This Slow Cooker Basil Chicken and Rice is a complete meal in one pot!
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!
- 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 (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)
- 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!
I used my 6-quart oval slow cooker for this recipe.
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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!
Would it taste fine without the leeks?
I think so! It’s just an onion flavor.
This is the best recipe I’ve ever made in my slow cooker. Love it
I’m so glad you liked it!
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.
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!
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! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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.
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. 🙂
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 =)
How much minute rice do you add?