Slow Cooker Basil Chicken and Rice
90 CommentsUpdated Sep 05, 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
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Try my Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice which has tender chicken and a creamy sauce.
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 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!