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Crockpot Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Chicken, a cozier weeknight, slow cooker meal. This comforting chicken and broccoli is tossed in a creamy, spicy salsa verde white cheddar cheese sauce, then finished with a golden garlic thyme butter, so delish. It’s the perfect hearty and delicious meal to come home to at the end of a busy day. And what’s even better is just how easy it is to prepare!
And just like that, the crockpot recipes are slowly returning for the season ahead. To say that I’m excited would be an understatement. It’s not that I’m ready for chilly fall days, but I am ready to celebrate and share all of my favorite things. Baked apple recipes, dishes made with pumpkin, cozy stews and chilis, fresh bread, and warming cocktails.
As we enter into September this year, I have so much excitement. There’s so much to look forward to in the autumn months.
And the one thing I think we all know I love is creating easy, cozy dinners that we can all really enjoy.
Ingredients
- Yellow onion
- Boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Chili powder
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- Salsa verde
- Milk or cream
- Cream cheese
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped broccoli florets
- Salted butter
- Garlic
- Fresh thyme leaves
- Fresh basil
At this point, I have more broccoli cheddar recipes in my toolbox than most need, but they’re all so yummy. My very favorite is a good bowl of broccoli cheddar soup. But I love my broccoli cheddar chicken noodle casserole, broccoli cheddar chicken and rice casserole and we can’t forget creamy one pot broccoli cheddar orzo.
Yes, I love this combination. But this is my first recipe for the crockpot, and I think you’ll really love it. This is the creamiest chicken, and it’s topped with a little garlic butter to make it that much more delicious.
Here are the details
Step 1: layer the chicken
Working in the bowl of your crockpot, layer the onion, chicken, and seasonings. Pour over the salsa verde, then add some water.
Now cover the crockpot and let the chicken cook. I usually cook 1-2 hours on high or 3 to 4 hours on low.
Step 2: make the chicken creamy
Once the chicken is cooked, mix in a bit of milk or cream, a block of cream cheese, a couple of handfuls of cheddar cheese, then lots of fresh broccoli.
Now let this cook on high for 10 or 15 minutes. Just until the sauce is very creamy and the cheese has melted.
Step 3: brown the butter
Brown the butter in a small skillet with garlic and thyme. The goal is to get the butter to a nice golden color and the thyme crispy. This takes about 4-5 minutes.
This is “extra” and while you don’t need it, it makes every bite of this dish that much yummier. So I of course recommend it.
I love to serve the chicken, broccoli, and sauce over rice or creamy polenta. And then drizzle that golden butter on top.
Once you plate this, I recommend adding fresh basil on top and some crusty bread on the side. The bread is perfect for scooping up all that extra creamy sauce.
Looking for other easy weeknight night dinners?? Here are my favorites:
One Pan Herb Butter Chicken and Zucchini Rice Pilaf
Simple Thai Chicken Zucchini Meatball Curry
Sheet Pan Hot Honey Garlic Chicken and Zucchini
Slow Cooker Mustard Herb Chicken and Creamy Orzo
Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Soup with Salty Lime Chips
30 Minute Creamy Chicken and Parmesan Sage Dumplings
Creamy Gnocchi Soup with Rosemary Bacon
Lastly, if you make this Crockpot Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Chicken, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Crockpot Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Chicken.
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 612 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 3/4 cup salsa verde
- 1/2 cup milk or cream
- 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 3-4 cups chopped broccoli
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh thyme leaves
- fresh basil for serving
Instructions
Crockpot
- 1. In the bowl of your slow cooker, layer the onion and then the chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and season with salt and pepper. Pour over the salsa verde and 1/4 cup water. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 1-2 hours.2. Crank the heat on the slow cooker to high. Stir in the milk, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese. Add the broccoli. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, or until the sauce is creamy.3. Melt together the butter, garlic, and thyme leaves in a small skillet set over medium heat. Cook until the butter is browning and the thyme is crisp, 4 minutes.4. Serve the chicken, broccoli, and sauce topped with brown butter and fresh basil. Enjoy!
Instant Pot
- 1. In the bowl of your Instant Pot, layer the onion and then the chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and season with salt and pepper. Pour over the salsa verde and 1/4 cup water. Cover and cook on high pressure for 6 minutes.2. Once done cooking, release the steam. Set the Instant Pot to sauté. Stir in the milk, cream cheese, and cheddar. Add the broccoli. Cook 6-8 minutes, until the sauce is creamy.3. Melt together the butter, garlic, and thyme leaves in a small skillet set over medium heat. Cook until the butter is browning and the thyme is crisp, 4 minutes.4. Serve the chicken, broccoli, and sauce topped with brown butter and fresh basil. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on August 28, 2023
This was a great recipe! Like you, I’m a SUCKER for some broccoli cheddar action, and this recipe did not disappoint. However, I had a pretty healthy burn situation on the bottom of my IP – do you think this would be rectified by a shorter sauté time or more constant stirring? I did have to do more time because the broccoli was underdone in only 6-8 minutes. Also, I think I’ll add more verde further along in the cooking process because it added a delicious layer of flavor that complimented the cheddar really well.
Thanks for another home run! Can’t wait to make this again.
Oh no I’m so sorry about the burning! Thank you for letting me know! xT
Made this tonight exactly as written and it was a huge hit! The flavors are phenomenal and it came together so easily. Served over orzo. Will be making this one often. Thanks so much Tieghan!!
Thank you so so much Catherine! xT
Made this in the InstantPot last night! So delicious! I served it over rice. Thank you for another wonderful recipe!
Thank you so so much for giving this recipe a try! And thanks for taking the time to leave a comment! Have a great day! xT
how long did you cook it in your Instant Pot?
Very good to excellent! This will go into our recipe rotation because it is so easy. My chicken breasts were large so I cut them in half as we have smaller appetites these days and we will have more leftovers. I made it exactly like the recipe this time. My one comment is that with my slow cooker (Cuisinart) the broccoli needs much more than 15 minutes to cook to tender. I would love to try this over orzo too and may try to cook that along with next time.
For the person who asked about using the Dutch oven, I see no reason you couldn’t use one for this, just Cook low and slow for the first couple of hours and then watch closely when you add the cream, cheese, cream cheese and broccoli. I used the slow cooker and cooked almost 4 hours.
Thank you so much Elaine! I appreciate the feedback!
Ok today where is the rice we see in the picture?? Im now following a little closer because most days have a problem— a lot of chipotle problems. Maybe a new editor?? NO I have not already said the above. I enjoy following Thiegan but there have been a lot of errors lately. I’m not a fan of complaining but get someone to edit these before posting.
“I love to serve the chicken, broccoli, and sauce over rice or creamy polenta. And then drizzle that golden butter on top.” Is written under Step: 3.
Using common sense and making a side of rice must’ve been too difficult for you to figure out on your own… (Definitely more difficult than complaining twice, I see. So much for not being a fan of complaining, lol)
Seems to me as though you need an editor as well, Pat. Or at the very least, to learn how to proof read. These darn chipotle problems must be getting to your head.
Is this comment necessary?
Why the hate, Pat?! This is such a lovely site and I hope moving forward you can take the negativity somewhere else.
She says in the description above that she likes to serve over rice or creamy polenta… you can serve it over anything you like. The photo happens to be over rice. No need for the negativity 🙂
Ok today where is the rice we see in the picture?? Im now following a little closer because most days have a problem— a lot of chipotle problems. Maybe a new editor??
This recipe is delicious but very rich. I didn’t add the butter at the end. It was rich enough with the cheese. I would probably decrease the amount of cream cheese used. I also think this is a perfect cozy winter recipe. I am in the south and it is still very hot here. All in all, it is very tasty.
Thanks for the feedback Courtney! I appreciate it! xT
Can you freeze this recipe once cooked and cooled? Would you recommend leaving the broccoli out if you are going to freeze (and add when you de thaw)?
Hey Emily! I really can’t say for sure because I’ve never frozen this recipe before! xT
This looks wonderful!
If I am using frozen broccoli, could I just add it earlier to cook along with the chicken or would I need to thaw it first?
Hi there! I would just add it a bit sooner so it cooks all the way! xT
This was yummy, but my onions were so raw and my broccoli didn’t cook at all in the 15 minutes. Maybe it’s my slow cooker. I’ll try it in the instant pot and see what happens.
Like Mimi, I’d like to know if you have directions for making this on the stovetop. I’ve stopped using my Instant Pot and slow cooker and put them high up in a cupboard that I can’t easily access, but this does sound delicious!
Hi Helen! I would follow similar directions to the slow cooker except you obviously won’t be cooking for as long and you’ll be using high heat! I haven’t tried the recipe on the stove top so I can’t give exact directions!
How would you make this in a Dutch oven
Hi Mimi! I would follow directions similar to the slow cooker directions, except you obviously would be cooking on higher heat and wouldn’t have to cook quite as long! Let me know if you give it a try! xT
I love that this can easily be made keto
by using heavy cream & serving over cauliflower rice. Can’t wait to try it!
What kind of rice did you put the chicken on?
Hope you love this recipe! xT
This looks so delicious! We will try it this week! We enjoy your recipes a least 1-2 times a week. 🙂
Thank you! I hope you loveee the recipe! xT
What happened to the lighter recipes you kept saying were in the works? I love your meals, but there never used to be this much butter, cream and cheese in every single one. There was once a good variety of hearty and healthy I could feed my family several nights a week, and now I’m really not sure what happened. Would love to see some new seafood and vegetarian recipes too beyond the many repetitive chicken and rice dishes as of late.
Hey Kelly, Thank you for the feedback! I really appreciate it!
I follow weight watchers and have found that the recipes are usually very easy to modify. I LOVE the chicken recipes of late (chicken breasts are 0 points on WW). I feed a large family with teenage boys and they ALL love your recipes. I’ve also just got my mom and dad hooked as well! I also work, so very excited to try this crock pot recipe. Keep them coming and thank you!
Thank you so much Sandi! So glad that these recipes are enjoyable for you! xT
Hi! This looks delicious- I’m interested in trying this out! I have an allergy to nightshades so I can’t use the salsa verde. Do you have any suggestions for substitutes?
Hi Shannon! I would maybe just add a little but more milk/water and then add more spices to replace the flavor of the salsa verde!