Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken thighs in a rich balsamic-honey sauce with herbs. An effortless, flavorful dinner.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

04 - 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
05 - 2 tbsp honey
06 - 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
07 - 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
08 - 1 tbsp olive oil
09 - 1 tsp dried basil
10 - 1 tsp dried oregano
11 - 1/2 tsp salt
12 - 1/2 tsp black pepper

→ Garnish

13 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

# How To Cook:

01 - Place the sliced red onion and minced garlic evenly across the bottom of the slow cooker insert.
02 - Lay the chicken thighs in a single layer on top of the onion and garlic, ensuring even distribution.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, honey, chicken broth, Dijon mustard, olive oil, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until fully combined.
04 - Pour the prepared balsamic mixture evenly over the chicken thighs, coating all pieces.
05 - Cover and cook on low setting for 6 hours or on high setting for 4 hours, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and is tender.
06 - For a thicker sauce, remove the cooked chicken and set aside. Transfer the liquid to a saucepan and simmer over medium heat for 5-8 minutes until reduced. Return the chicken to the sauce before serving.
07 - Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley just before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce develops this incredible depth while you literally do nothing else
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day if they last that long
02 -
  • Skip the thickening step if you want to keep this truly hands off, the sauce will still be delicious just thinner
  • Low and slow gives you the most tender results but high heat works when you are pressed for time
03 -
  • Pat the chicken dry before adding it to help the sauce adhere better
  • Let the finished chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving to keep the juices distributed evenly

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