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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 delicious! I would suggest cutting up the chicken breast, and cooking the broccoli for longer than recommended by 20 minutes but other than that I followed the recipe and it turned out great!
Thanks so much, Carmen! Love to hear that you enjoyed this recipe and I appreciate you trying it! x
Quick question — I haven’t made this yet but based on the video, it looks like you put some sort of dried green herb on the chicken in the beginning. What exactly is that? I’m not seeing it listed in the ingredients? It also appears you did not use regular shredded cheddar cheese, as listed in this recipe?? I am currently making this and followed the recipe exactly as instructed, and it looks very different than your video. Thank you for your help!
Hi Kaitlyn,
I just did a little bit of chopped herbs, whatever I had lying around. Totally optional! I also used white cheddar cheese, rather than yellow, either one works! I hope you love this recipe! xT
Quick question — I haven’t made this yet but based on the video, it looks like you put some sort of dried green herb on the chicken in the beginning. What exactly is that? I’m not seeing it listed in the ingredients?
Hey Kaitlyn,
I think I just did a little bit of chopped herbs, whatever I had lying around. Totally optional! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xT
I just made this tonight and it was delicious! 🤤
Hey Betty,
Happy Monday! I am thrilled to hear this recipe was a hit, thanks for making it and your feedback! xT
I’m in need of a new crockpot, what do you recommend?
Hey Danielle,
Here is my go to crockpot:
https://api.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=900703822&pid=uid3696-43323264-41&aid=45496900&utm_content=productwidget%3A63598b1f870c5535efb66d84&utm_medium=referral
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
This was delicious. After reading the reviews, I doubled the spices and cooked an additional hour on high. Not runny after cooking it longer. Will definitely make again.
Hey Christine,
Wonderful! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, love to hear it turned out well! Xx
what salsa verde do you use?
Hey Sher,
I like Whole Foods 365 brand. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
This was so good!! Delicious combination of flavors. Will definitely be on the meal rotation…. Boyfriend who is a picky eater even liked this
Hey Corey,
Yay!! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, I appreciate you making it! Have a great week! xT
This was sooo good! My husband loved it. After reading the reviews I doubled the spices, added another hour cooking on high. That extra hour kept the dish from being runny.
Hey Christine,
Thank you so much for making this recipe and your feedback, so glad to hear it was a winner! Happy Sunday! xT
The flavors were really good but missing some texture. Maybe crispy shallots, toasted almonds, toasted bread crumbs. Any suggestions?
Hi Margaret,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback! I think toasted breadcrumbs would be nice:) xT
Could I use frozen broccoli?
Hi Morgan,
Yes, that will work nicely for you:) Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
Can you use frozen chicken?
Hi Rachel,
You will want to thaw your chicken first:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
This has rice in the video but I don’t see rice in the recipe?
Hi there,
I like to serve this dish over rice, but that is totally optional:) Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
The video shows you adding rice to the crockpot dish. If we want to do the same, are there any modifications to the recipe we should follow?
Hi Andrea,
I just cook rice on the side to my liking, you can also do the same! I hope you love this dish! xT
I love this recipe! Is there a way to prep and freeze ahead of time?
Hi Lauren,
Sure, I would fully make the recipe and then transfer to an oven safe baking dish to freeze and then bake from frozen. I hope this helps! xT
Is your broccoli raw or cooked already when placed in the crockpot? I can’t imagine 15 minutes enough time to not be crunchy anymore. I’m trying this recipe tonight!
Hi Deanne,
The broccoli is raw when it is added. You are going to put the crockpot on high and the broccoli should be chopped, so it’s not super big and 15 minutes should be enough time to cook through:) I hope you love this dish! xT
This is a remake for me on week nights! Wondering if using the Instant Pot, would it be fine to put the broccoli in with the chicken for softer broccoli?
Hey Hannah,
Love to hear that you make this recipe often! Sure, I don’t see why not! Let me know how that turns out for you! xT