Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Chicken 

By Sarah DiGregorio

Published May 20, 2025

  • Joel Goldberg for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Hadas Smirnoff.
Media 1 of 1
Total Time
4 hours 10 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
4 hours
Rating
4(3,327)
Comments
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The seasoning of this rich garlic and herb braise is inspired by escargot butter, which famously makes everything delicious, and is easy to make with just a few impactful ingredients. A generous dollop of sour cream added before serving brings it all together and makes it feel a little fancy. Top bowls generously with croutons, which lend crunch and soak up the flavorful sauce, or serve with thick slices of crusty bread.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • 1 ½ to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

  • 2 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, rinsed 

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into chunks

  • 8 large garlic cloves, smashed and chopped

  • ⅓ cup chopped fresh parsley, plus more for serving

  • 1 shallot, minced

  • 1 lemon, juiced 

  • Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) and pepper

  • ½ cup sour cream 

  • Homemade or store-bought croutons, for topping

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

56 grams carbs; 234 milligrams cholesterol; 679 calories; 8 grams monosaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 12 grams saturated fat; 26 grams fat; 12 grams fiber; 1178 milligrams sodium; 57 grams protein; 3 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine the chicken, beans, butter, garlic, parsley, shallot, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons salt and several generous grinds of pepper in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Cook on low until the chicken is tender and the flavors have mellowed, about 4 hours.

  2. Step 2

    Break the chicken into large pieces using two forks. Stir in the sour cream.

  3. Step 3

    Serve the stew topped with croutons and more parsley.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
3,327 user ratings
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Comments

Penny

@Joan I haven’t made this yet but have made several recipes in a Dutch oven instead of a slow cooker. This is how I would approach it. First brown the thighs in the butter it will add richness - then deglaze with liquids and add the rest of the ingredients. Oven at 325 - plan for 2 hours but check after 1 hr.

Aimee

@Semmelwürfel, try stirring a bag of baby spinach through before adding the sour cream, it was a great addition for texture, flavor and adding some healthy greens.

Scot

My kind of recipe. Take a few ingredients. Include butter. Cook for a while. Do other stuff. Come back. Eat. :^)

Paula

The first attempt at this was delicious, but the garlic aftertaste was unpleasant for two days. The next time we used half the garlic (still a lot!) and sauteed it first with the shallot. The result, served with an extra dollop of sour cream and homemade croutons, was wonderful.

DL

This tasted even better after a night in the fridge. I found that finishing with a spritz of lemon juice and a swirl of olive oil amped things up

Loretta Libens

This a keeper. After reading the comments I made one small adjustment. I browned the chicken thighs in the butter. Once I browned the chicken and moved it to the slow cooker and topped the chicken with the beans. I then added the shallot and garlic to the skillet, sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. I deglazed the pan with the lemon juice, and then added the mixture to the slow cooker along with the fresh parsley. Because previous comments noted the cooked beans were mushy or grainy. I think the beans may have been cooked too long. So I cooked this recipe for exactly 4 hours. Beans were fine. After adding the sour cream I found the sauce to be very tasty, but thick. When I make this dish again I will add a half cup of chicken broth or stock when adding the sour cream. Lastly this is the third slow cooker recipe of Sarah DiGregorio I have made and I’ve yet to be disappointed by her recipes. I would like to recommend her Italian Wedding soup.

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