Low Carb Keto Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken Thighs are a perfect meal for a busy weeknight. You can make this in your slow cooker, Instant pot or you can bake them! Just 4 carbs per serving!
LOW CARB BALSAMIC CHICKEN
This amazing slow cooker balsamic chicken recipe has been a popular post since it was first published in 2012! It is simple enough for any weeknight meal and delicious enough for company.
With a few ingredients and 2-4 hours in your slow cooker, you have the most tender, mouthwatering, flavorful, chicken the whole family will love!
Pair it with any side dishes you like. The slow cooker does all the work and you will have an amazing dinner waiting for you when you get home from a long day.
HOW TO MAKE BALSAMIC CHICKEN
Ingredients
You will need some dry spices like garlic powder, dried basil or you could also use dried parsley, sea salt, black pepper, dried minced onion. You will also need minced garlic, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and of course skinless, boneless chicken thighs.
Directions
Combine the first five dry spices in a small bowl and spread over chicken on both sides. Set aside.
Place the olive oil minced garlic and half of the balsamic vinegar into the slow cooker.
Lay your chicken thighs in the slow cooker, they can overlap.
Cover and cook on high 2-3 hours if you have a newer slow cooker and 3-4 if you have an older slow cooker.
HOW TO SERVE BALSAMIC CHICKEN THIGHS
I've got a bunch of delicious low-carb side dishes to serve this with;
- Cheesy Cauliflower Tots
- Loaded Cauliflower
- Cauliflower Rice salad
- Oven Fried Garlic Parmesan Green Beans
- Low Carb Cheesy Bacon Hasselback Zucchini
But of course if you don't feel like making anything too involved, a simple cauliflower rice is always good as is a mashed cauliflower.
Palmini rice is a new favorite of ours and we do still enjoy Shirataki rice too!
BONELESS VERSUS BONE-IN THIGHS
Using boneless chicken thighs is best for perfectly tender and juicy slow cooked chicken, but of course you could always use chicken breast if you're not a fan of dark meat. You could even try this recipe using pork tenderloin if you like.
Bone-in thighs will also work just fine, you may need to cook them a bit longer, possibly an hour more. Make sure to use an internal thermometer and insert near the bone. You want a reading of 165 degrees F.
My entire family loved this chicken and each child asked for seconds of it which rarely ever happens! Don't be worried about the balsamic flavor, it is subtle and not strong at all. The kids will only notice how moist and tasty the chicken is, I promise!
TOOLS TO MAKE BALSAMIC CHICKEN
Slow Cooker-I love using my crock pot weekly for that wonderful smell when you come home knowing you've got dinner ready to go for the family!
or Instant Pot- As much as I love using my crock pot, having an Instant Pot does save time when you need to get dinner ready in under an hour.
HOW TO BAKE BALSAMIC CHICKEN THIGHS
If you'd rather not use the slow cooker or instant pot. Simply follow the directions for seasoning your chicken.
Instead of placing the oil, garlic and balsamic into the slow cooker, add it to a bowl and toss and coat the chicken thighs. Place in the fridge for at least an hour or overnight is even better.
When you are ready to bake, place parchment paper on a large baking sheet pan and preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
Lay thighs evenly on pan without overlapping. Bake for 25- 30 minutes or until internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
CAN I SWAP CHICKEN THIGHS FOR BREASTS?
Check this Post if you prefer using chicken breasts for this recipe instead. This recipe has also been adapted to use with beef!
Check out my newest recipe, Crock Pot Balsamic Roast Beef!
Other crock pot recipes you might like:
- Crock Pot Balsamic Chicken Breasts
- Crock Pot Balsamic Pork Tenderloin
- Crock Pot Beef Burgundy
- Crock Pot Shredded Mexican Style Chicken
- Crock Pot Sugar Free BBQ Pulled Chicken
KETO SLOW COOKER BALSAMIC CHICKEN THIGHS
Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons dehydrated onion
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar divided
- 8 chicken thighs boneless, skinless (about 24 ounces)
- sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- Combine the first five dry spices in a small bowl and spread over chicken on both sides.
- Set aside.
- Pour olive oil and garlic on the bottom of the slow cooker. Pour in ¼ cup balsamic vinegar.
- Place chicken on top.
- Sprinkle remaining balsamic vinegar over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on low for 3 hours if using boneless, if using bone in thighs, high for 2-3 hours. If you have an older slow cooker you may need to cook another hour.
- Sprinkle with fresh parsley on top to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
S
Love this recipe! Have made it many times in the crockpot and it never disappoints! ! Would appreciate instructions to convert to InstantPot.
Brenda Bennett
I'll work on that!
Laurie
Thank you, Brenda! This was super easy and delicious. I followed your recipe "to a T" and served it with Porcini Brown & Wild Rice, and steamed zucchini with parmesan. Absolute perfection!
Brenda
Thank you!
Roberta Taghavi
I just made this Keto slow cooker Balsamic chicken thighs. I had skin on bone in so I just removed the skin left the bone on and it cooked 4hours on high. This is delicious .
Thank you for posting this is a keeper
Christy
will the recipe work if I cook it on low for 6 hours in a crock pot?
Amanda
This has become a go-to recipe in our house, and has been one of our daughter’s favorites since she first started eating solid food— the chicken is so tender and shredded, with a sweetness from the balsamic, that she had no trouble with it! We usually serve it with mashed potatoes and peas, and we love it!
Meagan
Hello,
I'm wondering if you can use drumsticks in place of chicken thighs?
Jean
For the balsamic vinegar chicken thighs, how long to cook in an instant pot and fast or slow release?
Brenda
Sorry I only have the slow cooker method and baking in the oven method provided for this recipe.
Jami
Is there a way to make this with the pressure cooker feature on the Instant Pot?
Shannon
This was delicious! My entire family, even 3 little picky eaters loved it. I served it with rice and broccoli. The only thing I'll change the next time I make it is to cook boneless thighs on low for 2.5 hours. 3 hours seemed to dry it out a little. Thanks for the amazing recipe!
Brenda
Thanks Shannon!
Anurag Sharma
It is a perfect chicken dish for dinner . Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Amy
In the ingredients, it says 1/2 cup balsamic divided. But in the recipe I only see 1/4 cup used. Where is the other 1/4 cup??
Amy
Nevermind. I found it. 🤦🏻♀️