This crock pot chicken thighs recipe is perfect for dinner! My Pesto Ranch Crock Pot Chicken Thighs are an easy slow cooked chicken dinner with just a few ingredients! So flavorful with minimal effort.
An Easy Crock Pot Chicken Thighs Recipe
You are in for the ultimate treat with this boneless chicken thigh recipe. The chicken comes out perfectly tender with flavorful pesto seasonings throughout. I like serving this chicken with my favorite mashed potato recipe and a little side salad.
This slow cooked chicken dish could not get simpler. You literally toss the ingredients into the crock pot or slow cooker, close the lid and forget about it for a few hours. Love that!! This is a perfect back to school, no-stress easy dinner idea that you don’t have to think about while your managing getting back on a schedule if your kids have already started school.
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What You’ll Need
- boneless skinless chicken thighs– Find chicken thighs in the meat department near the chicken breasts.
- prepared pesto– Prepared pesto is in the pasta isle of the grocery store near the sauces and pasta.
- Ranch Dressing Seasoning packet– Check down the salad dressing isle for the packets of Ranch Dressing Seasoning.
Can I Use Other Chicken Parts?
You can use chicken breast and even tenders if you’d like. Adjust cooking time accordingly.
How to Make Pesto Ranch Crock Pot Chicken Thighs Recipe
- Turn crock pot to high setting. Place chicken thighs, pesto, ranch dressing and chicken broth into crock pot. Stir gently to combine all seasonings.
- Close with lid and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
- Serve with a side of mashed potatoes and a simple salad.
Why did I use pesto in this chicken recipe? The Pesto in this recipe acts as the chicken seasoning. It gives such a great flavor.
What Are The Benefits Of Using A Slow Cooker
- Have a meal at home in the slow cooker eliminates the temptation to order take-out which is often less nutritious and more expensive.
- Slow cookers usually allow one-step preparation. Placing all the ingredients in the slow cooker saves preparation time and cuts down on cleanup.
- Slow cookers are useful throughout the year. Coming in from a cold winter day, the aroma of hot soup is welcoming. Slow cookers also work well for summertime use; they do not heat the kitchen the way an oven might.
- As a result of the long, low-temperature cooking, slow cookers help tenderize less-expensive cuts of meat.
- A slow cooker brings out the flavor in foods. A wide variety of foods can be cooked in a slow cooker, including one pot meals, soups, stews and casseroles.
- A slow cooker uses less electricity than an oven.
Spread pesto over chicken with a spoon.
The Ranch Dressing mix also acts as a major seasoning to this dish. The flavor that comes from the two is amazing. I wouldn’t skip it. Sprinkle your Ranch Seasoning Mix over top.
Pour in some chicken broth.
Give a little stir and close the lid. Kick your feet up while your crock pot does all the work 🙂
Recipe Tips For Success
- Feel free to use other chicken parts. I’ve also used chicken breast which is great too.
- Don’t leave out one of the ingredients. The Pesto with the Ranch mix gives great flavor when slow cooked!
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container. Use shredded over salad for another meal idea.
How To Serve Chicken Thighs?
- Serve with my, The Best Classic Mashed Potatoes. Match made in heaven.
- Roasted vegetables are another great pairing along with a simple green salad.
How To Store Leftovers
Store leftover chicken thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat as needed.
Crock Pot Pesto Ranch Chicken Thighs
Equipment
- Crock Pot / Slow Cooker
- measuring cups
Ingredients
- 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 6 ounce jar of pesto
- 1 package Ranch Dressing Seasoning Mix
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Turn crock pot to high setting. Place chicken thighs, pesto, ranch dressing and chicken broth into crock pot. Stir gently to combine all seasonings. Close with lid and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.
- Serve with a side of mashed potatoes and a simple salad.
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Excellent recipe! Made this for supper tonight and it was delicious! Followed recipe exactly. Wouldn’t change a thing!
So glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the feedback.
I make this ALL the time because it’s so good and easy! I also always get rave reviews when I make it for someone else. My favorite way to serve it is over short noodles like farfalle or penne. Thanks for sharing this and not keeping it a secret from everyone 😉
Thanks for sharing the amazing blog.
Really delicious recipe. I love it yummy!!! It’s really awesome
Made this for lunch, absolutely delicious! Simple and easy to bake. Husband devoured 3 so I knew he enjoyed it! Will be sharing and keeping. We are also offering online meat delivery Services. please visit: https://www.beckandbulow.com
I love this recipe! I usually serve it over quinoa. Such an easy dish for company too!
Made homade pesto. Worked well added a few more ingredients served with homemade egg noodles. Thumbs up. Tks
Have you tried making this in the instant pot?
This recipe rocks!!! It is sooo easy and sooo delicious, my family loves it!
My family LOVES this recipe! Sometimes we eat it over rice, sometimes spaghetti. So easy and so good!!!
Has anyone seared the thighs for a couple minutes first before putting into the crockpot? I like the skin to be slightly crispy. Sometimes when you make chicken in the crockpot it’s a bit slimy. I made this a while ago and it was a big hit with my family. Making it again tonight!
What is the difference in the ranch dressing powder and the dip mix? Even though I asked for ranch dressing packet my husband brought me home the dip mix. Ty
I accidentally messed up and bought bone-in skin-on chicken thighs. Will that mess anything up?
Made this dish 4 times already!!! Kids and hubby love it! Served it as tacos once and added black beans. Thanks!
It was delicious, my husband loved it. I mixed it up in a bowl then placed on top of boneless chicken thighs. (I also trimmed off all the fat with a kitchen shears)
Shredded it and served it on Cuban bread.
Next time I’ll try it over pasta.
It was delicious, my husband loved it. I mixed it up in a bowl then placed on top of boneless chicken thighs.
Shredded it and served it on Cuban bread.
Next time I’ll try it over pasta.
Hi, i like your recipe, but here in belgium, we don’t have ranch dressing mix. How can i replace it? I did find a recipe for ranch dressing, but i guess That isn’t the same.
Kind regards
Deborah
Deborah, I can answer this question. You can make your own if you can find buttermilk powder and some other dried herbs and spices (parsley, dill, garlic powder, salt, onion powder, dried minced onion, sugar, black pepper, paprika, cayenne). If you make a big batch of it you can keep it in the freezer for months. And ranch powder is SOOOOO good on just about anything! You could try substituting some ranch dressing but the added liquid may make the end product a little too soupy. Here is a recipe for ranch mix but a Google search will turn up many more: http://www.browneyedbaker.com/diy-homemade-ranch-seasoning-mix/
I hope this helps! This has become a frequent dinner dish at my house.
I have a silly question. In one of the pictures it doesn’t look like the thighs are trimmed of extra fat. I’ve always trimmed things but I hate doing it. What happens to the fat while it cooks in the crockpot? Do we just cut the fat off while we’re eating this? Thanks.
how long would i cook this if i cut the recipe in half? wouuld i cut the time in half too?or would 4 chicken thighs still cook the same amount of time? im new to cooking, i dont know how to do anything. lol
This is such a fabulously easy recipe! I served this with spaghettini tossed with garlic, sautéed red peppers and a sauce mixture of alfredo and pesto. This was a HUGE hit, my boyfriend and I argued over who would be taking the leftovers for lunch. I will definitely be making this again…
I think this is the first time I have actually ever commented on a recipe, but it was so good I just had to take a minute to do so. Incredibly easy and incredibly delicious!! My very picky husband gave rave reviews. Served with smashed garlic red potatoes and carrots with a side salad. Definitely on my make-again list.
Any subs for dry ranch – it has MSG and makes me very I’ll. thank you
I left the ranch out once and it tasted just as
Good 🙂
Just made this for myself and my very picky eater PARENTS. They loved it and I did too!
I have a lot of “juice” left from the slow cooker. Can I freeze it and use it for something later? What could I use it for??
trying tonight, is there enough ‘sauce’ to serve with noodles and coat them for like 5 servings of noodles? Or how are people preparing noodles to go with?
I just want you to know i make this recipe at least 2x per month now, after finding this. It’s so easy and delicious! I put the chicken on salads, sandwiches or just eat with rice/veggies. Thank you so much! It’s a staple for me now 🙂
this is a family favorite in our rotation. I tweaked it by adding 8 oz cream cheese to tame the pesto for my two year olds, and we serve over basmati rice.
Did you add the cream cheese with the other ingredients or at the end? Would it be good over spaghetti instead of mashed potatoes?
So salty. I couldn’t taste anything else.
Do u think I can use drumsticks instead of boneless thighs?
What is the glavour of the Ranch dressing? Cant find in South Africa. Substitute?
Tender and juicy and Soooo delicious. Family loved it:-) Made our menu from now on thanks for posting
looks good. I have the same crock pot as in picture.
Just made this and it is YUMMY!! The chickenis so tender and tasteful