Skinny Slow Cooker – Balsamic Chicken
We, at Skinny Ms., love Italian cuisine, but we’re not always in the mood for heavy pastas and sauces. When we’re looking to serve something a little lighter for dinner, but we don’t want to sacrifice the zesty Italian flavor we’ve come to cherish, this Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken does the trick! Originally uploaded to our Facebook Fanpage by Dishing with Leslie, and tweaked a little by us at Skinny Ms., Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken has quickly become a fan favorite. We love how the balsamic vinegar used in this recipe works a tenderizer, allowing the chicken to soak up every delicious ounce of flavor from the tomatoes, onions, and seasonings. Serve this over a bed of brown rice, or quinoa, or accompany it with a fresh salad, and your family is sure to wild!
Yields 10 Cups | Serving size: 1 Cup | Calories: 190 | Previous Points: 4 | Points Plus: 4 | Fat: 6g | Saturated fat: 1 g | Trans fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 53 mg | Sodium: 121 mg | Carbohydrate: 5 g | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 3 g | Protein 26 g
Ingredients
- 4-6 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts (about 40 ounces)
- 2 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced (Not chopped)
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (for gluten-free use White Balsamic Vinegar which doesn't have caramel coloring)
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tsp each: dried oregano, basil, and rosemary
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- ground black pepper and salt to taste
Directions
Pour the olive oil on bottom of slow cooker, add chicken breasts, salt and pepper each breast, put sliced onion on top of chicken then put in all the dried herbs and garlic cloves. Pour in vinegar and top with tomatoes.
Cook on high 4 hours, serve over angel hair pasta.
http://skinnyms.com/slow-cooker-balsamic-chicken/Don’t miss the Top 10 Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes on Skinny Ms. and these recipes favorites: 7 Comfort Food Entrées Under 290 Calories.
And if you end up with leftovers, here is a recipe for a Balsamic Chicken Wrap.
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No nutrition data for this recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 tomato and herb wrap
- 1 Tbsp prepared pesto, no sugar added
- 1 handful of baby spinach leaves
- Leftover pieces of Balsamic Chicken
Directions
Place wrap on plate, spread with prepared pesto, add spinach leaves and top with chicken.
Wrap, slice in half and enjoy.
http://skinnyms.com/slow-cooker-balsamic-chicken/Ready for dessert? 5 Chocolate Treats Under 230 Calories
More about Guest Contributor, Dishing with Leslie:
A while back, Leslie from Dishing With Leslie posted her recipe for Balsamic Chicken on our Facebook Fan page. It very quickly became one of the most requested recipes on our page! So of course, we just had to give it a try and we absolutely fell in love with this dish!
The only thing we changed was using 1 tablespoon olive oil instead of 2. Everything still turned out wonderful, we cut back on fat, and we didn’t have to go to the store for more oil!
We have invited Leslie to share the recipe here on our site, and she has been kind enough to also share a recipe that you can use when you have leftovers (…..IF…. you have leftovers…).
We hope you’ll enjoy both recipes, and we’ll let Leslie take it from here…
“I have been cooking for twenty years which has led to many experimental recipes. Although I am not a professional chef I do understand food and the delightful balance in blending flavors. Over time I have come to realize I am a fan of the classics, and a true comfort food lover. I discovered my Balsamic Chicken whilst trying to prepare a meal that was lite yet filling and had that classic Italian flavor. This delicious and versatile recipe has been made and appreciated by many, and it has been a joy to watch this recipe become a favorite for others as well. This recipe is also delicious when served over garlic mashed potatoes, roasted cauliflower, or a bed of sautéed squash.”
RECIPE SIGNUP: If you’re interested in receiving the newest and best Slow Cooker recipes via email from Skinny Ms., signup here:Â eNewsletter Signup.
Question: When I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts in my slow cooker, they almost always are super dry! Do you have any suggestions for solving that problem? I usually cook on low for 8 hours.
Stacy – Here's an article on that very subject. Maybe something there will help: http://skinnyms.com/avoiding-dry-or-tough-meats/
Could this be done on low to drag out the cooking time? I'm gone for work much longer than that
I check with Leslie from "Dishing with Leslie" since this is her recipe. Here's her answer:
I have cooked it on low for six hours. I also used breasts with the bone in when I did this.
It turned out just fine. I'm sure you are needing more than six hours though. I wish I could say I've cooked it that long. What I tell others who ask me this, is that other people have told me they have cooked for up to eight hours. They all have had mixed revues. Figures!
I share this secret with everyone who, like me, is away from home longer than it takes to slow cook your meal — get out that good old household timer you may use at christmas time to "set" your lights to come on and go off at certain times of day. Plug your slow cooker into it and remember to TURN ON your slow cooker. Set the timer to come on a few hours after you leave the house and to turn off just before you come home, long enough in advance so dinner is slightly cooled and ready to eat when you walk in the door! It works like a charm every time, except for those slow cookers that are electronic (you have to be home to hit "start" on those models.) I will never use an electronic panel slow cooker again because they are too limiting (4, 6, 8 or 10 hours with nothing in between) and you need to push "start". Plus, if there's ever an electricity outage or even a brief surge, those will turn off and never come back on on their own while you're not there.
Thanks Skinny Kym for the tip!
You should NEVER leave food out like you describe above – it is far too easy to wind up with food poisoning.
Melissa, Please explain…food is not left out prior to slow cooking.
is it safe to sit chicken in a crockpot that isn't on for hours at room temperature?
No. That is not recommended. Make sure you are using fresh or thawed chicken, never frozen, for all dishes in the slow cooker.
I made this the other night but used 1 can of Rotel and 1 can of Italian diced tomatoes. I did cook it on low longer than recommended and it was fine. One of our new favorite recipes around here!
Every time I try boneless skInless breasts in the slow cooker, it dries out. This recipe keeps moist???
Stacy, I agree…we love it too. It's a fine line between cooked and over cooking. I like to use chicken on the bone w/o skin when possible. Thanks.
In response to the people who need to be at work for more than 4 hours, I have doubled some recipes, added a bit more liquid and added frozen meat. That will slow down the cooking time. You may have to add a bit more seasoning, to adjust for the extra liquid. Good luck.
Rave review here from my family! At first I wasn't sure if I would like it, even after I tasted the sauce at the end of cooking. Once I mixed it in with a little angel hair pasta, and a little mozzarella mmmm soo good! Even my picky 4 year old slurped it up.
YAH!!! If you're 4 year old liked…I'm happy!
Is there any way to cook this on the stove top or in the oven and get the same effect in less time?
Yes, place in a casserole dish and follow the same instructions. Oven on 375 degrees, check after 45 minutes for doneness. Make sure chicken juice runs clear when pierced with a fork. Also, Chicken should be an internal temp of 165 degrees. Do the same for the skillet, cover with a lid, turn to medium-high, bring to a boil, reduce to simmer and cook until chicken is done. Hope this helps.
Do check it for doneness before 45 mins. I would check it at about 30 mins depending on your oven & size of chicken breasts. I think mine would be dried out at 45 mins. If you do in a skillet, brown chicken a bit first in pan, then I'd add in the onions brown those a bit & deglaze it a bit w/ the balsamic & add in the other ingredients. It would add more layers of flavor. It isn't necessary but would be yummy.
is it possible to use fresh tomatoes instead of canned?
Absolutely. Fresh is always fine.
We like "spicy", so used canned Mexican Rotel for tomatoes – yummy!!!!
Sounds yum!
This is my family's favorite! So easy and delicious! I add fresh tomatoes too when I have them handy. Served over brown rice or whole wheat pasta it is a go to recipe for us all the time!
We love this recipe!!! As a family who eats alot of chicken, we love simple yet tasty and healthy chicken recipes…….my husband was recently diagnosed diabetic….your recipes are usually ok for diabetics!!! Thank you!
This is by far one of our favorite go to crock pot recipes! Love it with angel hair pasta and a side salad! Easy and is delicious!! Thanks for posting this recipe!!
I love this recipe!
Do you just put the whole garlic cloves in the crock pot, or do you mince them first? Going to try this for a friend tomorrow!
Whole garlic!
Can`t wait to try this! tfs
Ellen, It's a favorite! Enjoy!!!
Served this with lots of the 'broth' over quinoa and shredded the chicken so it was a bit soup like. It was AMAZING. This is a new favorite for sure!
Krishell, Great…so glad you liked!
We have a specialty olive oil and vinegar store in our town. I made this with an espresso balsamic vinegar and it was fantastic! This recipe gets made at our house about every other week. I will try it with different balsamic vinegars.
Missy, I love your creative idea of trying different balsamic vinegars! Espresso Balsamic vinegar sounds soooo yummy!
I bet this would be good with some artichoke hearts added.. yum! I can't wait to try this!!
I think you're right…love artichoke hearts!
one of my favorite slow cooker recipes
This is fantastic! A different twist on chicken!!!
I love the balsalmic chicken. It was so good and had a lot of flavor.
This is fantastic! Â A different twist on chicken!!!
One of my favorites so far! The list of recipes to try keeps growing
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Yummy! How would I modify this recipe to use frozen chicken? I tend to stockpile it when it goes on sale.
Ames, We don't recommend using frozen chicken in slow-cooker recipes. Bacteria tends to build up while the chicken slowly thaws and can be unsafe. Thaw frozen chicken in the frig prior to using in this or any other slow cooker recipe.
Trader Joes sells a white balsamic vinegar. Do you think that will taste as good?
cjsmiles, That's all I use lately. The white is especially yummy in desert dishes.
I made this when I got home from night shift at 7a this morning. I put it on low for 6 hours bc I wanted to get some sleep. When I woke up, I turned it off and let it sit in the crock pot until I ate around 7p. It was awesome! New fave slow cooker recipe!
It is awesome! Glad you're adding it to your favorites list.
We loved it, but was somewhat runny is that how it is suppose to be?
Not really runny…just juicy.
I made this today and it is delicious! Chicken is very moist - I am assuming the vinegar and tomatoes tenderize the chicken. I may drain the tomatoes a bit next time, but that's just me.
Kathy, Great! Thanks for your feedback.
Love this recipe! It's a favorite.
Tried this recipe last night…..LOVE it! Even my picker eating husband liked this one
My 3 year-old liked it as well, but I LOVED it!!!
One of our family's favorite! Have shared this recipe with others too!
Yum, this is really really good!!
This Balsamic Chicken is my fav! I swear I could eat it every week. Gonna make it this Tuesday.
love this recipe. it's hard to only eat on serving!
Thanks so much…glad you enjoyed!
This was delish!!! My whole family LOVED it
Tammy, YEAH!!!
ok, i made this in the oven the other night. soo easy and OMG so good. Served over angel hair pasta, husband raved.
Thank you for sharing..
Leanne, GREAT! We're so happy you enjoy.
Silly question…can this dish be prepared with frozen chicken and maybe just cook it a little longer. I'm the worst about remembering to defrost my meat the night before?? I've heard of other people using frozen chicken with crock pot cooking. As you can tell not much of a cook here!
Desiree, We don't recommend using frozen chicken because it may build up bacteria. Some people do use frozen chicken but I wouldn't recommend.
HELP! WHOLE CLOVES OR MINCED?
Whole cloves.
I made this tonight and my family found it way to vinegar-y! However, I put it in the crock pot on Sun night and I didn't get a chance to cook it until tonight (Thurs). Do you think the flavours sat for too long and made it too strong? I want to give it another try because of all the positive comments, but am afraid.
Jill, That's certainly a possibility. Try reducing the vinegar slightly and not leaving in the frig over night.
My family loves this recipe, especially over linguine!
My family and I love this recipe! The sauce is great over whole wheat angel hair. I like to serve it with saluted spinach. Yummy!
I love your recipe. I divided the recipe in half though so I thought it would make 5 cups since the full recipe said it made 10 cups & I only got 2.5 not even almost 3 cups what happened?
Kelly, So happy you enjoyed the recipe.
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My family did not care for this recipe. I made it exactly as written, but we all felt the vinegar taste overpowered the other flavors.
Wendy, So sorry your family didn’t enjoy!
Made the slow cooker balsamic chicken and the chicken wraps. They were both really good. The chicken wrap tasted like something you would get at a nice restaurant. Definitely recipes worth keeping at our house!!
Christy, GREAT!!! Thanks for letting us know.
Can you put the chicken in frozen or does it have to be thawed??
Brenda, Thawed!
Can this be frozen once made? I like to double recipes and freeze a future dinner.
Blanca, Allow to cool before freezing.
So the 190 calories per cup, is that with or without the angel hair pasta?
Love this recipe because it’s quick and easy, I always have the ingredients!
This is my favorite recipe. I like being able to break up the preparation involved in cooking. So, doing part of it early afternoon and then the rest of it just before dinner is perfect for me! I also LOVE the flavor of this dish, which is only enhanced by smelling it for hours before dinner!
Love the balsamic flavor profile with this chicken. This is a new favorite of mine.
This recipe is really yummy!
We thought it was too vinegary. If I were to make this again, I'd reduce the vinegar. Not bad but not a fave.
Just put it all the crock pot, can't wait to try it tonight! I accidentally got crushed tomatoes instead of diced so I added some fresh sliced cherry tomatoes and mushrooms to add some texture. Serving it tonight over a brown rice/quinoa blend with steamed veggies and salad. Excited!
Does the nutritional info include the past?
Heather, The past?
That balsamic chicken was fantastic! It was so moist and tender that it would just come apart with the tug of a fork. Kudos to you Skinnyms! Make sure you have some bread or a roll around to soak up the remains of that delicious sauce after the delicious chicken.