Slow Cooker Basil Chicken and Rice
82 Comments Jan 20, 2023
Updated Jun 18, 2025
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This Slow Cooker Basil Chicken and Rice is a complete meal with tender chicken thighs, rice, and plenty of basil. Try this recipe tonight to put an easy weeknight dinner on the table.
This recipe is a spin on my mom’s oven recipe for basil rice. My mom makes a basil rice recipe that goes great with anything. She would brown rice and butter in a skillet, add dried basil, chicken broth, and rice and then finish it in the oven. I made her rice recipe a complete meal by adding chicken and easier by using the crock pot.
Key Ingredients
Chicken: I use chicken thighs for this recipe. They are a fattier cut which means more flavor for this chicken dish.
Leeks: Leeks are like giant green onions and give amazing flavor to the dish.
Chicken Broth: This will keep the chicken and rice moist.
Rice: We use minute rice for this recipe.
Seasonings: Butter, dried basil, kosher salt, and black pepper provide the perfect amount of seasoning to this basil chicken recipe.
How to Make Basil Chicken and Rice
- Toss the chicken, broth, herbs, and leeks into the crockpot.
- Top with butter and let it all simmer low and slow.
- When it’s ready, stir in the rice and let it soak up the goodness.
- Fluff, serve, and dig in!
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Chicken breasts can be used instead of thighs.
- Minute Brand Jasmine or Brown rice an be used instead the white.
- Chopped green onions work great instead of leeks.
Featured Comment
“Great recipe, everyone wants it again ASAP.”
– j coombs
Slow Cooker Basil Chicken and Rice
How to Video
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 15 oz. can chicken broth
- 2 Tbsp. dried basil
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 1/2 cup diced leeks
- 3 Tbsp. Butter
- 2 cups white Minute rice, ADD AT THE END
Instructions
- Add the chicken, chicken broth, basil, salt, pepper and leeks to the slow cooker. Add the butter on top of the chicken, no need to melt it.
- Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
- After the cooking time is done, remove the chicken onto a plate with a slotted spoon. Stir in the minute rice, Add the chicken into the rice. Cover and cook on LOW for 25 more minutes, or until the rice is tender.
- Serve and enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Other great Chicken and Rice recipes
Lemon Pepper Chicken and Rice, Fiesta Chicken Casserole, and One Pot Chicken Burrito Filling are easy, flavorful meals perfect for busy nights.
No Peek Chicken and Slow Cooker Crack Chicken are creamy, comforting favorites made right in the crockpot. For a hearty twist, try Slow Cooker Chicken Broccoli and Rice recipe.
How would I use cooked rice (rice cooker)?
I think the best way would be to serve the sauce and chicken over the white rice.
How would I use cooked rice (rice cooker)?
This is really good. It smells awesome when it was cooking. The minute rice soaked up all the flavor. I will have to make this again. I wonder if I can replace the leeks with green onion though.
Thank you for trying! We love this so much too.
What about olive oil instead of butter or a combination of both
What is the “blacknes” on the chicken shown in the picture?
It’s the basil piled up.
This is a great recipe – very good! I have made it several times.
Great recipe, everyone wants it again ASAP.
This is super easy and super flavorful!! Not in the least bit bland. Chicken is fall apart tender and the rice is perfectly seasoned. I’ve made this several times and my family loves it!!! It’s definitely a keeper.