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This single serving slow cooker Italian chicken is an easy, flavorful dish made with tender chicken simmered in a rich tomato and herb sauce. With minimal prep, the slow cooker does the work, delivering a satisfying meal perfectly portioned for one.
This crockpot chicken recipe pairs well with side dishes like roasted brussels sprouts or a crisp Caesar salad. For a heartier meal, serve it over buttered noodles or creamy risotto. Whatever you choose, it’s a satisfying and flavorful dish.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to Make: Just add everything to the crock pot and let it do the work.
- Customizable: While we love slow cooking chicken thighs, chicken breasts work just as well. Feel free to adjust the seasonings to suit your taste.
- Packed with Flavor: Slow cooking blends the ingredients beautifully, creating a rich, savory sauce.
Italian chicken is a classic dish with tender chicken simmered in a flavorful tomato and herb sauce. My single serving slow cooker recipe gives you all that rich taste without leftovers. It’s an easy, hands-off meal that’s perfect when you want something satisfying without extra effort.
Check out our other Mini Slow Cooker Meal ideas!
Ingredients
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions. If you have any ingredients leftover from this slow cooker chicken thighs recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Chicken: Use 1 or 2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, depending on what you have. If you’re looking for more chicken thigh recipes, try Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl, Chicken and Rice Casserole or Chicken Stew.
- Olive Oil: I always use extra virgin olive oil for its rich flavor, but a lighter olive oil works too.
- Balsamic Vinegar: Adds depth and a slight sweetness to the sauce.
- Seasonings: A blend of kosher salt, black pepper, dried basil, dried oregano, and garlic powder gives the dish classic Italian flavors.
- Marinara or Tomato Sauce: Use store-bought or homemade tomato sauce—whichever you prefer.
RELATED: How To Cook Small Meals In A Large Slow Cooker
How To Make Slow Cooker Italian Chicken
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
To make slow cooker chicken thighs with an Italian twist, start by spraying a small crock pot to prevent sticking. Place the chicken inside, whisk together olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and pour it over the top. Season with salt, pepper, basil, oregano, and garlic powder, then add marinara sauce. Cover and cook on low for 7 hours or high for 4 hours until the chicken is tender. Serve with pasta, potatoes, or rice for a flavorful and easy meal.
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Expert Tips
- Stocking Up on Chicken: I keep a large bag of frozen boneless, skinless chicken thighs in my freezer, so I can grab what I need without extra trips to the store.
- Defrosting Chicken: Always thaw chicken before slow cooking. Let it defrost in the fridge overnight or use the microwave for a quick thaw before adding it to the slow cooker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use a 1.5 to 2-quart slow cooker for the best results.
Yes, double the ingredient amounts and use a 3 to 4-quart slow cooker.
Yes, bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms make great additions.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove for a quick meal.
More Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes
Check out these flavorful single serving options:
Find these and more in our mini slow cooker recipe collection!
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this Slow Cooker Italian Chicken recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this single serve slow cooker Italian chicken recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Slow Cooker Italian Chicken For One
Watch How To Make This
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 (4-ounce) boneless skinless chicken thighs or boneless, skinless breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 cup Marinara sauce or tomato sauce
- ¼ teaspoon dried basil
- ⅛ teaspoon dried oregano
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Lightly spray the slow cooker with oil and place the chicken inside.
- Whisk olive oil and vinegar in a small bowl, then pour over the chicken.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Pour marinara sauce over the chicken.
- Sprinkle with basil, oregano, and garlic powder.
- Cover and cook on low for 7 hours or high for 4 hours.
Notes
-
- Stocking Up on Chicken: I keep a large bag of frozen boneless, skinless chicken thighs in my freezer, so I can grab what I need without extra trips to the store.
- Defrosting Chicken: Always thaw chicken before slow cooking. Let it defrost in the fridge overnight or use the microwave for a quick thaw before adding it to the slow cooker.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Hi, I am excited about giving some of these recipes to my best friend. I wondered if you have a cookbook with recipes for one dedicated to the 2qt crock pot? That is what I am really looking for.
Thank you.
Thank you for your question! We don’t have a dedicated cookbook for slow cooker recipes, but all of our recipes for a small slow cooker are available on our website.
This is a really delicious, easy, and versatile recipe. Thank you, Joanie!
Joanie, this was absolutely delicious. I’ve learned that I can always count on you for the appropriate spicing to get the authentic taste I’m looking for. Also you leave plenty of flexibility on how much spice to use depending on one’s taste. Like me, there’s no such thing as too much garlic. LOL I had several chicken thighs I needed to use up after having lost our power from Hurricane Helena. I always use bone-in skin on for the extra flavor they bring. I stacked four of them around the sides of my one and a half quart Crock-Pot standing up skin side out like you do your spare ribs. I shoved a whole onion down in the center to hold them in place. Very easy and turned out great. I just had one now and I’ll get three more meals to warm up. Served it up on tricolor rotini. Thank you for a great recipe.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I love hearing how you make the recipes your own, and I’m so glad this one worked out for you—especially after the challenges from Hurricane Helena. Using bone-in, skin-on thighs and arranging them like you described sounds perfect for maximizing flavor. And yes, there’s definitely no such thing as too much garlic! I’m happy to hear it made enough for several meals, too. Thanks again for sharing, and I always look forward to hearing about your kitchen adventures!
Hello Joanie, happy I found your site. I am an older woman living alone and been looking for single serve recipes . You have some most inviting recipes. But I was wondering if you had a recipe for lasagna. I’m Italian and sure love good lasagna . I’m making your Italian chicken today.
Thank you and God Bless
Gina
Hello Gina,
Thank you so much for your kind words, and I’m delighted that you’re enjoying the recipes! It’s wonderful to hear from someone with a love for Italian cuisine. Yes, indeed, I do have a lasagna recipe that’s perfectly sized for one. It’s layered with rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella, all tailored to fit nicely into a small baking dish just for you. You can find the recipe here: https://onedishkitchen.com/lasagna-for-one/
I hope you find this lasagna just as comforting and delicious as the larger versions. It’s always a pleasure to provide recipes that fit just right for one. Enjoy your Italian chicken today, and I’d love to hear how it turns out for you!