Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken with Tomatoes and Chard

Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken

The close of the school year always throws me into a tailspin. It’s a spring storm of tying up loose ends, attending an overwhelming number of sports, music, academic, and social events, madly sorting details for summer plans, and riding my annual wave of nostalgia as I notice, once again, that my kids are one year older. It’s the time of year someone in my house is most likely to ask, “mommy, do you maybe want to go out for a walk?” which is code, for “you’re kinda losing it, mom.”

But this year I found a diversion for myself, something so pressing that the transition of spring into summer really had to wait: A dress. I needed, absolutely must find, couldn’t live without, a new dress for a wedding Mr. Mom’s Kitchen and I are attending this weekend. It was the perfect excuse to walk away from my giant list of “to dos,” to put summer entirely on hold, and most importantly, to avoid facing the gentle heartache over my oldest daughter graduating from 8th grade, which means, yes, she is going to high school.

So instead of sitting down with camp schedules and school calendars, instead of allowing my mind to plummet into teary nostalgia, I popped into boutiques, tried on dresses I can’t afford, perused websites, contemplated deeply discounted purchases on Gilt, bought and then promptly returned garments that were so wrong for me I don’t know who I was shopping for.

A Slow Cooker Fix

Which brings me to this chicken. Who has time for dinner when one is busy shopping for a dress in order to hide from one’s life? Indeed, this Slow Cooker Chicken is just the sort of thing we moms need when life get kooky and we find ourselves contemplating the virtues of Shredded Wheat for dinner.

The recipe is from a reader who generously shared it in the comments section of a post. Love that! With a few little tweaks, I’m delivering it back to you.

Easy to Make

All that’s required is to slice an onion as thin as you can get it, roughly chop a bunch of chard, get everything into the pot, and flip the switch. The chicken cooks until fork tender in a tasty brew of tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and herbs. When dinnertime draws near, cook up pasta, brown rice, farro, or other grain and tuck that underneath the chicken. A chunk of good quality Parmesan and a grater make a suitable garnish.

As for the dress, I ended up shopping in my very own closet and found exactly what I needed. I’m now, just finally, filling in that calendar, letting the tears fall as my mind travels through Isabelle’s grade school years, and looking forward to summer.

The last one before high school.

A So-Good Chicken Supper for Your Slow Cooker: Chicken and Balsamic with Greens. Share on X

Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken

Slow Cooker Chicken with Balsamic and Tomatoes

This is a super flavorful, savory dish with juicy, tender chicken that’s delicious over a swirl of spaghetti or other favorite grain. It also makes a dynamite leftover along with crusty bread for soaking up all those tasty juices.
Course Main Course
Prep Time 7 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 7 minutes
Servings 4 to 6 servings
Author Katie Morford

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 large red onion, very thinly sliced
  • 4 whole cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • One 26-ounce box or 28-ounce can chopped tomatoes (with their juices)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 bunch swiss chard (or other leafy greens), stems removed, roughly chopped
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • Cooked whole grain pasta, brown rice, or other grain for serving

Instructions

  1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides.
  2. Put onion, garlic, balsamic vinegar, tomatoes (juice included), rosemary, thyme, basil, and oregano into the crock pot and stir well.
  3. Nestle the chicken pieces into the tomatoes. Turn crock pot to high.
  4. Cook until the chicken is very tender, about 4 hours.
  5. Add chard to the pot and stir so that it is covered with liquid. Cook 15 to 20 minutes longer until the chard is tender.
  6. Serve over cooked whole grain spaghetti, brown rice, or farro with Parmesan cheese grated over the top.

 

Comments

05.21.2012 at6:59 AM #

Snack Girl

This sounds so yummy – I can’t wait to try it!

05.21.2012 at6:59 AM #

Katie Morford

Thanks Snack Girl! You can make it while you are nose to the grindstone on all your hard work!

05.21.2012 at7:47 AM #

Renee

I am going to make it tonight! I don’t have a slow cooker so I was thinking of roasting in a coveredf dush at a low temp like 250 for four hours, do you think that will work? I love the idea for farro, too! Thanks for your ongoing inspiration during these crazy end of year days!

05.21.2012 at7:47 AM #

Katie Morford

Hi Renee

I would give it go. Be sure it’s a heavy pot with a very tight cover and check from time to time that there is some liquid in the pot. I want to hear how it goes!

05.21.2012 at3:43 PM #

Lori

Making it as we speak! Can’t wait!! xx

05.21.2012 at3:43 PM #

Katie Morford

You go girl!

05.28.2012 at8:45 AM #

Brandee

Wow! My family and I loved this! Thanks so much for sharing your tasty and nutritious recipes.

05.28.2012 at8:45 AM #

Katie Morford

So glad it was a success…thanks for telling me!

05.31.2012 at10:36 PM #

amy

This was delicious and so easy. We doubled it and had leftovers for school/work lunch the next day. It will become a regular in the dinner rotation!

05.22.2017 at3:48 PM #

Christine Hamilton

I’m prepping this dish now for a few nights from today. Am I safe to mix the chicken in with the tomato mixture in advance? Thank you!

05.22.2017 at3:48 PM #

Katie Morford

I don’t see why not.

09.11.2017 at1:50 PM #

Ilana

Could i use chicken breast with this recipe?

09.11.2017 at1:50 PM #

Katie Morford

You can, though I find the darker meat does better with the long cooking of the slow cooker. The breasts tend to dry out a bit more because they are so lean.

09.07.2018 at12:59 PM #

Stephanie Rigazio

How would this be with spinach?

09.07.2018 at12:59 PM #

Katie Morford

Great. You will only need to let it cook a few additional minutes, since it’s not as hearty as chard. If using baby spinach, it will cook down immediately.

02.17.2021 at5:29 PM #

Veronica

Could I use leg quarters and if so should I keep to the same weight amount? I was thinking 4 would be okay. Thanks so much!!!

02.17.2021 at5:29 PM #

Katie Morford

Yes. That should work just fine.

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