Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli is a takeout-inspired meal made with boneless chicken breast, fresh broccoli, and savory sauce. Everything cooks together with minimal prep, creating the perfect one-pot meal. Skip the delivery fees, this version is the ultimate busy night win.
Recipe at a glance (TL;DR)
- Prep time: 5 min
- Cook time: 4-6 hours on low
- Main Ingredients: Boneless, skinless chicken breast, broccoli florets.
- Difficulty level: Lazy! Minimal prep, especially easy with bagged broccoli
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Why you'll love making this recipe in your crockpot
When your family requests this dish instead of ordering in, you know you are onto something great.
- Easy, hands-free cooking. Just pop the chicken and sauce ingredients into your slow cooker and go about your day.
- Incredible takeout-style flavor at home - The savory, slightly sweet sauce made with ginger and garlic is irresistible.
- Great for meal prep - leftovers are delicious and reheat well for future meals.
How this recipe works
Slow-cooker chicken broccoli is made in two steps to ensure that both the chicken and broccoli are perfectly cooked.
Step 1: The chicken cooks first in the sauce to allow it to slowly and fully absorb all of the savory flavors. Once cooked, the chicken is shredded and mixed with the sauce so that every piece is fully coated.
Step 2: The broccoli is added at the end of cooking. This prevents it from becoming soggy and overcooked.
The result is a balanced dish filled with juicy, flavorful chicken and perfectly cooked broccoli.
Ingredients you'll need
Protein
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Produce
- Green onions - sliced
- Broccoli florets - bagged is easiest
Pantry Items
- Hoisin sauce
- Soy sauce
- Rice vinegar
- Sesame oil - toasted is my favorite
- Brown sugar
- Garlic - minced
- Ginger - minced
Garnish (optional)
- Sesame seeds
- Sliced Green Onions
Preparing your slow cooker
- Lightly coat your slow cooker with a non-stick spray, oil, or butter before cooking
- Avocado oil and olive oil are both great choices for this recipe
- Use a slow cooker liner for the easiest cleanup (always an optional step)
Step-by-step photos
Place chicken breasts into a greased slow cooker.
Add in all sauce ingredients and stir to cover the chicken. Cover and cook 4-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high.
Once cooked, remove chicken and shred. Return it to the sauce and stir to combine.
15 - 30 minutes before serving, stir in broccoli and continue to cook until the broccoli becomes bright green.
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Variations & Substitutions
- Use chicken thighs in place of chicken breasts*
- Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces rather than shredding. This works really well if you opt for thighs in place of chicken breasts.
- Thicken the sauce by making a slurry. In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of potato starch with 2 tablespoons of cold water. Slowly stir the slurry into the liquid in the slow cooker. You should see it start to thicken almost immediately.
- To dial up the heat, add red pepper flakes
A note about slow-cooked chicken
Chicken in the slow cooker can be a bit tricky. Boneless chicken breast meat can dry out and get tough if overcooked. Shredding slow-cooked chicken breasts is a great way to ensure they stay moist and tender. Skinless chicken thighs are more forgiving and flexible and won't dry out as quickly.
Using a meat thermometer is the best way to ensure slow cooker chicken is juicy and tender every time. Near the end of the cooking time, use a thermometer to check the internal temperature of larger chicken pieces. Chicken is safe to eat once it reaches an internal temperature of 165℉.
How to store leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Allow frozen leftovers to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then gently reheat in the microwave.
Expert tips for the best chicken and broccoli.
- Frozen broccoli can be used in place of fresh. Add it at the end of cooking time and adjust the timing to serve when the broccoli is cooked through.
- In the market for a new crockpot? I love mine!
- Easy dinner idea: Use a slow-cooker liner when making this dish. You will have almost zero clean-up to deal with.
- Don't forget to turn on and PLUG IN your slow cooker!!
More amazing Slow Cooker Chicken recipes:
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📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli
(Click on the stars to leave a rating)
Print Pin Rate SaveAll nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
Equipment
- 3.5 quart slow cooker or larger
- cutting board and knife or kitchen shears, since this is for the green onion
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ½ cup green onion sliced
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil or regular sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar or sugar-free substitute
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 teaspoon minced ginger
- 4 cups broccoli florets 12 oz bag
- sesame seeds and extra green onion optional garnish
Instructions
- Place 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts into the bottom of a well greased slow cooker
- Add ½ cup green onion , ¼ cup hoisin sauce, ¼ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup rice vinegar, 2 tablespoon toasted sesame oil, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, and 2 teaspoon minced ginger, and stir to combine.
- Make sure all chicken pieces are turned over in the sauce a few times and are well coated on all sides
- Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours
- Once the chicken is fully cooked, use two forks to shred and stir back into the sauce. You can do this right in your slow cooker or remove the chicken and shred on a seperate plate.
- Stir in 4 cups broccoli florets (a 12-oz bag if you buy them precut) and cook for an additional 15-30 minutes. Once the broccoli is done to your liking, your dish is ready to serve.
- Serve over a bed of rice and top with sesame seeds and extra green onion (if desired)
Final Step
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Notes
- Chicken is considered safe to eat when it reaches 165℉. A meat thermometer is a really helpful tool for confirming that your chicken is ready to serve.
- This dish is great served over rice or riced cauliflower. Please see the above write up for more serving suggestions.
- If you prefer, chicken can be cut into bite sized pieces rather than shredded.
Nutrition
All nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
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