Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken
Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken is a healthy, flavorful, and incredibly easy chicken recipe, that might become your new weeknight go-to. Whether you use chicken thighs or chicken breasts, the rich blend of balsamic vinaigrette, stewed tomatoes, and herbs delivers a savory dish that practically makes itself in the crockpot.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Effortless meal prep – Toss it all in the slow cooker and forget it.
- Healthy and wholesome – Packed with protein and veggies.
- Customizable – Works with chicken thighs or breasts.
- Perfect for meal planning – Great over rice, quinoa, cabbage noodles, or even cauliflower rice. Try it plain, or in a tortilla with a sprinkle of cheese on top.
Making Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken
I use slow cooker liners in my crock pot for ease of cleaning up, so if you use them, pop one in now.
Next, rub the chicken with the olive oil and place the chicken into the crock pot.
Season both sides, then add the onion, balsamic vinaigrette, and both cans of stewed tomatoes. Make sure you don’t drain those tomatoes, we want all that liquid in there.
Cooking Time
Like most meals made in the crock pot, I find that cooking it on LOW is the best method. It is, after all, a slow cooker, so let’s let it do it’s best work.
So, set the heat on LOW and the timer to 6 – 7 hours. If you just don’t have the time to wait, no worries, you can cook it on HIGH for 3 – 4 hours. I just can’t guarantee the chicken will fall apart like it was cooked on the LOW setting.
If you opt to use chicken thighs with the bone-in and skin-on, it will likely have a richer flavor and have more moisture, but you also may need to cook it longer.
The best and safest way to check chicken for doneness is to use a meat thermometer. Chicken is done when it has an internal temperature of 165°F.
Want it thicker? Stir in a cornstarch slurry (a little water and cornstarch stirred together) at the end and cook an additional 20 minutes.
Shred the chicken for an easier way to serve using just a spoon, or for a more formal serving, leave the chicken pieces whole. I went half way and chopped my chicken breasts into large chunks. Change is as good as a holiday.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve over rice, Classic Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potato Mash, or your favorite pasta for a hearty meal.
- For a low-carb option, try it over zucchini noodles, cabbage noodles, or Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes.
- Add a side of roasted veggies, such as Brussel Sprouts or Asparagus, or a fresh green salad for a complete dinner.
If you tried and love this recipe, please leave a 5-star rating on the recipe card and consider leaving a comment below. Thank you so much.
Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. skinless/boneless chicken breasts or thighs, whole or roughly chopped
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 2 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. black pepper
- 2 tsp. Italian Seasoning
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette
- 2 14.5 oz. cans stewed tomatoes, undrained
Instructions
- Rub the chicken with olive oil, then place the chicken into the slow cooker. Season both sides of chicken with salt, pepper, Italian seasonings, and garlic powder.
- Add the sliced onions to the pot. Pour the balsamic vinaigrette over top. Pour both cans of stewed tomatoes over top.
- Cover and set on LOW for 6 – 7 hours (preferred method), or on HIGH for 3 – 4 hours. Chicken is done with an internal temperature of 165°.
- Shred the chicken or leave pieces whole. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken
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