This Slow Cooker Herby Chicken and Potato Bake is my answer to those crazy busy days when you still want a proper home-cooked dinner! Juicy chicken nestled on top of golden potatoes, all infused with the most gorgeous herbs and practically cooking itself while you tackle everything else on your to-do list.

I’ll be honest – I discovered this recipe by complete accident when I was rushing around one morning and just threw everything I had into the slow cooker. Best mistake ever! When I walked through the door that evening, my house smelled like an Italian restaurant and my family thought I’d been secretly cooking all day.
What makes this so brilliant is how the chicken stays incredibly moist while the potatoes underneath soak up all those amazing herby flavours. It’s like getting a roast dinner without any of the usual fuss and timing stress. Plus, washing up is basically non-existent – always a win in my book!
The herbs really are the stars here. That combination of rosemary and thyme transforms ordinary chicken and potatoes into something that tastes properly restaurant-worthy. And the best bit? You can prep everything the night before if you’re really organised (though let’s face it, most of us are doing this on the fly!).
Why This Has Become Our Weekly Favourite
Zero stress cooking – Literally dump everything in and walk away. Perfect for those mental Monday-to-Friday schedules.
Tastes way fancier than the effort – People will genuinely think you’ve spent hours slaving over this when you’ve done about 10 minutes of actual work.
Kid-approved flavours – Even my pickiest eater demolishes this without a single complaint. The herbs aren’t overwhelming, just perfectly savoury.
Brilliant for batch cooking – Double the recipe and you’ve sorted dinner for tonight plus tomorrow’s lunch. Future you will be so grateful!
Uses stuff you already have – No fancy ingredients or special trips to the shops. Just good honest pantry staples.
Never fails – Seriously, I’ve never had this go wrong. The slow cooker is so forgiving, it’s practically foolproof.
What Goes In
The ingredient list is wonderfully simple – proof that you don’t need loads of fancy stuff to create something delicious.
Chicken Pieces – I usually go for breast fillets, but thighs work brilliantly too if you want something even more tender and flavourful.
Waxy Potatoes – The kind that hold their shape nicely. I cut them quite chunky so they don’t turn to mush during the long cooking.
Good Olive Oil – This helps everything cook beautifully and adds that lovely Mediterranean flavour.
The Magic Seasoning Blend – A mix of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and those gorgeous dried herbs. Simple but so effective!
A Splash of Stock – Just enough to create some steam and keep everything moist without making it soupy.
Butter Dots – Little pieces scattered on top that melt down and create the most incredible richness.
How I Make It
This is honestly so straightforward, you’ll wonder why you ever stressed about weeknight dinners!
Sort the spuds first – I slice my potatoes into thick rounds and arrange them in the bottom of the slow cooker. They become like little flavour sponges sitting in all those lovely juices.
Get them seasoned – A good glug of olive oil and half my seasoning mix gets sprinkled over those potatoes. I give them a bit of a toss to make sure they’re all coated.
Chicken goes on top – Just nestle those pieces right on the potatoes. They’ll steam beautifully and stay so tender.
More seasoning magic – The rest of my herb mix gets scattered over the chicken. Don’t be shy with it!
Add the aromatics – Those dried herbs go everywhere – rosemary and thyme are such a perfect combination.
Liquid gold – I pour the stock around the edges, not directly over everything. This creates the perfect steamy environment.
Butter finale – Little dots of butter everywhere. This is what makes it taste properly indulgent.
The waiting game – Lid on and let it work its magic for hours. Your house will smell absolutely incredible!
My Best Tricks
Cut everything evenly – Similar-sized potato pieces mean everything cooks at the same rate. No one wants some bits overcooked and others still hard!
Don’t flood it – Just enough stock to create steam, not so much that you end up with soup. The vegetables will release their own juices too.
Resist lifting the lid – I know it’s tempting when it smells so good, but every peek adds cooking time and lets the heat escape.
Test with a fork – The potatoes should give easily when poked, and the chicken should be fall-apart tender.
Let it settle – A few minutes rest after cooking helps everything hold together better when you’re serving up.
Keep those pan juices – They’re liquid gold! Spoon them over everything when you serve.
Ways to Mix It Up
Mediterranean twist – Add some cherry tomatoes and olives in the last hour for a completely different vibe.
Creamy indulgence – Stir through some cream cheese or sour cream just before serving for extra richness.
Veggie boost – Chuck in some carrots, onions, or bell peppers if you want more vegetables in the mix.
Citrus zing – A squeeze of lemon juice and some zest right at the end brightens everything up beautifully.
Spice it up – A pinch of paprika or chilli flakes adds a lovely warm heat without being overwhelming.

Quick Questions Sorted
What if my chicken’s looking a bit pale? Pop it under the grill for a few minutes after slow cooking to get that golden colour. Makes it look even more appetising!
Can I use frozen chicken? It’s better to defrost it first for even cooking, but if you’re stuck, just add an extra hour to the cooking time.
My potatoes are still firm – help! Just keep cooking! Every slow cooker is different, and some take longer than others. They’ll get there eventually.
Is this okay for meal prep? Absolutely brilliant for it! Keeps in the fridge for days and actually tastes better after the flavours have had time to mingle.
Can I make this dairy-free? Skip the butter and use a bit more olive oil instead. Still delicious, just slightly less indulgent.
Perfect Partners
Keep it simple – A bag of mixed salad leaves or some steamed green beans add colour and freshness.
Bread lovers – Some crusty rolls or garlic bread are perfect for mopping up all those gorgeous juices.
Wine night – A crisp white wine or light red goes beautifully with all those herb flavours.
Leftover Magic
Next day lunch – Shred any leftover chicken and mix with the potatoes for an amazing jacket potato filling.
Soup starter – Add some extra stock and blend half of it for a gorgeous creamy soup base.
Sandwich gold – That tender chicken makes incredible sandwiches with a bit of mayo and some salad leaves.
Storage Know-How
Fridge life – Keeps perfectly for up to 4 days covered in the fridge. Sometimes I think it tastes even better on day two!
Freezer friendly – Portions freeze brilliantly for up to 3 months. Just defrost overnight and reheat gently.
Reheating tricks – A splash of stock or water helps bring it back to life when reheating. Gentle heat is best.
More Slow Cooker Winners
If you love the convenience of throwing everything in one pot and walking away, you’ll definitely want to try my other slow cooker favourites!
Slow Cooker Herby Chicken and Potato Bake
The ultimate set-and-forget dinner that fills your house with incredible aromas and delivers tender, flavourful chicken and perfectly cooked potatoes every single time!
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Comfort Food
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 5 serves
Calories: 365kcal
Ingredients
- 4 large chicken breast fillets
- 8 medium waxy potatoes – cut into thick rounds
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1½ teaspoons onion powder
- 2 tablespoons dried rosemary
- 2 tablespoons dried thyme
- 100ml chicken stock
- 30g butter – cut into small cubes
Instructions
- Prep the potatoes – Cut potatoes into thick rounds and arrange in the bottom of your slow cooker in overlapping layers.
- Season the base – Drizzle 2 tablespoons olive oil over potatoes and sprinkle with half the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Toss gently to coat.
- Add the chicken – Place chicken fillets on top of the seasoned potatoes.
- Season the chicken – Brush with remaining olive oil and sprinkle with remaining salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Herb everything – Scatter the rosemary and thyme evenly over the chicken and potatoes.
- Add moisture – Pour chicken stock around the edges of the slow cooker, avoiding pouring directly onto the chicken.
- Butter dots – Scatter the butter cubes over the top of everything.
- Slow cook – Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours, until chicken is tender and potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.
- Rest and serve – Let rest for 5 minutes, then serve hot with the cooking juices spooned over.
Notes
RECIPE NOTES & TIPS
- Potato prep: Cut rounds about 2cm thick so they hold their shape during cooking.
- Oil distribution: Make sure potatoes are well coated to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Stock placement: Adding liquid around edges prevents washing seasoning off the chicken.
- Timing flexibility: Check at 6 hours – some slow cookers cook faster than others.
- Browning option: For golden chicken, place under grill for 3-4 minutes after slow cooking.
- Make ahead: Can prep everything the night before – just add stock and butter in the morning.
- Herb substitutions: Fresh herbs work too – use 3 times the amount and add in the last hour.
- Storage: Keeps 4 days refrigerated, freeze for up to 3 months.
- Serving tip: Don’t waste those pan juices – they’re packed with flavour!
Nutrition
Calories: 365kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 580mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g