Description
Crock Pot Catalina Chicken is a deliciously sweet and tangy slow cooker meal featuring tender chicken breasts simmered in a flavorful sauce made from Catalina dressing, dry onion soup mix, and apricot preserves. This easy recipe is perfect for an effortless weeknight dinner and pairs wonderfully with rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Sauce
- 1 cup Catalina salad dressing
- 1 packet dry onion soup mix (about 1 oz)
- 1/2 cup apricot preserves or jam
Optional
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch (for thickening)
- 2 tablespoons water (to make cornstarch slurry)
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Place the chicken breasts evenly at the bottom of your crock pot to ensure even cooking.
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, thoroughly mix Catalina dressing, dry onion soup mix, and apricot preserves until fully combined into a smooth sauce.
- Combine and Cook: Pour the sauce over the chicken breasts, making sure each piece is well coated. Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 6–7 hours or on high for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is tender and easily shredded with a fork.
- Thicken the Sauce (Optional): If a thicker sauce is desired, remove the chicken at the end of cooking. Whisk together cornstarch and water to make a slurry, then stir it into the sauce in the crock pot. Cook on high for an additional 10–15 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Return the chicken to the pot and stir gently to coat with the thickened sauce.
- Serve: Serve the chicken hot over rice, noodles, or mashed potatoes. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired for a pop of color and flavor.
Notes
- Chicken thighs may be used instead of breasts for a richer flavor.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day, making this recipe ideal for meal prep.
- For a flavor variation, substitute apricot preserves with peach or orange marmalade.
- Ensure the dry onion soup mix is gluten-free if adhering to a gluten-free diet.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 710mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
