Name: Crockpot Chicken Potatoes Green Beans
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 4 h
Total time: 4 h 15 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter; 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 1 teaspoon dried onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 2 cloves garlic, grated; 1 1/2 pounds small red new potatoes, washed and dried; 1 pound bag of pre-washed and trimmed green beans; 6 chicken thighs (can you 3 breasts instead)

The easiest meal I can throw together in the morning that everyone loves is this slow cooker dump and go dinner. If you have chicken thighs, small potatoes and a bag of green beans, you're almost ready to set it and forget it! You're going to want to save this recipe for Crockpot Chicken Potatoes Green Beans!

Crockpot with chicken thighs, green beans and potatoes.

If you grew up on this one pot crockpot dinner, you might be wondering when the bottled salad dressing is coming into play. The good news is, it's not! We're going to make our own Italian-inspired vinaigrette that has a much brighter, fresher flavor.

You only need a package of chicken thighs, a small bag of baby potatoes, a bag of already washed green beans, and some pantry staples for this recipe.

The Ingredients

White kitchen counter with slow cooker dump and go ingredients.

Butter. One stick (4 ounces) of unsalted butter.
Lemon. One-quarter cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice. I don't recommend using bottled lemon juice here; fresh is best.
Oregano. One teaspoon of dried oregano.
Onion Powder. One teaspoon of dried onion powder.
Salt and Pepper. One teaspoon of fine sea salt and ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper.
Garlic. You can use 2 cloves of freshly grated garlic or 2 teaspoons of dried garlic powder, your choice.
Potatoes. A one and a half pound bag of small baby new potatoes. Any type of potatoes are fine here, as long as you don't have to cut them! However, you can use a Russet potato that you cut up into bite-size pieces if that's all you have. The starch from the potatoes will thicken the sauce a bit.
Green Beans. Grab the one pound bag of already trimmed and washed green beans so that you can just dump them straight into the slow cooker. I haven't tested this recipe with frozen green beans, and I worry that they would get soggy. I use fresh green beans only.
Chicken Thighs. You can use 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs or 3 small chicken breasts for this recipe.

How to Make Crockpot Chicken Potatoes and Green Beans

Black slow cooker with vegetables inside.

Raw chicken thighs and Italian dressing in a black crockpot with green beans and potatoes underneath.

Add the (clean) potatoes to the bottom of a 6 or 8 quart slow cooker. Scatter the green beans on top.

Place the chicken thighs on the very top. Then, in a 2-cup measuring cup, whisk together the melted butter, lemon juice, salt, oregano, onion powder, black pepper, and garlic. Pour this on top of the chicken and place the lid on the pot. Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours, until everything is tender.

Freshly cooked dump and go slow cooker meal on a white counter.

What to Serve with Crockpot Meals

Salad - Keep it simple and grab a bag of your favorite salad mix. For this crockpot chicken potatoes and green beans recipe, I think it tastes best with an Italian bagged salad kit with plenty radicchio, croutons, Parmesan cheese and Italian dressing.
Bread - Anything your family likes, from frozen bread rolls that you warm in the oven or a crusty baguette from the bakery.

Other Uses for the Homemade Italian Dressing

What sets this recipe apart from the others is the homemade Italian dressing. Once you make it with a bright, fresh vinaigrette instead of a bottle, you'll never go back to the old way.

Other ways to use homemade Italian dressing:

Use as a marinade for meat, especially chicken before grilling. The lemon juice acts as great tenderizer, and the melted butter keeps the meat moist while cooking.
If mayonnaise isn't your thing, try using Italian dressing in potato salad! Toss the cooked potatoes, hard boiled eggs, and vegetables with the vinaigrette while warm and serve.
My favorite dip for a crudités platter is Italian dressing! It's a great alternative to the standard boring ranch dressing.