Balsamic Chicken Thighs (Slow Cooker Recipe)

Welcome to The Storied Recipe Podcast, a podcast about food, culture, and love. 

This recipe for Balsamic Chicken Thighs came from my podcast guest, Adina Bailey, co-founder of Take Them A Meal. Make sure you listen to her episode A Conversation with Adina Bailey, Take Them A Meal Founder while you make these balsamic chicken thighs in the slow cooker!   

These thighs are Adina's most highly recommended recipe for sending a meal to others, or when you are putting a meal on the table for your family and you want a complete meal that is quick and a great option for a meal prep dinner ahead of busy weeknights! The recipe is originally from Sugar-Free Mom.

Personally, I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of flavor in the sauce since it is only made up of a handful of ingredients. The balsamic flavor is complemented by the softer sweetness of the basil to balance its acidity, and the garlic cuts through some of the sweetness and leaves you with more to savor. It is an easy one-pot meal that is such an easy recipe that it may become one of your staples when you are crunched for time.

Looking for other slow cooker recipes that only use simple ingredients and is a great first time recipe for new cooks? Check out these other main dish recipes for Slow Cooker Pulled Beef/Shredded Beef Sandwich Recipe and Jewish Brisket (Slow Cooker or Oven).

Adina's Memories of Making This Balsamic Chicken Crock Pot Recipe

I was introduced to this recipe by Maureen Witmer when she was adding some of her favorite tested recipes to the TakeThemAMeal.com recipe section several years ago. We like to have recipes that are easy to make, easy to take to a friend, and delicious. This recipe has been a favorite of mine since I first tried it. It's definitely my go-to meal when taking dinner to a friend. My family loves it and I serve it at least once a month. I also like that it meets many different dietary requirements. It's gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free.

-Adina Bailey

Take Them A Meal

Adina's Take Them a Meal company started with her and her friend, Scott, taking meals to four mothers in crisis. From there, the company grew to include a full staff, over 1.5 million views on their website and facilitated hundreds of thousands of meals being delivered to families in crisis, grief, or transition every week. This delicious recipe is one that they have on their website that they have labeled "transports well" if you are taking it to a family that is in need of a nutritional home-cooked meal.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Garlic powder, dried basil, dried minced onion, salt, and pepper - Substitution option: You can switch out these dried herbs with Italian seasoning if you prefer.
• Garlic cloves
• Olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar - No need to go out and buy good quality balsamic vinegar, what you have in your pantry will be just fine!
• Boneless chicken thighs - Substitution: You can always use boneless chicken breasts if you don't like dark meat. Also, if you want to use bone-in chicken thighs instead of boneless, the cooking time will be longer. 
• Fresh parsley

Instructions

• Combine the dry spices in a small bowl and spread over the chicken on both sides. Set aside.
• Put olive oil and garlic in a single layer on the bottom of the slow cooker. Place chicken on top.
• Pour balsamic vinegar over the chicken.
• Cover and cook on high for 4 hours.
• Sprinkle with fresh parsley on top to serve.

What to Eat WithThis Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken Recipe

This slow cooker meal of balsamic chicken thighs is sure to please the whole family and pairs perfectly with comforting side dishes like those I listed below. This tender chicken recipe is an easy dinner option everyone (and your taste buds) can look forward to.

• Green beans
• Spicy coconut milk corn on the cob
• Asparagus
• Kilt Lettuce Appalachian Salad
• Ukrainian dill potatoes in cream sauce
• Liberian potato salad
• Mashed potatoes
• Pasta
• Crusty bread

Equipment

• Slow cooker OR crockpot
• Meat thermometer (optional)

Storage

If you have any of your flavorful balsamic chicken leftovers, you can keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, per the USDA's recommendation.

Safety

Make sure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 325°F / 162.8°C to know that the chicken is fully cooked.

More Chicken Recipes

Listen to Adina's Episode Now

Follow The Storied Recipe in Your Favorite Player

Balsamic Chicken Thighs (Slow Cooker Recipe)

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 19 reviews

These Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken Thighs with garlic and basil are perfect after a long day or when you need to take a meal to others.

• Author: Adina Bailey, Guest of The Storied Recipe
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 hours
• Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings 1x
• Category: Chicken, Main Course, Slow Cooker
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
• 4 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• fresh parsley (for topping, chopped)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Cue Up The Episode!

1. Make sure you listen to Adina's episode The Storied Recipe Podcast, A Conversation with Adina Bailey, Take Them a Meal Founder, while you make her Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken Thighs.

Make The Recipe

1. Combine the first five dry spices in a small bowl and spread over chicken on both sides. Set aside.
2. Pour olive oil and garlic on the bottom of the crock pot. Place chicken on top.
3. Pour balsamic vinegar over the chicken.
4. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours.
5. Sprinkle with fresh parsley on top to serve.

Notes

Listen to Episode 079 of The Storied Recipe Podcast, A Conversation with Adina Bailey, Take Them a Meal Founder, while you make her Slow Cooked Balsamic Chicken thighs!

Nutrition

• Calories: 166
• Sugar: 2
• Sodium: 250
• Fat: 6
• Saturated Fat: 1
• Carbohydrates: 3
• Fiber: 0.1
• Protein: 22
• Cholesterol: 107