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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
I know this is a basic question – but do you cut up the chicken before adding to crockpot? Or do you cook whole breasts or thighs, and then do as you like later when complete. Perhaps I am overlooking a note in the directions. After photos suggest the chicken was cut into bit size pieces.
Hi! I usually cook the whole breasts! If you would like bite size pieces of chicken you could also do that, the chicken might just cook quicker! xT
Easy recipe to pull together in the crock pot. Used chicken thighs which was wonderful. I wish the salsa verde contributed more to the flavor but I haven’t found a brand I’m in love with yet. Any suggestions? That butter, garlic, and thyme combo was delicious. Served with rice. Thanks for another yummy meal for our family!
Thank you so so much for trying out the recipe! Have an awesome weekend! xT
Let me start by saying I loved this dish and would make it again, it was absolutely delicious! I did make a few swaps due to forgetting items from the grocery store. I put the chicken and onions and spices in for about 3 hours as directed, but added the broccoli about 30 mins before I added the cream cheese, milk, and cheddar. My goal was to soften it a bit more, I don’t love crunchy broccoli in warm dishes! I forgot brown rice so actually served this over spaghetti noodles, and it totally took on a chicken Alfredo vibe which I wasn’t mad about – yum. Everything was melty and there is so much sauce leftover, I can’t wait to taste it tomorrow, maybe with crushed red pepper flakes. Overall – I will make this again! Delish comfort meal, thank you Tieghan!
Hi Tara! Thank you so much for leaving such a thoughtful and sweet comment! xT
Excellent flavor. However, it will not work in 1-2 hours on “high” – definitely recommend 3 hours on high, or at least 4 hours on low. Broccoli and Onion were still crunchy at 2 hours on High, and Chicken was still raw.
Hey Emily! Thanks for letting me know!
We had this tonight and it was such a delicious comfort meal! The broccoli was still too crunchy but that could be because I didn’t cut it up into small enough pieces. Served over brown rice. Thanks for the great recipe, Tieghan!
I don’t have a crock pot but I do have an instapot. I’d like to make it with the instapot, can you provide me with the conversion?
Hi Shannon! If you scroll down below the crockpot instructions I have Instant Pot Instructions included! Sorry for any confusion! xT
I made the chicken mixture in the Crockpot®️ as directed.
I then made white rice in my Instapot w/chicken broth. Once the rice was done, I stirred in the brown butter/garlic/thyme mixture.
Then plated chicken mixture on top rice mixture. It was DIVINE! Hubby loved it and then requested that I portion out servings for his co-workers at Coca-Cola®️ for lunch tomorrow, so that is happening!
Hi! Thanks so much! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe! xT
Can I omit the cream cheese?
Hi! I haven’t ever tried this without the cream cheese! I think that should work alright, it just might not have that thickness/creaminess! xT
Do you have a suggestion to sub salsa verde. Plan to make this tomorrow but forgot to buy it!
Hey there! I haven’t ever tried this without the salsa verde, I would maybe just add some extra spices! xT
For those with onion sensitivity, can you omit onions altogether or modify for something else? 💗
Hi there! I haven’t ever tried this recipe without the onions, but I would imagine it should be fine to omit them and just add some more spices to bring in some more flavor! xT
Made this tonight and it was a hit! Not as spicy as I thought it would be, which was fine with me!!! I shredded the chicken as it was so tender. Would be nice over orzo as a pasta dish!!!
Thank you so so much for trying out the recipe Tricia! xT
Hi Tieghan! Have you tried the chicken right out of the crock pot before adding the milk/cream cheese? I’m wondering if I can get away with that over rice & the butter sauce as I’m limiting but not restricting dairy. The recipe as is looks absolutely amazing! Thank you!
Hi Mary! I haven’t ever tried this recipe without the milk and cream cheese! So sorry!
Im not so so sure about drizzling butter over a dish with that much cheese and cream in it! Can you give more insight on how to add in that extra flavor without the butter topping?
You can definitely omit the butter if you’d like! And you can add more spices if you’d like more flavor!
I’m making this recipe now so I can’t rate it yet but I’m wondering why you gave it one star without having tried it first.
Agree, that’s just weird, but I doubt this person was sincere in her question, or intention to make this dish. I made it exactly as is, butter and all, and it was delicious. Will definitely make again.
So excited for a crockpot recipe!! Thank you!!
Thank you Hannah! xT
Excellent the family loved this
Perfect balance of flavors not too cheesy
Served over riced cauliflower
Leftovers better second day!!!!
Thank you so much Kris! xT