If you want a comforting, sweet-savory, perfectly tender slow cooker meal with almost zero effort, Crockpot Maple Dijon Chicken with Butternut Squash is the recipe you’ve been waiting for. This dish takes simple ingredients — chicken breasts, butternut squash cubes, pure maple syrup, and tangy Dijon mustard — and transforms them into an irresistible dinner with deep flavor and comforting texture.

Think melt-in-your-mouth chicken infused with maple sweetness, balanced by tangy mustard and aromatic garlic. The butternut squash becomes perfectly soft, soaking up the sauce and adding natural sweetness and warmth. The crockpot does all the work, letting the flavors slowly marry over hours until the sauce becomes rich and glossy.

This dish is ideal for fall and winter, but honestly works year-round. It’s cozy, healthy, filling, and deeply flavorful.

Why This Recipe Works

1. Maple + Dijon = The Perfect Sweet-Savory Pairing

Maple brings warmth and caramel-like sweetness. Dijon cuts through with tang, making the sauce balanced and complex.

2. Butternut Squash Loves Slow Cooking

It softens without falling apart, becomes creamy at the edges, and absorbs all the sauce.

3. Chicken Becomes Fall-Apart Tender

Slow cooking turns lean chicken breasts juicy, delicate, and full of flavor.

4. One Pot, No Fuss

Everything cooks in the crockpot at the same time. No browning, no monitoring — dump, stir, go.

5. Meal Prep Friendly

Keeps amazingly well and reheats even better as the flavors deepen.

Ingredients Breakdown

Chicken

Boneless skinless chicken breasts
Lean and perfect for slow cooking — they absorb the sauce beautifully.

Butternut Squash

Fresh or pre-cut
Its natural sweetness pairs perfectly with maple and mustard.

Maple Dijon Sauce

Pure maple syrup
Dijon mustard
Garlic
Chicken broth
Salt, pepper
This creates a glossy, sweet-tangy sauce that coats everything in the pot.

Optional Flavor Boosters

Fresh thyme or rosemary
A splash of apple cider
Crushed red pepper for heat
A touch of soy sauce for umami

Step-by-Step Instructions with Detailed Tips

1. Prep the Chicken

Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker. Pat them dry if needed — this helps the sauce cling better.

2. Add the Butternut Squash

Scatter butternut squash cubes all around the chicken. You want tight spaces so the sauce reaches every piece.

3. Make the Maple Dijon Sauce

In a bowl combine:

Maple syrup
Dijon mustard
Garlic
Chicken broth
Salt + pepper

Whisk until smooth.

Tip:
Taste the sauce before adding. You can adjust sweetness (more maple), tang (more mustard), depth (salt), or garlic strength.

4. Pour and Coat

Pour the sauce over the chicken and squash. Use a spoon to coat the tops evenly.

5. Slow Cook to Perfection

Cook on:

LOW for 6–7 hours, or
HIGH for 3–4 hours

Chicken should shred easily with a fork, and squash should be tender but not mushy.

6. Thicken the Sauce (Optional)

If you prefer a thicker sauce:

Remove chicken
Mash a few cubes of squash into the sauce
Stir and let it thicken naturally

7. Serve Warm and Cozy

Plate chicken and squash together, spoon sauce over the top, and garnish with herbs.

This dish is minimalist but unbelievably flavorful.