• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Hint of Healthy
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
    • Collections
  • Cooking Skills
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • Instant Pot
  • Slow Cooker
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
    • Subscribe
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Slow Cooker Chicken

    Slow Cooker Hunters Chicken

    Posted: Aug 21, 2021 · Updated: Oct 28, 2021 by Tonje

    Jump to Recipe
    Two images of hunter's chicken.
    Slow cooker hunter's chicken in a baking dish.

    This easy slow cooker hunters chicken recipe is perfect for busy weeknight dinners. Prepare it in the morning, and have a fantastic chicken entree ready to eat in the afternoon.

    A baking dish with hunter's chicken.
    Jump to:
    • Why you'll love it
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Top tips
    • Serving suggestions
    • Variations
    • Equipment
    • Storage
    • Frequently asked questions
    • You might also like these recipes
    • Recipe
    • Food safety tips

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read more about it in the privacy policy.

    Hunters chicken is bacon wrapped chicken breasts topped with cheese, and cooked in BBQ sauce. This slow cooker version of the dish is packed with flavor, and easy to make, making it a great choice for weeknight dinners.

    The slow cooker is perfect for this dish! It makes the chicken pull-apart tender, and the meat absorbs the incredible flavors of the sauce.

    Why you'll love it

    • Easy chicken entree that you can prepare in a few minutes
    • Pairs perfectly with a variety of side dishes
    • Only requires 4 ingredients and seasoning
    • Affordable slow cooker chicken recipe
    • Adjust the recipe to suit your preferences
    • Gluten free and nut free

    🥘 More SLOW COOKER RECIPES from Hint of Healthy

    Ingredients

    Chicken breasts: Tender chicken breasts are best suited for this recipe. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer. If you want to use frozen chicken, you will have to thaw it first.

    BBQ sauce: I love my favorite homemade BBQ sauce, but you can use any store bought sauce that you like.

    Bacon: Use smoked or unsmoked bacon strips.

    Cheese: Shredded mozzarella, or shredded cheddar cheese are best suited for this recipe. You can use any cheese that you like, as long as it melts well.

    Seasoning: Salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning add a lot of flavor to the dish. You can also adjust the seasoning to taste.

    The ingredients needed to make this recipe.

    Instructions

    You can find full instructions + ingredient measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of this page

    One: Pour BBQ sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker.

    Two: Season the chicken, and wrap bacon strips around them. Place them on top of the BBQ sauce.

    Three: Add additional BBQ sauce on top of the chicken breasts, and make sure to coat them evenly. Cover with a lid, and cook on high for 3-4 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.

    Four: Transfer the chicken breasts and some sauce to a casserole dish or an oven safe baking dish. Cover with shredded cheese, and place it under a broiler for a few minutes, or cook in the oven at 400 F / 200 C for a few minutes, until the cheese has melted.

    💡 TIP! If you don't want to cook the chicken in the oven before serving, you can add the cheese to the slow cooker around 30 minutes before serving. The cheese and bacon will be softer, but this reduces an extra cooking step.

    Step by step images showing how to make this recipe.

    Top tips

    • Keep the slow cooker covered with a lid through the entire cooking process. Removing the lid can increase the required cooking time.
    • Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 F / 74 C before you serve it. Or, you can slice a chicken breast in half and make sure that the meat is white throughout.
    • Broiling or oven baking the slow cooked chicken will give the cheese and bacon a great texture. This step is optional, but really improves the flavor of the dish.
    • Feel free to adjust the seasoning however you like. See the Variations section below for some ideas.
    • Carefully keep an eye on the chicken while it's baking in the oven, as the cheese can brown very quickly.

    Serving suggestions

    Slow cooker hunters chicken is a delicious entree best served for lunch or dinner. I love to pair it with a variety of side dishes to complete the meal.

    Here are my favorite sides to serve with it:

    • Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli
    • Instant Pot Mashed Sweet Potatoes
    • Skin On Fries
    • Parmentier Potatoes
    • Mexican Potatoes
    • Healthy Mashed Potatoes
    • Instant Pot Carrots
    • Air Fryer Mushrooms
    • Air Fryer Cauliflower
    Hunter's chicken and potatoes on a plate.

    Variations

    Other seasoning: Feel free to adjust the seasoning, or use any other spices that you like. Garlic powder, onion powder, dried herbs, cumin, taco seasoning, ranch seasoning, chili powder and red pepper flakes are excellent options.

    Dairy free: Use dairy free cheese, or omit the cheese.

    Other types of chicken: You can use boneless skinless chicken thighs, or any other cuts of chicken that you like. Skinless chicken pieces are recommended, as any chicken skin would become soft and rubbery under the bacon.

    Leaner choices: For a lighter and leaner dish, you can use light BBQ sauce and cheese alternatives. You can find these in most supermarkets. You can also omit the bacon, or substitute it for turkey bacon.

    Equipment

    To make this recipe, you will need a 3 quart or 6 quart slow cooker. I like to use a wider slow cooker, as this makes it easier to place the chicken breasts on top of the sauce.

    Additionally, to melt the cheese and make the bacon crispy on top, you will need an oven dish or a baking pan. This is used to cook the chicken in the oven for a few minutes before serving. You can omit this step if you want, although I highly recommend it.

    Hunter's chicken with cheese.

    Storage

    Store leftover slow cooker hunters chicken in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat it in a microwave, frying pan or pot on the stove top, and serve it warm.

    You can also dice or shred the chicken and bacon, and use the leftovers in other dishes like sandwiches or casseroles. This is a great way to use leftovers without having to eat the same dish twice.

    🥘 More SLOW COOKER RECIPES from Hint of Healthy

    Frequently asked questions

    Can you cook hunter's chicken in a slow cooker?

    Absolutely! The slow cooker is great for making hunter's chicken, as it makes the meat tender and delicious.

    What is hunter's chicken?

    Hunter's chicken is a dish consisting of chicken cooked in a red sauce. The dish exists in several countries, with regional varieties. The British hunter's chicken is bacon wrapped chicken breasts covered with cheese and BBQ sauce.

    You might also like these recipes

    • Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken
    • Crockpot Chicken and Rice
    • Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken
    • Crockpot BBQ Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
    • BBQ Chicken Flatbread
    • BBQ Baked Chicken Wings

    If you make this recipe, make sure to post a photo to Instagram with #hintofhealthy!

    Recipe

    Slow cooked hunter's chicken.

    Slow Cooker Hunter's Chicken

    Slow cooker hunters chicken is an easy and delicious chicken entree that you can make in your Crockpot with minimal effort. Tender chicken breasts are wrapped in bacon, covered with cheese and slow cooked in BBQ sauce.
    5 from 2 votes
    Created by: Tonje
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 5 hrs
    Total Time 5 hrs 5 mins
    Course Dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine British
    Servings 4
    Calories 314 kcal

    Equipment

    • Crockpot
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 4 large chicken breasts
    • 8 strips bacon
    • ½ cup shredded mozzarella
    • 1 cup BBQ sauce (divided)
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

    Instructions
     

    • Pour ¾ cup BBQ sauce into the bottom of the slow cooker.
      1 cup BBQ sauce
    • Season the chicken, and wrap bacon strips around them. Place them on top of the BBQ sauce.
      4 large chicken breasts, 8 strips bacon, ½ teaspoon pepper, ¼ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • Add the remaining ¼ cup BBQ sauce on top of the chicken breasts, and make sure to coat them evenly. Cover with a lid, and cook on high for 3-4 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours.
    • Transfer the chicken breasts and some sauce to a casserole dish or an oven safe baking dish. Cover with shredded cheese, and place it under a broiler for a few minutes, or cook in the oven at 400 F / 200 C for a few minutes, until the cheese has melted.
      ½ cup shredded mozzarella

    Video

    Notes

    • Store leftover hunter's chicken in a refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the meat, and serve it warm. You can also dice the chicken and bacon, and serve it in a sandwich or casserole instead.
    • To make an easier version of the dish, you can skip the step of broiling the slow cooked chicken. Instead, serve the chicken straight from the slow cooker, topped with shredded cheese.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 314kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 28gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 1102mgPotassium: 606mgFiber: 1gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 318IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 109mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword bacon, bbq sauce, chicken breasts, chicken dinner, crockpot, easy, slow cooker
    Tried this recipe?Mention @hintofhealthyfood or tag #hintofhealthy!

    Food safety tips

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

    More Healthy slow cooker chicken recipes

    • Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken
    • Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken
    • Crockpot Chicken and Rice

    Latest Recipes

    Sauteed sweet potatoes on a plate.

    Sauteed Sweet Potatoes

    Orzo Pesto Salad in a bowl.

    Orzo Pesto Salad

    Brussels sprouts in slow cooker.

    Slow Cooker Brussels Sprouts

    Christmas morning punch with cranberries.

    Christmas Morning Punch

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jayne

      August 06, 2022 at 2:08 pm

      5 stars
      This is a lovely recipe, very tasty, I add sliced onion and sliced red pepper about an hour before the chicken is done and it adds even more flavour, I just stick to cheddar for the cheese. This has become a regular meal in our house, thank you for posting it.

      Reply
    2. Jayne

      September 03, 2022 at 12:05 pm

      5 stars
      I love this recipe it is so good and delicious. Easy to make, I use cheddar instead of mozzarella but follow the rest of the recipe. It tastes the great the next day as well.

      Reply

    Leave a comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published.

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Tonje! I make easy and healthy everyday recipes that your family will love. Browse my recipe collection to discover new favorites, and make sure to let me know what you think!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Air Fryer Eggplant
    • Mediterranean Roast Vegetables
    • Crepes with Almond Milk
    • Air Fryer Pork Roast
    • Slow Cooker Beef Stew
    • Air Fryer Tilapia

    As Seen In

    Hint of healthy as seen in

    Footer


    2022 © Hint of Healthy Privacy Policy Disclaimer Contact About