This Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken is one of the easiest slow cooker dishes we have. There is no pre-cooking involved, you just put onions, chicken and a fresh tomato, herb and balsamic mix into the slow cooker and let it cook for 3 hours. Serve with spaghetti, rice or with a fresh green salad for a delicious and light meal.
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The flavours in this dish are so simple, with just a few ingredients, but super tasty. Chopped fresh tomatoes, fresh basil and garlic are mixed with some good quality balsamic vinegar and then poured over chicken breasts to make an easy meal that can be served so many different ways.
Tomato and balsamic are a classic summer combination and this is a delicious way to enjoy it.
If you are looking for some other summer slow cooker recipes to try, then why not try our delicious Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa, tasty Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken, easy Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas or our amazing Slow Cooker Pulled Pork?
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Why You Will Love It
- No prep - There is no need to brown the chicken first. You just dump it all in and turn it on.
- A delicious way to enjoy chicken - We love using chicken breasts because they are protein packed and versatile. However, we can get a little bored with eating them the same way all the time. This is an easy and delicious way to use them.
- A great way to use up lots of tomatoes - Growing lots of tomatoes? This uses lots of fresh tomatoes and makes sure that nothing goes to waste.
- Perfect for using the slow cooker in the summer - Nobody wants to turn their oven on on a hot summers day. The slow cooker doesn't heat up the kitchen like the oven does.
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Chicken - Skinless and boneless chicken breasts are what make this a lean and protein packed meal. You could swap them for chicken thighs if you prefer.
- Oil - We used olive oil, as we find this has a nicer flavour.
- Balsamic vinegar - This is the star of the dish, so try to buy the best quality you can as you will really taste the difference. Cheap balsamic tends to be really runny too, which makes for a watery finished dish.
- Garlic - This balsamic chicken is garlic heavy, and that's just how like it. If you aren't a huge garlic fan, then feel free to reduce the amount used.
- Onion - We used red onion, however you could swap it for a brown onion, or even shallots.
- Tomato - The key to having a really delicious dish is to use fresh and ripe tomatoes.
- Basil - Fresh basil is always best in this dish.
More ingredient substitutions and variations can be found in the recipe card.
How to Make Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken
- Step 1: Put the sliced onion at the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Step 2: Put the chicken breasts on top with the olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Step 3: Add the tomatoes, garlic and fresh basil.
- Step 4: Pour the balsamic vinegar on top.
- Step 5: Cook on high for 6 hours or low for 3 hours.
Serving Suggestions
We served ours on top of spaghetti with a green salad on the side, but you could have so many different things with it.
For a low carb option, serve it with courgette (zucchini) spaghetti or for more of a comforting dish then mashed potato is the way to go. You can serve it with spaghetti squash, udon noodles, couscous and of course just a big pile of vegetables or on a green salad.
We also like to crumble some feta on top just before serving, because the creaminess goes really well with the sweetness of the balsamic.
Leftovers are delicious on rice or a baked potato, or even just on a big green salad.
Storage
Store: You can keep leftovers in an air tight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
Freeze: This recipe serves 4, but you can easily double the batch and then freeze the leftovers (with rice) in individual portions. Just make sure it cools fully before freezing. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Defrost: Defrost it in the fridge overnight.
Reheat: To reheat, add it to a pan and heat on low, stirring often, until it is piping hot. You can also reheat it in the microwave.
Dannii's Top Tips
- We serve the chicken breasts up whole, but you could shred or slice them before serving and that would soak up a lot of the liquid too.
- We used skinless and boneless chicken breasts to make this dish, but you can use thighs or legs instead, but cooking times will vary.
- Either serve with with spaghetti, mashed potato, rice or on top of a green salad.
- Add a pinch of red chilli flakes if you want to add some spice to this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you could make this slow cooker balsamic chicken with boneless and skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breast. It would change the nutritional information, but the chicken would be much juicier.
If you don't have a slow cooker, then this can be cooked in the oven. You can put everything on a pan with some extra vegetables like par-boil potatoes, peppers, mushrooms and asparagus and put in a preheated oven at 200°C/180°C(fan)/400°F/Gas 6 for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
By looking at the ingredients, it doesn't look like there is much of a sauce to this. But that is the beauty of this dish - its simplicity. There are no thick and heavy sauces, just the juices from the chicken and tomatoes, mixed with the balsamic, garlic and basil.
There is a fair amount of liquid in the slow cooker bowl once it is cooked, but I find that once it is all mixed into the spaghetti and the chicken on top it is just the right amount. You can always use less of the liquid if you find it too much. I wouldn't recommend using a tin of tomatoes, as they are too juicy, so fresh is best.
There really is no rule here, just make sure that the beef joint you are using can fit in your slow cooker. We use a Crock Pot Slow Cooker and we love it. What I love most about it is that you can put the bowl insert on the hob too. You can also sear the meat in it first. I also love that it has a clear lid, as I am so impatient that I want to keep looking and seeing what it is doing. If you don't have a clear lid, then lifting it to see will release lots of the heat and add to the cooking time.
The best way to ensure that it is cooked through is to use a meat thermometer. Chicken is cooked when it has an internal temperature of 75°C/167°F.
More Chicken Recipes
If you've tried this balsamic chicken, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
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Recipe
Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken
Ingredients
- 500 g (1.1 lb) of Chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon of Olive oil
- 1 pinch of Sea salt
- 1 pinch of Ground black pepper
- 1 Red onion - thinly sliced
- 6 Tomatoes - diced
- 2 Garlic clove - crushed
- 8 Fresh basil - diced
- 60 ml (0.25 cups) of Balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Put 1 Red onion at the bottom of the slow cooker and then put 500 g of Chicken breast on top. Add 1 tbsp of Olive oil and season with 1 pinch of Sea salt.
- Add 6 Tomatoes, 2 Garlic clove and 8 Fresh basil and then pour 60 ml of Balsamic vinegar on top.
- Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.
Recipe Video
Recipe Tips
- We serve the chicken breasts up whole, but you could shred them before serving and that would soak up a lot of the liquid too.
- We used skinless and boneless chicken breasts to make this dish, but you can use thighs or legs instead, but cooking times will vary.
- Either serve with with spaghetti, mashed potato, rice or on top of a green salad.
Nutritional Information
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The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Cindy @ A Uniquely Edible Magic says
This is so tasty!
Helen of Fuss Free Flavours says
Sometimes the most simple of ingredients can make a truly tasty meal, and using the slow cooker is so easy. Perfect for those busy days, knowing you can look forward to a delicious supper when all is done.
Michelle Miller says
I love a good balsamic chicken recipe. This one looks absolutely amazing!
David says
perfect timing! was just thinking I'd like to try a new slow cooker chicken recipe. I like your ideas for using the leftovers, too.
Alison says
A good slow cooker recipe makes weeknight meals so much easier. Love the fresh flavors.
Alison says
I love a simple slow cooker recipe. It makes weeknight meals a breeze! Yummy fresh flavors.
Tatiana says
What a gorgeous and easy chicken dinner!!! Love that it’s made in the slow cooker, so easy! Your photos always amaze me!!!
Pam says
This is my kind of easy cooking! I love how tender and flavorful the chicken is!
Sara Welch says
This was such a quick and flavorful recipe! A restaurant worthy dish, indeed!
Emily says
Any thoughts on leaving out the onion? I get terrible ulcers, so can't eat or cook with them, but feel like putting the chicken directly on the bottom may affect the chicken... Anything else I could rest it on? Should i put a small rack in my pot?
Dannii says
It would still be fine with nothing underneath. Or, you could use leek, or even carrot.
Stief says
Delicious recipe! Thank you- worked perfectly in a slow cooker, the sauce was a bit thin, but think that came from the chicken itself but great. Going to try making this in an instant pot now.
Jennifer says
This looks delicious but I'm wondering if I use canned tomatoes, how many ounces doe you suggest, and should I drain them?
Dannii says
I would say 200g (7oz) can.
Karen says
Lovely, tasty and easy meal! Definitely making this again!
amy says
I really wanted to like this but it just didnt turn put, very watery!
Dannii says
Watery? Did you add water to it, as it shouldn't be watery as there is no water in the ingredients.
Dannii says
Also, it helps to use the best quality balsamic that you can. A cheap one might make it watery.
Denise. Evans says
Please send me recipes for a dietbetic that has no sugar thanks denise
Dannii says
Lots in the recipe section of my blog.