Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken (Print version)
Tender chicken slow-cooked in a tangy balsamic herb sauce with bell peppers, tomatoes, and onions for an effortless weeknight dinner.
# What goes in:
→ 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
14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
# Cooking steps:
01 - Arrange the sliced onions, minced garlic, bell pepper strips, and halved cherry tomatoes evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker.
02 - Place the chicken breasts on top of the bed of vegetables in a single even layer.
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 well combined.
04 - Pour the balsamic sauce evenly over the chicken breasts and vegetables, ensuring everything is well coated.
05 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on the low setting for 4–6 hours, or until the chicken is fork-tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
06 - Once cooked, transfer the chicken and vegetables to serving plates, garnish with chopped fresh parsley, and serve hot alongside rice, potatoes, or steamed vegetables.
# Tips from flavorandfeast:
01 -
- The sauce practically makes itself while you go about your day and the tangy sweetness soaks into every bite of chicken.
- It is genuinely hard to mess this up which makes it the perfect thing to hand off to anyone learning their way around a kitchen.
02 -
- Lifting the slow cooker lid repeatedly lets all the trapped heat and moisture escape which extends the cooking time and leaves you with dryer chicken.
- If you want to thicken the sauce at the end, transfer the liquid to a small pot and simmer it on the stove for about 5 minutes until it coats the back of a spoon.
03 -
- Searing the chicken breasts for two minutes per side before adding them to the slow cooker creates a golden crust that locks in moisture and adds a layer of flavor you will notice.
- Taste the sauce before serving and add a tiny splash more balsamic or a pinch of salt because slow cookers often mute seasoning slightly.