Slow Cooker Basil Chicken and Rice
88 CommentsUpdated Sep 05, 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.
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.
The rice is great but the chicken comes out a little bland.
Made this tonight and both husband I loved it. Don’t understand how someone would think it was bland. This recipe will definitely replace the one I usually use.
?? Can I substitute boneless chicken breasts for the thighs? If so, are there any changes or timing amounts that would be different?
Yes, I would add a small splash more of broth or water though.
Would adding veggies and hot peppers and making it more soupy effect the rice texture? I was thinking of adding thai hot peppers, some coconut milk a dash of curry powder and some green and red peppers.
I think if you add coconut milk, I would add less chicken broth. But otherwise, I think it should be fine!
I made this with 2 bags of instant basmati rice And one bag of instant brown minute rice. All the three bags emptied added up to 2 cups of instant rice. It was so delicious. I shared it with 3 people and they loved the dish!!
3 bags of rice plus 2 cups of rice? I don’t get it
Could I do this in the instant pot?
I think you could. I wouldn’t pressure cook the rice at the end though. Just put the lid on until the rice puffs up.
I found this recipe to be good but pretty bland. The chicken was falling apart which was great but it just did not really have much flavor. I used instant rice and that works great (I asked about it but never got a response which is why I am mentioning it here).
I would add lemon juice when you add the rice
Can I use instant rice? If so would I just cook rice for the 5 min it says on box instead of 25?
I think you would have to cook the rice for 25 minutes because you’re putting it in slow cooker/ crockpot, and rice will need that much time in it, also put the crockpot/ slow cooker on the high setting once you put rice in .
Very good! I didn’t think it could be so good with such few ingredients. The only thing I did differently was add chicken stock instead of chicken broth, only because that’s what I had in the fridge. This one’s a keeper for sure!
Can I cook on high instead of low? Waited to late to make it. I will be eating at 8pm if I cook on low
Yes will do fine