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Are you craving Italian flavors but only cooking for one? Our Slow Cooker Italian Chicken recipe is just what you need. Combining classic Italian seasonings with the ease of a slow cooker, this dish is perfect for anyone, especially if you’re new to cooking or love single serving meals. It’s a fuss-free way to bring a little bit of Italy right to your kitchen, with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
This flavorful Slow Cooker Italian Chicken pairs beautifully with many of our side dish recipes like golden-roasted Brussels Sprouts or a crisp Caesar salad. For a more substantial meal, consider serving it over creamy Buttered Noodles or rich, velvety Risotto. Whatever you choose, it’s sure to be a delightful dining experience – Buon appetito!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple to prepare: With basic ingredients and a small slow cooker, this recipe is simple and easy.
- Flexible: Adjust seasonings or add extras like olives or capers to personalize the dish.
- Healthy: Lean chicken and antioxidant-rich tomatoes make this a nutritious choice.
- Delicious: The slow cooker allows flavors to meld beautifully, creating a tasty Italian experience.
Single Serving Italian Chicken: Easy And Flavorful
Italian chicken is a classic dish bursting with the flavors of tomatoes, herbs, and tender chicken. Our single serving slow cooker recipe lets you savor all that deliciousness without any leftovers. It’s easy, satisfying, and perfect for busy individuals – just set it and forget it! This recipe is ideal for anyone who wants a flavorful, comforting meal without waste or excessive effort.
Check out our other Mini Slow Cooker Meal ideas!
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small slow cooker recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Chicken: Choose either 1 or 2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, depending on your preference or what you have available. If you’re looking for more chicken thigh recipes, consider making Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl, Chicken and Rice Casserole or Chicken Stew.
- Olive Oil: In this recipe, and all others on One Dish Kitchen where olive oil is needed, I use extra virgin olive oil. This type is less processed, retaining a more authentic olive flavor and richer in vitamins and minerals found in olives. However, you can substitute it with a lighter olive oil if desired.
- Balsamic Vinegar: This is a key ingredient for adding a robust flavor to the sauce.
- Seasonings: I recommend using kosher salt, black pepper, dried basil, dried oregano, and garlic powder for a well-rounded Italian flavor.
- Marinara or Tomato Sauce: You can use either store-bought or homemade tomato sauce, whichever is more convenient or to your liking.
RELATED: How To Cook Small Meals In A Large Slow Cooker
How To Make Crockpot Italian Chicken
See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
To make this easy Italian Chicken, start by spraying your slow cooker to prevent sticking. Add your chicken, then whisk olive oil and vinegar and pour it over the top. Season with salt, pepper, marinara sauce, and a sprinkle of basil, oregano, and garlic powder. Cook on low for 7 hours or high for 4, then serve with your favorite pasta, potatoes, or rice.
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Expert Tips
- Stocking Up on Chicken: I purchase large bags of frozen boneless, skinless chicken thighs from the grocery store. This way, I can simply take out the amount I need for each meal. It’s a convenient way to have chicken on hand without frequent trips to the store.
- Defrosting Chicken: Ensure you defrost the chicken before adding it to the crockpot. You can do this by placing the needed amount in the refrigerator overnight to thaw or by quickly defrosting a few pieces in the microwave just before you add them to the slow cooker.
Frequently Asked Questions
For this slow cooker boneless chicken thigh recipe, a 1.5-quart slow cooker is ideal. Using a slow cooker or crockpot of a similar size will yield the best results.
To keep the chicken moist, opt for chicken thighs as they contain more fat and are less likely to dry out compared to chicken breasts. Adhering to the cooking time specified in this recipe will ensure your chicken stays tender and juicy.
Yes, you can use chicken breasts, but be mindful of the cooking time as breasts can dry out faster than thighs.
It’s recommended to use thawed chicken in slow cooking. This practice guarantees that the chicken cooks evenly and reaches a safe internal temperature.
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 Mini Crockpot Chicken Recipes
Find more delicious single serving slow cooker recipes in our collection! Here are some favorites:
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 Crockpot Italian Chicken For One 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
- Spray the inside of the slow cooker with an oil spray to prevent sticking.
- Place the chicken on the bottom of the slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil and the vinegar and pour over the chicken.
- Top with salt and pepper.
- Pour the Marinara sauce over the chicken.
- Top with the dried basil, oregano, and garlic powder.
- Cook on low for 7 hours or high for 4. Serve with pasta, potatoes or rice.
Notes
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.
Since my wife has died last November, thanks to your site I have not missed out on tasty nourishing meals. This one was excellent and so easy to put together. I loaded the one and a half quart Crock-Pot the night before turned it on early this morning and had a great meal at noon. Your recipes are so easy and not complicated and are so adaptable to different spices if I desire. Thank you for being there.
Thank you, Gerard! It’s wonderful to hear that you find our recipes useful.
What size crockpot?
With all of our slow cooker recipes, we recommend using either a 1.5-quart or a 2-quart slow cooker.
Delicious! I had on hand two small chicken breasts, so I used those in my new mini-slow cooker. The chicken turned out moist and fork-tender, and the marinara sauce gave it a great flavor. I served it over spaghetti, and next time will try it with rice. It’s so easy to make I know it will become a favorite. I will be checking your site often, as I cook for just myself and as I’m getting older my motto is “The simpler, the better.” 😉
So good and simple. I made this recipe as a result of my friend Pat Potts adding it to her favorite recipes for 2021. It was a worthy recommendation. Thanks for sharing this nice keeper.
Delicious, I used chicken thighs and for the marinara sauce I used a spicy pepper pasta sauce and added a heap of vegetables for make as a one pot low carb meal. I spooned some of the sauce over the chicken and then piled the vegetables on top and spread the rest of the sauce on top of that and there was heaps of sauce with the finished dish more than I needed and all was cooked in 7 hours on low and the chicken just flaked with the fork and was very tender. Thank you for a great recipe made for What’s On The Menu tag game at FF&F.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it and I love the addition of vegetables – great idea!
That blue pot, that looks like it’s sitting on it’s own heating pedastal is killing me! Where can I find it?
Hi LeeAnn,
It’s a Hamilton Beach Party Crock and I love it. It’s 1.5 quarts and I use it as a slow cooker sometimes. I did a quick check on Amazon and didn’t see it listed so I’m thinking it may be discontinued.
Joanie
I love your site. Do you have any cook books out. I want these recipes for my college age granddaughter. We gave her a crockpot for Christmas and she loves it.
I am going to make the pasta and shrimp salad this week. Can’t wait!
Hi Joey,
Thank you so much, I’m so glad you are enjoying the recipes and I hope your granddaughter loves the slow cooker recipes!
We are currently working on our cookbook and it should be released later this year (in time for Christmas!). We’re so excited about it and will keep our readers updated when we have an exact publication date.
Have a wonderful week!
Joanie
Great recipe served “drippings” over rice using the microwave individual rice servings – the meal couldn’t have been simpler or tastier.
I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you so much for letting me know.
Nice to have a site dedicated to cooking for one. I live alone and it just makes it easier then recalculating recipes for one. So thanks for this site
Thank you, Jakub. I’m glad you are enjoying the recipes!
What a delicious looking recipe and so easy! I love dinners that I can set and forget so I don’t have to worry about rushing around in the evening making sure I put something on the table. This would work well for my husband and I by just doubling the recipe.