Crock Pot Chicken and Broccoli
Flavor-packed & incredibly easy-to-make, this Crock Pot Chicken and Broccoli served over rice or even just on its own is the perfect low-fuss weeknight dinner.
1. Dear Crock Pot, I love you. 2. Sometimes, I look back on our lives about 5 months ago and think about when I said we were “so busy,” and laugh and say, “Ooh you silly silly kids.” Needless to say, having a baby drastically alters your concept of the word “busy.” That brings me back to my love for the Crock Pot and our latest dinner – Crock Pot Chicken and Broccoli!
This Crock Pot chicken is one that is not dry, thanks to the flavorful sauce, and is one that is so incredibly easy to make. Plus, it has plenty of opportunities for you to add your own little from scratch flair! Also, if you’re even shorter on time, you can toss it all into your Instant Pot too, for an even faster flavorful chicken and broccoli dinner!
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken Breasts – We prefer boneless for ease, but you could also use bone-in, if that’s all you have. It just means a little more work when shredding. We’ve also made this with thighs, too, but we find breasts to be our favorite.
- Fresh Broccoli – With this sauce, it’s a great way to get kids to eat their broccoli! You can use frozen too, just see recipe notes.
- Garlic – Fresh is always our preferred, but you can also use jarred minced, or powder if that’s all you have. See recipe notes.
- Soy Sauce – We use a regular, but you can also use low sodium if you’re watching your salt.
- Hoisin – This is one of our favorite condiments! And did you know you can make your own in just minutes?
- Brown Sugar – For a little added sweetness. None in your pantry? No problem, you can make your own with white granulated!
- Chicken Stock – Or vegetable, if that’s all you have. Also, are you making your own stock, yet?
- Chili Garlic Sauce – Just a touch for a little bit of heat.
- Sesame Oil – For added flavor and a little bit of fat.
Easy to Make
Step 1: Whisk all the sauce ingredients in a bowl (which is just everything except the chicken and broccoli).
Tip: You can absolutely prep this in advance and do it the night before and just let the chicken marinate in it all night to then just add to the Crock Pot or Instant Pot when you’re ready to cook it.
Or, if you’re like me and just realized late morning that you want to make this for dinner, no problem. Marinating the chicken overnight adds additional flavor, but not at all necessary to make it delicious!
Step 2: Add chicken to the Crock Pot (or Instant Pot) and pour marinade on.
Tip: If you’re home while your slow cooking it, I like to flip the breasts since (dependent upon the thickness of the breasts) they may not fully be submerged in the sauce. Or, you can also just slice the breasts in half so that they’re thin and then will be fully submerged. Since I’m usually rushing to get this in because it’s a last-minute dinner idea, I remember to do that approximately 50% of the time.
Step 3: Slow cook on high for 3-4 hrs, low for 6-8 or with your Instant Pot, and then shred your chicken in the sauce.
Step 4: Once the chicken is shredded, then it’s time to add your fresh broccoli and slow cook on high for another 20-30 minutes until the broccoli is cooked.
And done!
Enjoy over your favorite rice, or we’ve even served them over mashed potatoes and I’ve been known to even throw it in a bun or a soft baguette and eat it that way, too!
However you choose to enjoy it, I’m sure that’s what you’ll do – ENJOY it. It’s flavorful and SO easy that it’s one that comes into our rotation quite often!
Other Crock Pot Chicken Favorites
- Crock Pot Chicken Pho
- Crock Pot Balsamic Chicken
- Crock Pot Honey Mustard Chicken
- Crock Pot Chicken and Stuffing
- Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Tacos
Other Asian Inspired Dishes
- 20 Minute Sweet and Spicy Noodles
- Chicken and Broccoli Noodles
- Homemade Crispy Sesame Chicken
- Beef and Spinach Noodles
- Sweet Sesame Ginger Meatballs
Yup! See recipe notes.
Yes, although it will mean 4 hours on high and closer to 8 on low. Always be sure to check the temperature of your chicken is at least 165 degrees before serving. If using an Instant Pot, it will take about 12 minutes.
You can either use two forks to “pull” the chicken apart, or you can even use a hand mixer!
Definitely. You can prep the sauce 2 days in advance, and you can even marinate the chicken in the sauce before adding to the Crock Pot / Instant Pot up to a day in advance.
Enjoy! As always, if you make this recipe or any of my others, I love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below, email me, or you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!
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Crock Pot Chicken and Broccoli
Equipment
- Crock Pot of Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts
- 1 lb broccoli florets
- 1 1/2 cups Chicken Stock
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon fish sauce optional
Instructions
- In a medium sized bowl, mix together the soy sauce, hoisin, sugar, garlic, chili garlic sauce, sesame oil, and fish sauce if using. Whisk and add chicken stock.
- Add chicken to crock pot or instant pot and pour over sauce.
- Slow cook on high for 3-4 hours, low 6-8 hours. Flipping chicken 1/2 way, if possible. Not necessary.
- Remove chicken and shred in a bowl with two forks. Return to sauce in Crock Pot.
- Add broccoli florets on top of chicken, mix, and cook on high for another 30 minutes.
- Serve over rice and enjoy!
Does this marinate in the fridge over night?
what brand of chili garlic sauce do you use? Thank you. Pat
Hi! We use huy fong brand ๐
How much chicken stock goes in? 1? qty?
Oh my thank you for your message pointing out my error! 1 cup of good ol’ chicken stock! Enjoy!
What a fun easy dinner idea. I love I can toss everything into a slow cooker.
It’s crazy how much a little one can change your life, isn’t it Tracy? But it sounds like you have everything working like a well oiled machine. . .so no stress there. ๐ As for the crock pot. . .well it’s probably one of the greatest inventions ever. I mean, whoever dreamed up the concept of dumping a bunch of food into a tiny tabletop oven of sorts, having that oven slow cook the contents to pure melt-in-your mouth perfection, and with no effort it’s ready when the tummy starts to rumble the most. . .well. . .that person is my hero.
Oh Tracy! I laughed so hard at this…. not at you but with you. I remember being so tired with a new little in the house. I hate to scare you, but that cesspool at daycare…. only continues in Kindergarten…. This looks like the perfect meal for busy people. Cant wait to try it!
I can only imagine how busy you are with a new baby on top of everything! This recipe looks perfect for that though, can’t beat a good crock pot recipe!!
Little ones do have a way of changing our lives! Congratulations on baby, new house, and a 2nd refrigerator!
Slow cookers are a life-saver during those chaotic times… This recipe looks tasty and healthy too! Good luck with the move…
This looks absolutely delicious. It’s lite but still great comfort food!
Ah, good luck in the housemove. Be sure to get your crockpot unpacked as soon as you arrive – you’ll need all the help you can get whilst you’re out shopping to fill that second refrigerator. This supper sounds super good and so simple.
so much going on my friend!!! i am with you on simple, fuss free meals.