Chicken is no stranger to the weeknight dinner table; thighs, breasts and even whole birds can all be made into easy meals. But when you know you’ll be short on time at the end of the day, turn to your slow cooker. This must-have kitchen appliance can help you make soups, curry dishes, pulled chicken and more — even a whole chicken! This no-fuss dinner requires only seven ingredients to make the bird moist and tender. Simply rub the chicken in spices and prop it up on canning lids, suspending it above the juices for a roasted effect right in the slow cooker. Piercing the skin on the bottom will let excess juices run out, allowing for even and gentle cooking.

This simple recipe takes only a few minutes to get into the pot, cooks while you go about your day and will reward you with meals all week. Use the shredded chicken as is or in one of the flavorful variations below. Either way, it’s great for salads, sandwiches, pastas, quesadillas, tacos, soups or as a pizza or flatbread topping.

Forget bland, boring chicken dinners! This easy-to-make curry is loaded with flavor, thanks to the curry powder, cumin, fresh ginger and chile pepper.

Making the mole sauce for this recipe takes a bit of prep and planning but you’re going to be so impressed with the result. The combination of chiles, chocolate and fragrant spices give the chicken so much flavor that you’ll wonder why you ever ordered Mexican take out!

This slow-cooker version of the classic soup is super-easy to make. Chicken thighs are best here, as they're less expensive than breasts and tend to not dry out. If you like, skip the noodles and stir in your favorite cooked grain at the end.

Soy sauce, honey, garlic and ginger (along with the natural juices of the chicken) become irresistible sauce to serve over chicken thighs and rice. If you like a thicker sauce, simply add cornstarch at the end and cook a little longer.

A little bit of flour helps the sweet-and-savory sauce for this chicken thicken up as it cooks. It’s a simple trick — that works every time.

The Pioneer Woman gets a head start on dinner by loading the makings of a core-warming white chili into her slow cooker. Brimming with chicken, beans, sweet corn, peppers and spices, it's best served with a dollop of sour cream, extra cheese and cilantro, plus warm corn tortillas on the side.

Move over, beef. Chicken is in the house. This great weeknight meal takes less than 15 minutes to prep. The slow cooker does the rest.

Ree’s tasty take on chicken and rice is as easy as throwing some ingredients in the slow cooker — and waiting!

Assemble this in the morning, and when you return for dinner you'll be rewarded with sweet, sticky drumsticks with an irresistible sauce that thickens and concentrates as the drumsticks cook.

Lemon and dill brighten the deep flavors of this low-and-slow soup for the soul.

Chicken thighs are the ideal slow-cooker meat because they emerge tender and juicy, even after hours of cooking. The sauce is a guaranteed kid-pleaser: Rich, sweet and low on spice and tang. Make a couple of batches to keep in the freezer for busy weeks when you know you'll have limited time for meal prep.

The key to these super flavorful, tender wings is cooking them low and slow in a sticky-sweet Chinese-style BBQ sauce. A quick trip under the broiler gives them a crispy char, just like at your favorite wing joint.

Slow-cook boneless chicken thighs in a spiced-up blend of fire-roasted tomatoes, chipotle chiles and cumin for a big-flavored, fuss-free meal. Top with cheese, avocado and cilantro for the perfect finish.

All you need to do is season the chicken and add everything to the slow-cooker — it will do the rest! That gives you plenty of time to make the sauce and prep the toppings.

For a hands-off Indian dinner, slow cook chicken thighs in a butter-spiked, ultra-spiced tomato sauce for hours on end. The recipe's final step is stirring in a little cream for a swirl of added richness.

Curry powder is the secret ingredient in this easy slow-cooked soup. It adds to the depth of flavor and turns the soup golden yellow. Be generous with the cheese!

We cook chicken in a blend of crushed tomatoes and spices for a dinner that full of flavor. A little heavy cream (added at the end of the cooking process) gives the sauce a nice, creamy richness.

All you need are four ingredients (not counting salt, pepper and cooking oil!) for this easy chicken dinner that gets Mexican-inspired flavors from fajita seasoning.

The best part of this chili recipe? You just toss everything in the slow cooker and let it go. But be sure to leave the chili powder until the end; this ensures that the spices remain bright and vibrant rather than dull and bitter.

The watercress is a nice touch in this recipe, since it adds a mellow peppery flavor to the sweet-and-gingery chicken. If you can’t find watercress, feel free to substitute another leafy green — like spinach.

Break out your slow cooker to make one of Ree's favorite soups. Canned tomatoes, chicken broth, chipotle peppers and loads of spices create the soup's base, which is brimming with chicken and black beans.

This fragrant chicken dish is perfect for busy weeknights. Add all your ingredients to the slow cooker midday and when dinnertime rolls around, all you’ll have to do is make some quick-cooking couscous to serve alongside.