This Slow Cooker Basil Chicken and Rice is a complete meal in one pot, no need to cook the rice separately.
This recipe is a spin off 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.
For this recipe, I cooked the chicken, leeks, basil, butter and chicken broth for 6 hours. Then I stir in Minute Brand rice and put the lid back on and cook for about 25 minutes more. You may remember that I do not like conventional rice in the slow cooker, it gets gummy. Minute rice is parboiled then dried, so it doesn’t get gummy and it cooks fast.
The rice turns out perfectly fluffy and tastes amazing since it is flavored with the butter and broth the chicken has been cooking in. The thighs turn out moist and tender in this meal too!
I’ve been busy this last week and didn’t get as many recipes out as possible, darn you life! I’m happy I finally sat down and to get this recipe out to you, I think your family will love it. I always looked forward to this rice when my mom was making it and this slow cooker recipe makes life easier with the chicken cooked with it. Have a great week!
Slow Cooker Basil Chicken and Rice
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 15 oz. can chicken broth
- 2 Tbsp. dried basil
- ½ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- ½ 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!
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition:
Other great Chicken and Rice recipes:
Slow Cooker Lemon Pepper Chicken and Rice
Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken and Rice Casserole
I love my crock potcooking. Why did you change from crock pot to slow cooker??? Is it a modern name, only???
I’ve always used the name slow cooker. Crock Pot is a brand.
Can I leave the butter out and maybe use olive oil instead? If so, how much olive oil would i use?
Hi Gaetana, I would probably do only a tablespoon of olive oil and maybe do water or broth for the rest of the butter amount (to keep the liquid ratio correct).
Can you cook this on high if so for how long?
I would do 3.5-4 hours on high.
Instant, white rice is not an option for me. What are your recommendations in regards to long grain, wild rice, brown rice and and the red/black varieties?
Long grain rice and brown rice don’t do well in the slow cooker. Wild rice does good. The slow cooker doesn’t get hot enough for regular rice. They do make minute brown rice. You can cook the rice on the stove top and serve this over?
How would caulifower “rice” work with this recipe?
Thanks for posting this recipe. My family loved it.
is chicken broth the same as chicken stock just asking as im in assieland thanks
Stock will work the same as broth. 🙂 May be even better.
I am alergic to rice. Do you think quinoa or Cous Cous could be used?
Pasta doesn’t do well in the slow cooker. The slow cooker never gets to that rapid boil point that pasta needs, so it gets gummy.
Hi. Darn, i looked in the freezer and all I have are bone in chicken thighs. Would these work? Would it change the cooking time? Thanks.
I think the same time will work, you could remove the skin if desired, it will be less greasy.
How much minute rice do you add?
Silly question? Do you think I can mix thighs and breasts? If so is there a cooking time difference? Thanks in advance
It should be fine for the same amount of time 🙂
Thank you! I cant wait to try it =)
Any modifications if i used chicken breast instead of thigh? To the time or high/low/etc?
The time will be the same as long as the chicken is thawed. 🙂
Hello, I just got my first slow cooker and looking for recipes I came accross this one which sounds so good, I love leeks. If I put regular rice with all ingredients would cook thru?
Regular rice in the slow cooker can get gluey and gummy. It doesn’t get quite hot enough.
This is seriously soooo easy and delicious! I used an onion because I didn’t have leeks. I also used fresh basil! Thanks for the recipe! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If I wanted to double the chicken in this recipe and just cook the rice separately, could I do so in one slow cooker? Mine is 7-qt.
I think that would work just fine!
In the UK, not sure we have minute rice. Do you know if any other options?
The only thing I can think of for people who can’t find or don’t buy minute rice is to serve this dish over steamed rice. It will still taste great.
This is the best recipe I’ve ever made in my slow cooker. Love it
I’m so glad you liked it!
Would it taste fine without the leeks?
I think so! It’s just an onion flavor.
This is hands down THE BEST thing that’s ever come out of my slow cooker. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, Sarah!