Slow Cooker Basil Chicken and Rice
82 Comments Jan 20, 2023
Updated Jun 18, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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.
If you use wild rice when would you put it in to make sure it gets cooked.
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/
Thank you
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.