Crock Pot Dressing {Farmhouse Style}

Seasoned bread cubes, cream of chicken soup and canned chicken are the base of this delicious Crock Pot Dressing recipe. 

Easy to make in the slow cooker and more convenient for busy holiday meals this traditional dressing is flavorful!

If you like this recipe you may also enjoy our Crock Pot Chicken Cordon Bleu.

Crock Pot Dressing Recipe

This Farmhouse crockpot chicken and dressing is simple, delicious and has a hearty meat flavor.  A can of chicken adds a heartiness that you crave and a fuller flavor. This is the perfect side dish for a special meal!

Just like my Grandma’s Dressing that’s made in the oven our dressing recipes stand out with herbs and spices mixed into dried bread cubes. Cream of chicken soup gives this easy crock pot recipe a smooth and creamy flavor. And the chicken is what makes you crave more of this premium homemade dressing.

My mother in law shared this easy crock pot dressing recipe and told me it’s one of her favorites.   After making it I can see why.  The chicken adds a heartiness that makes this dressing stand out over other recipes that I’ve eaten.

For a southern favorite check out our Old-Fashioned Cornbread Dressing that is also delicious!

More of a side for a classic holiday meal than our Chicken and Stuffing Casserole which makes a great main dish anytime of the year, both of these are worth a try!

Easy Slow Cooker Dressing with Chicken

We typically use a can of chicken, but pre-cooked, finely shredded chicken or turkey also works well.

This dressing is easy and convenient because it was quick to mix up and dump in the crockpot.  I made one alteration to the original recipe that called for a dried loaf of bread and I purchased a package of seasoned bread cubes.  Opening a pack of breadcrumbs takes less planning and the crumbs are shelf stable for much longer than a loaf of bread.

My in-laws are turkey farmers and I’ve shared more in my Life on a Turkey Farm post and Thanksgiving Turkey Comes From Family Farms post.  We usually get some canned chicken and canned turkey for Christmas which makes great shredded meat sandwiches.  So I used a can of chicken that I had on hand.  This is a great example of knowing several of the families behind the food we eat – whether buy a can of meat at Walmart or get it right from a family that raises it there are people behind our food.

Ingredients Needed:

• Can of Chicken – a can of turkey is equal and very interchangeable.
• Dried Bread Cubes – we like the herb seasoned cubes, but slices of bread can be used too.
• Cream of Chicken Soup – creates the rich, creamy flavor and helps tie everything together.
• Eggs – help add structure and a deeper, premium flavor.
• Butter – because it makes everything better.
• Chicken Broth – helps soften the bread and better distribute the herbs and spices throughout the dish.
• Onion – adds a nice depth of flavor and when finely chopped is not a prominent flavor.
• Celery – adds a nice crunch and helps keep some structure as the dressing cooks.
• Sugar – gives a hint of sweetness.
• Sage – a classic Thanksgiving herb, we use dried sage because it’s easier.
• Salt
• Pepper

Day Old Bread vs. Seasoned Bread Cubes

Using day old bread that is slightly stale is a great way to use up bread that is going bad, but there are several more steps involved to get equal flavor.Fresh bread that has not dried over night may become soggy.

I prefer the ease and convenience of seasoned cubed stuffing. There are different varieties so you can chose your favorite type!

Can You Use Leftover Chicken?

Cooked chicken or leftover chicken can be added to this dressing, but we prefer a can.

Canned chicken is tender, shreds up more finely and is easier to evenly distribute throughout the entire dish.

Cooked chicken is more likely to dry out. It is also tricky to shred evenly meaning that some bites may have a chunk of chicken and some may not have any.

Can This Recipe Be Made Without Meat?

The main flavor in this crock pot dressing recipe comes from the chicken, cream of chicken soup and seasoned bread crumbs. 

While the meat can be removed from the recipe, know that the flavor of the dish will not be as dynamic.

Why Is Dressing Runny?

Dressing can be runny if there’s too much liquid, it hasn’t cooked long enough or bread that is too fresh was used.

If dressing is runny try cooking on low a little longer and stir often. 

Fresh bread will get soggy and not provide the same structure as toasted, lightly dried or day old bread. I like to use a bag of seasoned bread crumbs to avoid this issue.

How To Prevent Dressing From Burning?

Stir often and use a crock pot liner to help prevent the dressing from burning in the crock pot.

The corners where the sides of the crock meet the bottom are the first spots to burn. A liner will help give a little bit more space and a bit of a buffer to help slow down the burning.

Step By Step Instructions

Add bread cubes to a large mixing bowl.

Drain meat and pour into bowl. Use a fork to fluff and separate the pieces of meat.

Then use the fork to beat the eggs.

Add eggs, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth and melted butter to the bread. Stir well.

Then add the onion, celery and remaining spices.

Stir until the bread is well coated and all ingredients are mixed well.

Pour into a 5 or 6 quart slow cooker that is generously greased or has a liner.

Be sure to stir every 30 – 60 minutes.

When the edges firm up it’s time to stir again!

Cook on high for 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours.

When dressing is an evenly cooked through and reaches your desired consistency it is ready to enjoy.

How Long To Cook Dressing In a Crock Pot

While appliances vary greatly this dressing cooks in 2 1/2 – 3 1/2 hours on high in a 6 quart crock pot.

I prefer to cook on low for 5 to 6 hours and stir often as this decreases the likelihood of burning.

We travel for family gatherings and this recipe holds really well in a 6-quart slow cooker.  This crockpot dressing recipe is very moist which means it keeps well until serving time!

Is Thanksgiving Dressing the Same as Stuffing?

Dressing is traditionally made in a separate dish where stuffing is traditionally mixed up and stuffed inside of a bird to cook.

Currently the words are typically used interchangeably.

Farmhouse Side Dishes for Thanksgiving

Here are a few other classic recipes that we enjoy at Thanksgiving.  We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

• Grandma’s Farmhouse Dressing
• Twice Baked Potato Casserole
• Easy Creamy Mashed Potatoes – Farmhouse Style
• Crock Pot Loaded Red Potatoes
• Easy Cheesy Potato Casserole
• Sweet Potato Souffle
• Citrus Glazed Sweet Potato Casserole
• Farmhouse Loaded Potatoes

Originally published November 4, 2018 with pictures updated on March 24, 2023.