chicken broth or milk to thin the sauce if it becomes too thick upon reheating.
- Consider adding a handful of fresh chopped herbs like chives or parsley as a garnish just before serving to add a fresh aroma and visual appeal to your finished dish.
Nutrition
Calories: 490kcal
Carbohydrates: 53g
Protein: 33g
Fat: 14g
Nutrition Data Disclaimer
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using external tools like MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information for any given recipe, it is always recommended to calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful for your dietary needs.
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