Disclosure: This is a home-style recipe shared from my personal family cooking routine. All opinions are my own.
In my parents home as a child growing up, Sundays were built around the dinner table not only in my parents home but also in my grandparents home as well. That was just how life was in our home. No, tv was on and we spent time talking to each other.
No matter what kind of week we had, for dinner Sundays meant slowing down, gathering together, and sharing a meal that brought everyone into the same space. More times than not we had people we didn’t even know stopping in for dinner and there was always enough for everyone. That memory never left me.
As a mom, I’ve always tried to carry that same feeling into my own home and family life. Cooking down-home recipes like my grandmother did, and like my dad taught me when I was learning how to cook, has always been more than just preparing food. Before you ask yes, my mom could cook and would but it was always my dad’s job. This is why Sunday dinner has always been about tradition, connection, and creating something steady that everyone can come back to time and again.
It’s also why I had Charlie in the kitchen at just four years old, letting him help stir, mix, and learn in small ways long before he fully understood what he was doing. As he grew older, I made sure he took cooking classes so he could build confidence in the kitchen and understand that cooking is a life skill that stays with you.
I’ve always believed food should teach more than just how to eat. It should teach you how to care for yourself and others, how to slow down, and how to create moments that matter. Which is why you will find us dancing, singing and laughing in our kitchen. Do you do this?
Even now, life doesn’t always look like a perfectly timed family dinner anymore. People come and go throughout the day, schedules don’t always line up, and Sundays can feel just as busy as any other day of the week. But I still hold onto that same idea I grew up with. A meal doesn’t have to be complicated to feel special.
That’s why I love recipes like this crockpot chicken and gravy. It allows everyone to fix their own plate when they are ready, while still bringing that warm feeling of a home-cooked meal that ties the day together. Leaving leftovers for lunch.
Sundays in our house are often quiet in different ways. David may be in and out, Charlie is often busy with his own life, and I’m here at home keeping things moving and trying to keep that sense of home steady in the background. Even when we are not all sitting down at the exact same time, I still want there to be something that feels like a shared meal waiting for everyone. This is one of those recipes that does exactly that.
I like how this recipe doesn’t require constant attention. It doesn’t require a lot of effort in the kitchen. It simply cooks slowly through the day and fills the house with a comforting smell that makes people naturally drift toward the kitchen when they are ready to eat.
I start by placing chicken breasts or chicken thighs and sometimes it might be chicken legs depending on what was on sale that week directly into the crockpot, depending on what I have on hand or what I know my family will enjoy that day. Then I mix a can of cream of chicken soup with a little water until it becomes smooth and easy to pour, and I pour that over the chicken so everything stays moist while it cooks.
After that, I sprinkle in chicken gravy mix, usually one or two packets depending on how thick I want the gravy to be. I season it lightly with salt and pepper, and sometimes a little garlic powder when I want a bit more flavor in the background.
If I want to make it a fuller meal, I’ll add potatoes or carrots right into the crockpot so they cook right along with the chicken. It turns into one of those meals that stretches easily and feels even more comforting when everything is served together on the plate.
Then I simply let this recipe cook on low for several hours until the chicken becomes tender enough to fall apart easily and the gravy thickens into a rich, comforting sauce. By the time it is ready, the house has that warm, slow-cooked smell that doesn’t need explanation. It just feels like home.
What I love most about meals like this is how flexible they are for real life. Everyone can eat when they are ready, whether that is all at once or spread throughout the afternoon and evening. There is no pressure for everything to be perfect or timed exactly right.
Some people may eat early, some later, and some may come back for another plate when they walk through the kitchen again. It all still works, and it all still counts as a family meal and it is grandma’s down home cooking at its best. Just ask my family.
For me, cooking has always been about holding onto those family traditions that shaped me. From my grandmother’s kitchen to my dad teaching me how to cook, and now watching Charlie grow up with his own kitchen skills, food has always been one of the ways I keep those connections alive.
This crockpot chicken and gravy recipe is simple, but it carries that same feeling with it. It’s warm, familiar, and steady, just like the kind of Sunday meals I grew up with. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope it brings a little bit of that same comfort and family feeling into your home, no matter what your Sunday looks like.
Crockpot Chicken & Gravy Recipe (Printable Version)
Chicken breasts or chicken thighs
1–2 packets chicken gravy mix
1 can cream of chicken soup
Salt and pepper to taste
Garlic powder (optional)
Optional vegetables: potatoes or carrots
Place chicken into the crockpot. In a bowl, mix cream of chicken soup with a small amount of water until smooth, then pour over chicken. Sprinkle gravy mix over the top and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder if using. Add vegetables if desired.
Cook on low for several hours until chicken is tender and easy to shred or cut and gravy is thick and rich. Serve warm and allow family members to fix their plates as they are ready.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
