Description

This Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken recipe is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish that combines tender chicken breasts with a tangy, sweet balsamic sauce infused with herbs and garlic. Perfect for busy days, this recipe uses a slow cooker for hands-off cooking, allowing the chicken to soak up the rich sauce and become juicy and perfectly cooked. Serve it with mashed potatoes, rice, or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Sauce

½ cup balsamic vinegar
¾ cup chicken broth
⅓ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
4 cloves garlic, minced

For the Chicken

8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried rosemary
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon salt

Optional

1 teaspoon cornstarch (for thickening sauce)

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Instructions

Combine Sauce Ingredients: In the slow cooker, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, chicken broth, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and minced garlic until well blended to create the flavorful sauce base.
Season Chicken: Trim any excess fat from the chicken breasts if desired. Then, season the chicken generously with dried oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper to infuse the meat with aromatic herbs and spices.
Slow Cook: Arrange the seasoned chicken breasts in the slow cooker, stirring gently to coat all pieces with the balsamic sauce mixture. Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours or on LOW for 6 to 8 hours until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and is tender.
Optional Sauce Reduction: For a thicker sauce, transfer the cooking juices from the slow cooker to a saucepan. Simmer the juices over medium heat until slightly reduced. To thicken further, whisk in 1 teaspoon of cornstarch until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
Serve: Plate the cooked chicken breasts and spoon the balsamic sauce over the top. Enjoy with your favorite sides like mashed potatoes, rice, or roasted vegetables for a delicious, complete meal.

Notes

To ensure even cooking, try to select chicken breasts of similar size.
You can use fresh herbs instead of dried, adjusting quantities accordingly.
For a thicker sauce directly in the slow cooker, set it to HIGH and cook uncovered for the last 30 minutes to reduce liquid.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Make sure to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure food safety.