Description
Succulent slow cooker chicken with cherry tomatoes & basil delivers Mediterranean comfort straight to dinner tables. Juicy chicken nestles among sweet roasted tomatoes and fresh basil, promising a simple yet elegant meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 3 cups (450 g) cherry tomatoes (whole or halved)
- ¼ cup (60 ml) chicken broth or white wine
- ¼ cup (15 g) fresh basil, chopped (plus more for garnish)
- 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Optional: Grated Parmesan for serving
Instructions
- Preparation: Nestle chicken pieces evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker, creating a uniform base layer.
- Seasoning: Generously scatter cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, diced onion, dried oregano, salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and red pepper flakes over the chicken, ensuring even distribution.
- Liquid Infusion: Drizzle extra virgin olive oil across the surface and gently pour chicken broth or white wine, allowing the liquid to seep between ingredients and enhance overall flavor profile.
- Slow Cooking: Secure lid and allow chicken to simmer on low temperature for 5-6 hours or high temperature for 2.5-3.5 hours, ensuring meat becomes supremely tender and ingredients meld harmoniously.
- Finishing Touch: Moments before serving, delicately fold in freshly chopped basil leaves, releasing their aromatic essence and brightening the dish’s character.
- Serving Suggestions: Present the succulent chicken and herb-infused sauce atop pasta, fluffy rice, or alongside rustic toasted bread, optionally garnishing with a sprinkle of aged Parmesan cheese for added depth and richness.
Notes
- Choose bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or breasts to ensure juicy, flavorful meat during slow cooking.
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to personal heat preference, adding gradually for controlled spiciness.
- Add fresh basil at the very end of cooking to maintain its bright flavor and vibrant green color.
- Use just enough chicken broth to keep chicken moist without making the dish too watery, typically 1/2 to 3/4 cup for most slow cooker sizes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg