Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken (Printer-Friendly)
Juicy chicken slow-cooked in tangy balsamic sauce with aromatic herbs and fresh vegetables for an effortless weeknight dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5–2 lbs)
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium onion, sliced
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
→ Sauce & Seasonings
06 - 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
07 - 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
08 - 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
09 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
10 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
12 - 1 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
→ Garnish (optional)
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
# How to Make It:
01 - Arrange the sliced onions, minced garlic, bell pepper strips, and halved cherry tomatoes in an even layer across the bottom of the slow cooker.
02 - Place the chicken breasts on top of the bed of vegetables in the slow cooker.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, chicken broth, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper until fully combined.
04 - Pour the balsamic sauce evenly over the chicken and vegetables, ensuring everything is well coated.
05 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on the low setting for 4 to 6 hours, until the chicken is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
06 - Remove the chicken and vegetables from the slow cooker, garnish with chopped fresh parsley, and serve hot alongside rice, potatoes, or steamed vegetables.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sauce does all the heavy lifting, turning plain chicken breasts into something you would happily serve guests without a second thought.
- Everything goes into one pot, which means cleanup is almost nonexistent and your kitchen smells incredible for hours.
02 -
- Opening the slow cooker lid adds roughly fifteen to twenty minutes of cooking time each time, so trust the process and keep it sealed.
- If the sauce seems too thin at the end, remove the chicken and let it rest while you transfer the liquid to a saucepan and reduce it on the stove for five minutes.
03 -
- Sear the chicken breasts in a hot skillet for two minutes per side before adding them to the slow cooker for a deeper caramelized flavor that the slow cooker alone cannot achieve.
- Taste the sauce before pouring it in and adjust the sweetness to your liking because balsamic vinegars vary wildly in acidity depending on the brand.