Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken (Printer-friendly)
Tender chicken slow-simmered in a sweet and savory balsamic herb sauce with tomatoes and garlic.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz each)
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
→ Liquids & Sauces
05 - ½ cup balsamic vinegar
06 - ¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth
07 - 2 tablespoons honey
08 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
→ Spices & Herbs
09 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
10 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt
12 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Garnish
13 - Fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped (optional)
# How-To Guide:
01 - Arrange the sliced onions, halved cherry tomatoes, and minced garlic evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
02 - Place the chicken breasts in a single layer on top of the vegetable mixture.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, chicken broth, honey, olive oil, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
04 - Pour the balsamic sauce evenly over the chicken breasts, ensuring each piece is well coated.
05 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on the low setting for 4 to 5 hours, or until the chicken is fork-tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
06 - Transfer the chicken to serving plates and spoon the balsamic sauce and vegetables from the slow cooker over each portion. Garnish with fresh chopped basil if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sauce practically builds itself while you are off living your life and it tastes like you spent three times the effort.
- It is one of those rare slow cooker meals where the chicken actually stays juicy instead of turning into cardboard.
- Cleanup is a dream since everything cooks in one pot and there are no extra pans lurking in your sink.
02 -
- Do not be tempted to cook this on high because the chicken will seize up and get stringy while the sauce reduces too fast and burns.
- If you want a thicker sauce pull the chicken out after cooking, leave the lid off, and let the liquid bubble on high for about 10 to 15 minutes until it coats a spoon.
03 -
- Spray the slow cooker insert with a little nonstick spray or oil before adding anything and cleanup will take about ten seconds.
- Double the sauce ingredients if you love extra liquid to spoon over your sides because there is never enough sauce and that is a hill I will die on.