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The Magical Slow Cooker » Recipes » Chicken » Slow Cooker Basil Chicken and Rice

Slow Cooker Basil Chicken and Rice

by Sarah Olson on June 6, 2020 | Updated November 29, 2021 71 Comments

14309 shares
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Collage of photos of basil chicken for pinterest

This Slow Cooker Basil Chicken and Rice is a complete meal with tender chicken thighs, rice and plenty of basil.

7 chicken thighs in rice with dried basil on top.

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.

chicken thighs in broth with basil and 3 butter pats on top.

How to make Basil, Chicken and Rice:

For this recipe, I cook 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.

Close up of basil chicken and rice in slow cooker

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!

2 plates with rice and basil chicken with asparagus on the side.

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!

Other great Chicken and Rice recipes:

  • Slow Cooker Lemon Pepper Chicken and Rice
  • Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken and Rice Casserole
  • Slow Cooker One Pot Chicken Burrito Filling
  • Slow Cooker No Peek Chicken
  • Slow Cooker Crack Chicken

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7 chicken thighs with rice in slow cooker with dried basil

Slow Cooker Basil Chicken and Rice

4.77 from 17 votes
A one pot meal with chicken and basil rice.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 361kcal
Author: Sarah Olson

Equipment Needed:

  • Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger

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
US Customary – Metric

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!
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How to Video:

Recipe Notes:

UK viewers: If you can’t find Minute rice try Tilda’s Easy Cook Long Grain Rice.
Nutritional values are approximate. Please use your own calculations if you require a special diet. The values below are for 1/6 of the recipe.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 159mg | Sodium: 614mg | Potassium: 577mg | Fiber: 2g | Vitamin A: 380IU | Vitamin C: 5.9mg | Calcium: 141mg | Iron: 7.7mg

Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.

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    14309 shares
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    Filed Under: Chicken, Dinner

    Comments

    1. Hernandez says

      July 10, 2020 at 1:13 am

      5 stars
      Looks amazing! I’ve been looking for a chicken & rice recipe that won’t leave the rice gummy. Can’t wait to make it.

      Reply
    2. Cali Sweeting says

      June 25, 2020 at 1:02 am

      Thoughts on using fresh basil? I have a basil plant that I need more recipes for! I know it’s more potent than dry… thinking of chopping up fresh and using a little less.

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        June 25, 2020 at 6:04 am

        I think that should work fine! Sounds good.

        Reply
    3. Reem says

      May 1, 2020 at 1:00 am

      Looks very yummy! Is it possible to substitute or do away with the butter, though? Would it dry out the chicken if I skipped the butter?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        May 1, 2020 at 8:44 am

        You can replace it with more broth.

        Reply
    4. Tina says

      May 1, 2020 at 12:13 am

      Can you use whole grain brown basmati rice which normally enjoys long slow cooking. Also, it is better for you.

      Reply
    5. Amy says

      March 31, 2020 at 7:52 am

      This looks really good! Could you use frozen chicken, if so how much longer?

      Reply
    6. Richard Morrison says

      March 30, 2020 at 2:02 pm

      5 stars
      Can you use boneless chicken breasts?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        March 30, 2020 at 2:10 pm

        Yes!

        Reply
    7. Edith A.Jarrett-Ford says

      March 30, 2020 at 1:05 pm

      Can split breasts be used instead of thighs

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        March 30, 2020 at 2:10 pm

        Yes, will work fine.

        Reply
    8. STUART MORTON says

      March 30, 2020 at 9:31 am

      Will keep this recipe, due to can’t get any rice at the moment whilst mindless idiots are stock piling rice during the corona virus outbreak. X

      Reply
      • Dena Tefft says

        March 30, 2020 at 10:46 am

        I know! I’ve been surprised at how much money is being spent. Like, who knew Americans were holding out?
        Joking, kinda.

        Reply
    9. Susan says

      March 30, 2020 at 7:50 am

      Could you use Arborio rice? If so is the amount and time cooking the same?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        March 30, 2020 at 9:20 am

        Standard rice does not do well in the slow cooker, it gets gummy.

        Reply
    10. Lili says

      February 10, 2020 at 2:48 pm

      Hi
      Would it be same measurements of ingredients if doing in a 3.5 quart slow cooker?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        February 10, 2020 at 3:36 pm

        I think this recipe should work fine in a 3.5 quart. In the photos I see that the pot wasn’t even half full.

        Reply
    11. Jacque says

      February 4, 2020 at 6:57 pm

      If you use wild rice when would you put it in to make sure it gets cooked.

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        February 4, 2020 at 7:29 pm

        Hi Jacque, I would add it at the beginning. Here is a recipe where I use a mixture of brown minute rice and wild rice: https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/slow-cooker-minnesota-pork-chop-casserole/

        Reply
        • Jacque says

          February 4, 2020 at 7:35 pm

          Thank you

    12. marie dickinson says

      January 4, 2020 at 1:34 pm

      I love my crock potcooking. Why did you change from crock pot to slow cooker??? Is it a modern name, only???

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        January 4, 2020 at 1:46 pm

        I’ve always used the name slow cooker. Crock Pot is a brand.

        Reply
    13. Gaetana says

      January 28, 2019 at 4:27 pm

      Can I leave the butter out and maybe use olive oil instead? If so, how much olive oil would i use?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        January 29, 2019 at 8:12 pm

        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).

        Reply
    14. Anonymous says

      January 19, 2019 at 2:53 pm

      Can you cook this on high if so for how long?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        January 20, 2019 at 1:02 pm

        I would do 3.5-4 hours on high.

        Reply
    15. Mary says

      June 16, 2018 at 12:11 pm

      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?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        June 17, 2018 at 9:34 am

        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?

        Reply
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