Description
This Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken recipe is a flavorful, easy-to-make main course featuring tender chicken thighs simmered with kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and aromatic herbs. Perfect for busy days, it combines vibrant Mediterranean ingredients into a comforting dish, ideal served with couscous, rice, or pita bread.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Vegetables
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids and Seasonings
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes with juice
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup chicken broth or dry white wine
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- Crumbled feta cheese (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the slow cooker: Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs in the bottom of your slow cooker, ensuring they are evenly spread out.
- Add the flavorful ingredients: Top the chicken with kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, sliced red bell pepper, and minced garlic.
- Add liquids and seasonings: Pour the canned diced tomatoes with their juice and the chicken broth or dry white wine over the ingredients in the slow cooker. Sprinkle dried oregano, dried basil, smoked paprika, salt, and freshly ground black pepper evenly over the top.
- Drizzle with olive oil: Add the olive oil to the slow cooker to help blend flavors and keep the chicken moist during cooking.
- Slow cook the chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 6 to 7 hours, or on high heat for 3 to 4 hours until the chicken is tender and easily shredded.
- Shred and combine: Before serving, gently shred the chicken inside the slow cooker using two forks and stir everything together to evenly distribute flavors.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley and optional crumbled feta cheese over the chicken for a fresh, tangy finish. Serve warm with couscous, rice, or warm pita bread.
Notes
- Serve this Mediterranean chicken with couscous, rice, or warm pita bread for a complete meal.
- You can substitute chicken breasts for thighs if preferred, but breasts may be slightly drier after slow cooking.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with a fresh Greek salad to complement the Mediterranean flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
