One-pot meals are always the best. From letting flavors blend together to the easy cleanup, one-pot dishes like these are always a huge hit. This pesto chicken with rice is one such meal, and it goes from refrigerator to table in about three hours. Coat tender chunks of slow-cooked chicken in a zesty pesto sauce and shred it into seasoned white rice. Make the dish a little more nutritious by using whole grain brown rice.
This recipe calls for a pre-made pesto sauce, which can be homemade or store-bought. Add a little heat to the dish by adding a little chili powder or crushed red chili flakes to slow cooker. Serve this flavorful dish to serve kids and adults at an outdoor gathering or even to impress a special someone for a romantic date night in. Be sure to make enough for your whole group, because everyone will be sure to want seconds!
Slow Cooker Pesto Chicken & Rice
4 to 6
10 minutes
3 hours
3 hours 10 minutes
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into large pieces
1 cup long grain white rice
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup pesto (homemade or store-bought)
Kosher salt and fresh-ground black pepper
Grease a slow cooker with vegetable oil or nonstick cooking spray.
Pour the rice in the bottom of the slow cooker, covering the bottom.
Add the onion, garlic, butter and chicken broth.
Season with salt and pepper, and stir until well mixed.
Place the chicken on top of the rice mixture in a single layer.
Pour the pesto on top of chicken.
Put the lid on the slow cooker, and turn on high for 3 hours. Avoid removing the lid while cooking.
After slow cooking, take the chicken breasts out into another bowl and shred them.
Stir the rice in the slow cooker until rice is fluffed.
To serve, scoop portions of chicken & rice onto individual plates or bowls. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or more pesto (optional).