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This Slow-Cooker Cheesy Mushroom Chicken is the ultimate in comfort and convenience—rich, creamy, and simple to prepare. Tender chicken is bathed in a savory mushroom sauce with garlic and a hint of white wine, topped with melty cheese for an extra indulgent touch. It’s the perfect no-fuss meal for busy days when you need something hearty and satisfying.
Crock Pot Mushroom Chicken is one of those go-to recipes that make dinnertime feel special without the stress. After years of getting dinner on the table for my busy family, I know how much we all need recipes that come together easily but still taste like you’ve been cooking for hours.
The slow cooker takes care of everything (so technically, it has been cooking for hours), giving you tender chicken smothered in a creamy, cheesy mushroom sauce. It’s a lifesaver for busy families—just toss everything in and let it cook while you focus on what matters most!
What makes this dish a favorite in my kitchen is how easily it adapts to your needs. Want a saucier dish to serve over pasta or rice? Add that second can of soup. Prefer something lighter? Stick with just one. You can customize it with your favorite cheese or even switch out the wine for chicken broth. This recipe is designed to work for you, making mealtime delicious and stress-free—just the way I like it!
Nikki’s Recipe Rundown
- Taste: Rich and savory, with tender chicken in a creamy, cheesy mushroom sauce. The garlic and white wine add depth, and the melted cheese gives a comforting, indulgent finish.
- Texture: Melt-in-your-mouth chicken with a smooth, creamy sauce. The mushrooms add a hearty bite, and the cheese on top brings a gooey, irresistible touch.
- Ease: Super simple—just toss everything in the slow cooker and let it do the work! Perfect for busy days when you need a no-fuss meal.
- Pros: Minimal prep, kid-friendly, and easily customizable with ingredients you have on hand. The slow cooker does the work, making it a perfect set-it-and-forget-it meal.
- Considerations: For a lighter dish, use less cheese or one can of soup. Swap wine for broth if needed, and check the chicken early if your slow cooker runs hot to avoid overcooking.
- Recipe Repeatability: Definitely a repeat! This is a family-friendly, easy-to-customize recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknights or any time you need a comforting meal.
Ingredients Needed for Crock Pot Mushroom Chicken
- Chicken: I like to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe, but boneless thighs work great, too, if you prefer dark meat. They stay extra juicy and tender!
- Cream of Chicken/Mushroom Soup: If you want more sauce to serve over pasta or mashed potatoes, use both cans. For a thicker, less saucy dish, you can stick to just one. I often mix and match based on what I have in the pantry.
- White Wine: This adds a nice depth of flavor, but you can easily swap it out for chicken broth if that’s what you have on hand or prefer an alcohol-free version.
- Mushrooms: Use whatever mushrooms you like! Baby Bellas, white button mushrooms, or a mix will all work beautifully. Adjust the amount to your taste—I tend to load up on them for extra heartiness.
- Cheese: Muenster melts perfectly, but feel free to use whatever cheese your family loves. Swiss or mozzarella are great options, too!
How To Make Cheesy Mushroom Chicken in the Slow Cooker
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
Step 1 | Sauté Chicken
Start by spraying your slow cooker with nonstick spray (a 5-7 quart size works best).
If you want to go an extra step for more flavor, you can brown the chicken first. Heat a skillet over medium-high, add some butter, and sear the chicken for about 3 minutes on each side.
If you have a multi-cooker with a sauté function, you can do this step right in the same pot and set it aside.
Step 2 | Add Sauce Ingredients, Chicken, and Mushrooms to Slow Cooker
Next, pour the soups, wine or chicken stock, salt, pepper, and garlic into the slow cooker, giving it a quick stir to combine everything.
Place the chicken back into the soup mixture.
Then top it off with your mushrooms. Pop the lid on and let it cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 hours, just until the chicken is fully cooked.
Step 3 | Cook and Make Cornstarch Slurry to Thicken
About 30 minutes before the chicken is done, mix up a cornstarch slurry (just combine the cornstarch with a bit of water) and stir it into the sauce to thicken it up.
Step 4 | Add Cheese, Melt, and Serve
Place the chicken back in, then top each piece with 1-2 slices of cheese. Put the lid back on and let the cheese melt over the next 30 minutes.
Once it’s all melted and gooey, switch the slow cooker to “warm” until you’re ready to serve, or serve it right away.
Recipe Tips for Cream of Mushroom Slow Cooker Chicken
- Browning the Chicken: Browning the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker adds a richer flavor and a beautiful golden color. If you’re short on time, you can skip this step and still have delicious results.
- Soup Choices: If you want more sauce to serve over pasta or mashed potatoes, use two cans of soup. For a less saucy dish, stick to just one.
- Thickening the Sauce: The cornstarch slurry helps thicken the sauce, giving it a creamy consistency. Don’t skip this step if you like your sauce a little thicker!
Variations and Substitutions for Cheesy Chicken
- Swap the Cheese: While Muenster is delicious, feel free to switch it up! Mozzarella, Swiss, provolone, or even a sharp cheddar will all work beautifully, depending on your flavor preference.
- Cream of Soup Options: Don’t have cream of chicken or mushroom soup? No problem! Cream of celery, cream of onion, or even a broccoli cheese soup can add a unique twist to the flavor.
- Add Veggies: Toss in extra veggies like sliced onions, bell peppers, or spinach to boost the nutrition. Carrots or zucchini can also be great additions for more texture and color.
- Wine Substitution: If you prefer not to use wine, replace it with equal parts chicken broth or vegetable broth. A splash of lemon juice can also brighten the flavor.
- Herb it Up: To bring more depth to the dish, add a pinch of thyme, rosemary, or Italian seasoning. Fresh herbs sprinkled on at the end are a great touch, too. Swap out Cream of Chicken for Cream of Chicken with Herbs.
- Go Tex-Mex: For a fun twist, use pepper jack cheese and stir in some diced green chiles. Top with cilantro and a squeeze of lime before serving for a Tex-Mex vibe.
- Protein Swap: Boneless chicken thighs are a great substitute for breasts if you prefer dark meat. They stay incredibly juicy in the slow cooker. You could also try this with pork chops or turkey cutlets!
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Recipe FAQs
No, browning is optional! It adds extra flavor and color, but if you’re in a rush, you can skip this step and the recipe will still turn out delicious.
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a great alternative and will be just as tender. Dark meat adds a bit more richness since it is naturally juicier.
The chicken is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and is tender enough to shred with a fork. This typically takes 2-3 hours on high or 4-6 hours on low.
Muenster is fantastic, but you can use any cheese you like! Mozzarella, Swiss, provolone, or cheddar are all great options. Just pick what your family enjoys most!
How to Store Slow Cooker Chicken
Leftovers: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or on the stove.
Reheating Tip: If reheating in the microwave, add a tablespoon of water, broth, milk or cream to keep the chicken from drying out.
Make-Ahead and Freezing Instructions for Mushroom Chicken:
- Make-Ahead: You can prep all the ingredients the night before and store them in the slow cooker insert in the fridge. Then, just pop it in the cooker in the morning, set the time, and go about your day.
- Freezing: If you’d like to make a double batch, this recipe freezes beautifully. After cooking, cool the chicken and sauce, then place in an airtight container or freezer bag. To serve, thaw overnight and reheat in the oven or slow cooker.
What to Serve with Slow Cooker Chicken and Mushrooms
- Pasta: For a hearty meal, serve the creamy chicken and sauce over egg noodles, fettuccine, or spaghetti.
- Mashed Potatoes: The rich sauce pairs perfectly with mashed potatoes, soaking up all that cheesy goodness.
- Rice: White, brown, or wild rice complements the dish, making it a great base for the creamy sauce. It’s also delicious with rice pilaf.
- Biscuits or Rolls: Fluffy biscuits or warm dinner rolls are ideal for sopping up every last bit of the delicious sauce.
- Roasted Veggies: Lighten things up with roasted asparagus, broccoli, or green beans on the side. Their crunch balances the creamy texture of the chicken.
- Steamed Vegetables: A simple side of steamed veggies like carrots, peas, or Brussels sprouts adds color and keeps the meal balanced.
- Salads: A fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette adds a crisp, refreshing contrast to the richness of the chicken. Check out all our salads to pick one for dinner tonight.
Slow Cooker Recipes
Slow Cooker Recipes make dinner a breeze on a busy day! We have plenty to choose from and are always adding new recipes!
- Crock Pot Mississippi Chicken
- Slow Cooker Tender Beef Brisket
- Spanish Bean Soup made in the Slow Cooker
- Salsa Verde Chicken
- Collard Green Soup
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Crock Pot Mushroom Chicken
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 2 – 3 pounds chicken breasts, boneless, 4 to 6 breasts
- 1 to 2 tbsp butter, (if sauteeing chicken to brown) optional
- 10.5 ounces can cream of chicken soup
- 10.5 ounces can cream of mushroom soup, optional, this will give you extra sauce- can use just one can in total *see note
- ½ cup white wine
- ½ – 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ – 1 teaspoon pepper
- ½ – 1 teaspoon garlic powder, or 2 to 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 8 to 16 ounces mushrooms, to taste
- 2 tbsp corn starch
- ¼ cup water
- 4 to 8 slices slices muenster cheese, or cheese of choice
Instructions
- Spray a 5-7 quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
- To brown chicken (this step can be skipped): Heat skillet to medium-high heat. Add in butter. Place chicken in and saute in skillet, until browned – approximately 3 minutes on each side. This can be done in a multi-pot slow cooker, if it has the feature. Remove chicken from multi-pot slow cooker if using one2 – 3 pounds chicken breasts
- Add soup to the crockpot insert, wine or chicken stock, salt, pepper, and garlic, then stir to combine. Place the chicken in the soup mixture and top with mushrooms.10.5 ounces can cream of chicken soup, 10.5 ounces can cream of mushroom soup, 1/2 cup white wine, ½ – 1 teaspoon salt, ½ – 1 teaspoon pepper, ½ – 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Place the chicken in the soup mixture and top with mushrooms.8 to 16 ounces mushrooms
- Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4-6 hours, or just until chicken is cooked through.
- 30 minutes before the chicken is done, remove the chicken and stir in cornstart slurry.¼ cup water, 2 tbsp corn starch
- Add the chicken back in and place 1 to 2 slices of cheese on each chicken breast. Return lid. Cook for 30 minutes until the cheese has melted.4 to 8 slices slices muenster cheese
- Set to warm until ready to eat or serve immediately.
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Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
©️Soulfully Made
This recipe was originally published on July 12, 2017, and was updated on Sept 26, 2024 with new step-by-step photos, recipe tips, and instructions.
Hello! This looks delicious. Can you substitute the chicken breasts with chicken legs?
I haven’t made it with drumsticks, but I bet it would be delicious. Please let me know how it turns out if you try it.
Could you do this in an instantpot?
I have not tried it in the instant pot yet.
Thanks for the great looking recipes. Everything we love. I was wondering though, is there something i can use besides the wine? I can’t wait to try this when our son comes for dinner on Saturday.
Thank you so much Ginger! You could add chicken stock or water would be fine too! I would love to hear how it turns out for you!
Thank you and i will let you know how it turns out. Thanks again.
My goodness, this sure looks delicious! Thank you for sharing with us!
Thank you! Thank you for hosting each week! I look forward to all the deliciousness!