Juiciest Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Recipe Ever

Unraveling the magic of a slow cooker chicken and broccoli dish promises a delightful culinary adventure.

Aromas of tender meat and crisp vegetables will dance through your kitchen.

Busy weeknight warriors rejoice as this simple recipe delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort.

Comfort meets convenience in a meal that satisfies both hunger and soul.

Nutritious ingredients blend seamlessly, creating a balanced plate everyone will adore.

Lean protein and vibrant greens come together in a harmonious symphony of taste.

You’ll find this recipe becomes an instant household favorite that sparks conversation and smiles around the dinner table.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli That Tastes Fresh

• Throw chicken and sauce ingredients into the slow cooker with minimal chopping, creating a hands-off cooking experience that saves precious time during busy weekdays.
• Combines kid-approved chicken with nutritious broccoli, delivering a balanced meal that satisfies both parents' health goals and children's taste preferences.
• Easily serve over rice, noodles, or cauliflower rice, making this recipe adaptable for different dietary needs and meal variations without complicated adjustments.
• Combines lean protein from chicken with fiber-rich broccoli, offering a healthy meal that delivers maximum nutrition with minimal cooking effort.

Ingredients in Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli

• Chicken: Tender protein that forms the base of the dish, best with boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs.

• Soy Sauce: Provides savory umami flavor and depth to the sauce.
• Chicken Broth: Adds moisture and enhances overall chicken flavor.
• Honey: Balances the sauce with natural sweetness and helps create a glossy finish.
• Rice Vinegar: Brings a light tangy note to complement the rich flavors.
• Sesame Oil: Introduces a nutty, authentic Asian-style taste.
• Garlic: Offers aromatic and pungent base flavor.
• Ginger: Adds warmth and traditional Asian culinary complexity.
• Black Pepper: Provides subtle heat and spice.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Adds a gentle kick of spiciness.

• Broccoli: Fresh green vegetable that adds nutrition, color, and textural contrast to the dish, choose crisp and bright green florets.

How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Easily

Step 1: Prep the Protein

Place chicken breasts or thighs into the slow cooker, ensuring they’re clean and ready for flavor magic.

Step 2: Create Flavor Explosion

• Soy sauce
• Chicken broth
• Honey
• Rice vinegar
• Sesame oil
• Minced garlic
• Grated fresh ginger
• Cracked black pepper
• Red pepper flakes

Whisk these ingredients together until they form a smooth, aromatic sauce that will make your taste buds dance.

Step 3: Drench the Chicken

Pour the entire sauce mixture over the chicken, making sure every piece gets a generous coating of deliciousness.

Step 4: Set and Forget

Cover the slow cooker and set it to low heat. Let the chicken simmer and absorb all those incredible flavors for 4-6 hours.

Step 5: Vegetable Touchdown

About 30 minutes before serving, add fresh broccoli florets to the slow cooker. This ensures they’re tender but still vibrant and crisp.

Step 6: Final Flourish

Once cooking is complete, carefully shred the chicken using two forks. Stir the broccoli and chicken together, allowing the vegetables to soak up the rich sauce.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy

Plate your creation over steamed rice or cauliflower rice. Sprinkle with sesame seeds or chopped green onions for an extra pop of flavor.

Tips for Tender Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli

• Boost Flavor Depth: Add a splash of rice wine or mirin to the sauce for a more authentic Asian-inspired taste profile.
• Prevent Dry Chicken: Choose chicken thighs instead of breasts for juicier, more tender meat that stays moist during slow cooking.
• Texture Trick: Add broccoli during the last 30 minutes of cooking to maintain its bright green color and crisp texture, avoiding mushy vegetables.
• Low-Sodium Option: Swap regular soy sauce with low-sodium soy sauce and reduce added salt to control sodium intake without losing flavor complexity.
• Meal Prep Hack: Double the recipe and freeze individual portions for quick, ready-to-eat meals that reheat perfectly in the microwave.

Keeping Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Fresh

• Store leftover chicken and broccoli in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Properly sealed, the dish stays fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Transfer cooled chicken and broccoli to freezer-safe containers or bags. Freeze for up to 2 months, ensuring it's tightly sealed to prevent freezer burn.
• Warm gently in the microwave, stirring halfway through to distribute heat evenly. Add a splash of chicken broth to maintain moisture and prevent drying.
• Defrost overnight in the refrigerator, then warm slowly in a skillet over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even heating.

What to Serve with Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli

• Pair this slow cooker chicken and broccoli with steamed jasmine rice for a perfect base that soaks up the delicious sauce.
• Choose a crisp Riesling or Gewürztraminer to balance the dish's sweet and savory notes, cutting through the richness of the chicken.
• Add a side of crunchy Asian-style cucumber salad with rice vinegar and sesame seeds to provide a refreshing counterpoint to the tender, saucy chicken.
• Include a light miso soup as a starter to complement the meal's Asian-inspired flavors and add a warming, nutritious element to the dining experience.

Recipe Variations for Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli

• Gluten-Free Option: Replace soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos to make the dish suitable for gluten-sensitive individuals.
• Low-Carb Adaptation: Swap honey with a sugar-free sweetener like stevia or erythritol to reduce carbohydrate content.
• Vegetarian Substitute: Replace chicken with firm tofu or tempeh, using the same marinade for a plant-based protein alternative.
• Spice Level Adjustment: Reduce or eliminate red pepper flakes for a milder version, or increase for those who enjoy more heat.

Questions About Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli

• Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen chicken breasts directly in the slow cooker. Just add an extra 1-2 hours to the cooking time to ensure the chicken is fully cooked and reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F.

• Is there a substitute for rice vinegar?

White wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar work well as alternatives if you don’t have rice vinegar on hand. They’ll provide a similar tangy flavor to the sauce.

• How can I make this dish spicier?

To increase the heat, add more red pepper flakes or include a few dashes of sriracha sauce when mixing the sauce ingredients. You can also finely chop a fresh jalapeño and add it to the slow cooker.

• Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Use tamari or gluten-free soy sauce instead of regular soy sauce. Double-check that all other ingredients are certified gluten-free to ensure the entire dish meets dietary requirements.

Slow Cooker Chicken And Broccoli Recipe

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4.6 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Comfort meets convenience in this hearty slow cooker chicken and broccoli dish, packed with creamy textures and rich flavors. Minimal prep and maximum satisfaction guarantee a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 1 ½ pounds (680 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs), cut into bite-sized pieces

Vegetables and Herbs:

• 3 cups fresh broccoli florets
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
• 2 tablespoons green onions, sliced (for garnish)

Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:

• ½ cup (120 milliliters) low-sodium soy sauce
• ½ cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons honey (or brown sugar)
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch + 3 tablespoons water (for thickening)
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)

Serving Suggestion:

• Cooked rice or noodles

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Instructions

1. Nestle chicken pieces into the bottom of the slow cooker, ensuring they are evenly distributed and not overlapping.
2. Craft a vibrant sauce by combining soy sauce, chicken broth, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, freshly ground black pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes in a mixing bowl.
3. Pour the aromatic sauce directly over the chicken, making sure each piece is thoroughly coated and infused with the flavorful liquid.
4. Cover the slow cooker and set to low heat, allowing the chicken to gently simmer and absorb the complex flavor profile for approximately 3-4 hours.
5. During the final 30 minutes of cooking, carefully add fresh broccoli florets on top of the chicken, ensuring they steam and become tender without becoming mushy.
6. Once cooking is complete, use two forks to shred the chicken or slice it into bite-sized pieces, letting it mingle with the sauce and broccoli.
7. Optional: Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions for an extra layer of texture and visual appeal.
8. Serve the chicken and broccoli hot over steamed rice or cauliflower rice, drizzling any remaining sauce from the slow cooker for maximum flavor.

Notes

• Swap chicken broth with vegetable broth to create a completely vegetarian version that maintains the rich, savory flavor profile.
• Add cornstarch to the sauce mixture for a thicker, more glossy coating that clings perfectly to the chicken and broccoli.
• Prep broccoli florets separately and add during the last 30 minutes of cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain a crisp, bright green texture.
• For a low-carb adaptation, replace honey with a sugar-free sweetener like monk fruit or stevia to reduce overall sugar content while preserving the dish’s sweet-tangy balance.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 320
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 600 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 28 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg