Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken (Printer-friendly)

Tender chicken slow-cooked in a tangy balsamic sauce with herbs and seasonal vegetables for an effortless weeknight dinner.

# What You 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

14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Arrange the sliced onions, minced garlic, bell pepper strips, and halved cherry tomatoes evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
02 - Place the chicken breasts on top of the vegetable layer 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 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is fork-tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
06 - Transfer the chicken and vegetables to a serving platter, spoon the cooking juices over the top, garnish with chopped fresh parsley, and serve hot alongside rice, potatoes, or steamed vegetables.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce practically makes itself while you go about your day, and it tastes like something you would order at a nice restaurant.
  • It is genuinely hard to mess up, even if you are the kind of cook who forgets things are on the stove.
  • Cleanup is almost nothing since everything happens in one pot.
02 -
  • Do not cook on high to save time because the chicken will seize up and turn rubbery instead of becoming meltingly tender.
  • If you lift the lid during cooking, you add about 30 minutes to the total time, so trust the process and walk away.
03 -
  • Sear the chicken in a hot skillet for two minutes per side before adding to the slow cooker if you want a caramelized crust and deeper flavor.
  • Let the finished dish rest with the lid off for ten minutes before serving so the sauce can settle and thicken slightly.

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