Tender Slow Cooker Blueberry Balsamic Chicken
A sweet and tangy slow cooker chicken recipe featuring fresh blueberries and balsamic vinegar that creates a juicy, flavorful dish perfect for easy weeknight dinners or entertaining.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 to 5 hours on low or 2 to 3 hours on high
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes to 5 hours 10 minutes (low) or 2 hours 10 minutes to 3 hours 10 minutes (high)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs / 700 g)
- 1 cup fresh blueberries (150 g) or frozen, unthawed
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar (60 ml)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon dried)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels, then season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, honey, olive oil, minced garlic, chopped thyme, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker in a single layer. Scatter the fresh blueberries evenly on top of the chicken.
- Pour the balsamic-honey mixture over the chicken and blueberries.
- Optional: Quickly sear the chicken in a hot skillet with a bit of olive oil for about 5 minutes until golden on both sides, then transfer to the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and is tender.
- Before serving, gently stir the sauce to mix the softened blueberries with the balsamic glaze. Adjust seasoning with salt or honey if needed.
- If the sauce is too thin, remove the chicken and simmer the sauce in a skillet for a few minutes to thicken.
Notes
Searing the chicken before slow cooking is optional but adds extra texture and flavor. Use frozen blueberries straight from the freezer without thawing to avoid watery sauce. If sauce is too thin, simmer it on the stove to thicken. Adjust seasoning after cooking as slow cooking can dilute flavors. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and freeze well.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 9
- Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: slow cooker chicken, blueberry balsamic chicken, easy chicken recipe, slow cooker dinner, sweet and tangy chicken, healthy chicken recipe