Slow Cooker Chicken with Tomatoes and Balsamic Vinegar
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Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken with zesty tomatoes is an easy main dish that’s no-fuss, healthy, and extremely tasty! Serve over pasta or zucchini noodles with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and steamed veggies on the side, and enjoy a guilt-free meal full of flavor!
Why you’ll love this Balsamic Chicken in Slow Cooker recipe!
Staring at a package and wondering what else to do with chicken is common around here. No worries, this Balsamic Chicken recipe is flavorful, healthy, and so easy to adjust the ingredients in your pantry. My Celiac friend makes hers over a bed of freshly steamed or roasted cauliflower.
Sweet and tangy balsamic vinegar is excellent for all kinds of Italian recipes and other similar dishes. I like to use an 18-year-old traditional balsamic vinegar on my balsamic grilled chicken, pork chops and rice, and just about any roasted vegetable!
Ingredient notes
- Chicken breasts | Keep the meal wholesome and healthy with boneless skinless chicken breasts.
- Tomatoes | Add two cans of petite diced tomatoes as the base of the tasty balsamic sauce.
- Balsamic vinegar| The secret sauce for this recipe is a traditional aged balsamic vinegar.
- Onion | Thinly slice onion for the recipe– Do not chop it. I almost always cook with sweet onions, like Vidalias, just because they are my preference. But any white or yellow onion will work with this recipe.
- Garlic | Mince four fresh garlic cloves for subtle spice and loads of flavor.
- Olive oil | I like to use extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
- Dried herbs | Sprinkle in some dried oregano and dried basil. Choosing good quality dried spices instead of the budget-friendly choice really pays off in this recipe.
- Fresh herbs | Also include fresh thyme leaves and chopped rosemary for earthiness and a mouth-watering aroma.
- Salt and pepper | Round out all the flavors with salt and black pepper.
How to make Slow Cooker Chicken with Balsamic Vinegar
Enjoy this easy meal of tender chicken smothered in a delicious sauce. Flavorful balsamic chicken is one of the best chicken dinners the whole family will love!
STEP 1 | Add oil, chicken, and seasoning
Gather all the ingredients and slice the onions to get started.
First, pour 1 tablespoon olive oil into the bottom of the slow cooker, adding the chicken breasts and sprinkling with the salt, pepper, and herbs.
STEP 2 | Top with remaining ingredients and cook
Next, toss in the onion slices and top with tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. Cover and cook on high heat for 4 hours. Then, remove the chicken and slice, if desired.
STEP 3 | Serve and enjoy!
Lastly, serve the chicken and sauce on top of pasta, like delicate angel hair, with crusty bread or brown rice. Garnish with fresh herbs and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. Bon apetite!
Tips
- Have a meat thermometer handy to check the internal temperature of the chicken before removing it.
- Do not drain the tomatoes! The liquid becomes a tasty sauce for the pasta.
- My Crock-Pot® automatically switches to the WARM setting once the cooking cycle is complete, which is handy if I need the food to sit for just a little bit longer.
Variations and substitutions
- Italian Seasoning. Replace the individual dried herbs with your favorite blend of Italian seasoning.
- Chicken Thighs. Make this balsamic chicken crock pot recipe with chicken thighs instead of boneless chicken breasts for something different but just as delicious!
- Swap the fresh herbs for dried — 1/2 tsp. dried thyme and 1 tsp. dried rosemary.
- Garnish this easy recipe with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves.
Storage and reheating tips
- Once completely cooled, store your leftover balsamic chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
- You can freeze the dish for up to three months, then thaw it in the fridge overnight to serve the following day.
- What to do with leftovers? If you’d like, shred the leftover chicken from this recipe to make yummy sandwich wraps with pesto and spinach leaves for weekday lunches. You can also use the chicken as a pizza topping with fresh mozzarella and parmesan. So good!
Frequently asked questions
You don’t have to brown the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker, but you can if you prefer.
Yes, meat can dry and lose flavor when cooked in a slow cooker longer than needed. So, be sure to follow the directions carefully. If it needs to sit in the slow cooker for longer, switch the setting to warm so the ingredients don’t continue to cook.
Sure! Add all the main ingredients with half a cup of broth or water. Set the time to 10 minutes and cook the recipe on high pressure. Then, quick-release the pressure and serve hot and fresh!
Yes and no. It depends on your preference. I like to make this recipe extra special with aged balsamic vinegar, but any kind will do. In fact, balsamic glaze will even work if you’re in a pinch.
More Slow Cooker favorites from our recipe box!
Slow-cooking a meal is perfect for busy weeknights and fun-filled weekends. Next time, try my Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas with Chimichurri, delicious Crockpot Southwest Chicken Chili, comforting Crockpot Pea Soup with Ham, saucy Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs, or this easy Crockpot Brisket!
Serving suggestions for Balsamic Chicken in Slow Cooker
Serve this tasty main dish with simple Instant Pot Jasmine Rice and a flavorful veggie side dish, like Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Bacon or Bacon Wrapped Asparagus.
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Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 tsp. dried thyme)
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary chopped, (or 1 tsp. dried rosemary)
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced Not chopped
- 2 14.5 oz cans petite diced tomatoes
- ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
Instructions
- Pour the olive oil into the bottom of a slow cooker or lightly coat with cooking spray. Unpackage the chicken breasts, pat them dry with paper towels, and place them in the slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, oregano, basil, rosemary, and thyme leaves. Sprinkle the spices evenly on top of the chicken and toss in the minced garlic.
- Next, layer the thinly sliced onions, tomatoes (with the juices), and balsamic vinegar on top of the chicken.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours. Remove the chicken and slice, if desired. Serve the chicken and sauce over angel hair pasta.
Notes
-
- Once completely cooled, store your leftover balsamic chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.
- You can freeze the dish for up to three months, then thaw it in the fridge overnight to serve the following day
- Have a meat thermometer handy to check the internal temperature of the chicken before removing it.
- My Crock-Pot® automatically switches to the WARM setting once the cooking cycle is complete, which is handy if I need the food to sit for just a little bit longer.
- Do not drain the tomatoes! The liquid becomes a tasty sauce for the pasta.
Nutrition
Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Made this last week and my hubby was so pleased! Thanks for a new way to cook chicken!
Oh my goodness, I LOVED this recipe! Made it last night for dinner, it couldn’t have been easier and oh so flavorful! My hubby asked that I put it on our regular menu rotation!