Italian Flavored Chicken and Potatoes

Written by
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen is a journalist, quick-cooking and slow-cooking expert, and accomplished cookbook author with over 30 years of experience in testing and developing recipes.
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Linda Larsen
Updated 05/25/21
Italian Flavored Chicken and Potatoes

The Spruce / Kristina Vanni
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 8 hrs
Total: 8 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
345 Calories
8g Fat
28g Carbs
38g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 345
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 8g 11%
Saturated Fat 2g 9%
Cholesterol 96mg 32%
Sodium 290mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 28g 10%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 38g
Vitamin C 12mg 59%
Calcium 43mg 3%
Iron 3mg 14%
Potassium 935mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This Italian-flavored recipe takes just minutes to prepare and is a wonderful family dinner at the end of a busy day. Fix the ingredients in the morning, place them in the slow cooker, and come back for a delicious meal the whole family will love. Seasoned with Italian herbs and a zesty dressing, the chicken and potatoes make a wholesome and simple dinner, especially when served with a green salad with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, or a mixture of avocados and cherry tomatoes dressed with olive oil and lemon juice. Or, steam some broccoli or french string beans to add some crunch to your meal.

You can use store-bought zesty Italian dressing, but by making your own you can control the quality of the ingredients and monitor the amount of sodium and fat added.

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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts (boneless and skinless, sliced)

  • 1/2 cup zesty Italian salad dressing

  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper

  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)

  • 4 medium potatoes (cubed)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Italian Flavored Chicken and Potatoes ingredients

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  2. Place the chicken, salad dressing, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic, and potatoes in a 3- to 4-quart crockpot. Mix well to coat the chicken and potatoes with the dressing and seasonings.

    chicken, potatoes and seasonings in a crock pot

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  3. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked to 165 F and the potatoes are tender.

    Italian Flavored Chicken and Potatoes

    The Spruce / Kristina Vanni

  4. Serve with a vegetable side dish and enjoy.

Make Your Own Zesty Dressing

To make your own zesty dressing, you'll need 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1/3 cup red wine vinegar, 1/2 tablespoons agave or maple syrup, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 4 small minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 pinch onion powder, 1 pinch dried oregano, 1 pinch dried basil, and 1 pinch dried parsley. Mix all the ingredients well (you can place all the ingredients in a mason jar and shake vigorously). Keep refrigerated for up to three days.

Tips

  • If you don't have Italian seasoning, use a combination of dried herbs you have on hand to make your own. Oregano, basil, thyme, sage, marjoram, and rosemary work best.
  • If your chicken has skin on it, remove it before placing it in the crock pot. The slow, moist heat will turn the skin rubbery and unpleasant to eat.

Recipe Variations

  • Add chopped onions, baby carrots, peppers, peas, parsnips, grape tomatoes, or a combination of two or more of these ingredients.
  • Use 1 pound of mini potatoes instead of the cubed potatoes. Leave them whole.
  • Add 1 pint of sliced white mushrooms halfway through the cooking process. Before serving, add 3/4 cup of heavy cream to the pot, mix well, allow to heat up, and taste for seasoning. For a meatier texture, use sliced Portobello mushrooms.
  • Substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the breasts in this recipe to get more flavor and a little extra fat. Use the same amount of thighs, and increase the cooking time to 7 to 9 hours.
  • Substitute chicken with sliced turkey breast or sliced beef. Adjust the flavor of the broth accordingly.
  • Use bone-in chicken pieces to get extra flavor. Remove the skin and cook the ingredients for 7 to 9 hours or until they test 165 F on an instant-read meat thermometer.
  • Add shredded cheese on top 20 minutes before the time is up, allowing the cheese to melt before serving. Or transfer the cooked mixture to a large baking dish, top with cheese, and place under the broiler until the cheese is melted and a golden brown color.