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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!
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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.
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!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Honestly just did not turn out at all. Onion was SO strong.
Hi Kailee,
Thanks for trying this dish and sharing your feedback, so sorry to hear it was not enjoyed!
Have a very Happy New Year!🥂🎆
This came out very watery for me
Hi Tabitha,
Very sorry to hear this was watery for you! Was there anything you may have adjusted in the recipe? Please let me know how I can help!
Pretty average recipe and nothing spectacular about the flavors. As per usual with HBH recipes, I found that the cooking time was way off for the broccoli and it needed much longer than 15 minutes.
Hi Megan,
Thanks for trying this dish and sharing your feedback, sorry to hear you didn’t love it!
Followed as written but the flavor was just not good, salsa didn’t seem like the right ingredient for this, maybe it was the brand I used. The flavor of the sauce was sour yet creamy. Also the broccoli looked overcooked but was still kinda hard. The sauce was not as thick as shown in the video.
I LOVE this recipe, we easily make this 2-3 times a month!!
Hey Meghan,
Happy Sunday! Thanks for the thoughtful feedback after trying this recipe, I’m happy to hear it was a win!
Made it for a house full of teens. Everyone loved it. I put a bag of frozen broccoli in the microwave and cooked it. Once it was done, I stirred it in when the recipe called for it. It was perfect, not too mushy at all.
Hey Laura,
Awesome!! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe and thanks for sharing what worked well for you! Happy Fall!
Would it still taste good if I added peppers or does that not go with it? I just dont want it to taste gross if the meal doesnt go with peppers. Thank you.
Hi Theresa,
I personally wouldn’t add peppers here:) Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it!
I see rice in all of the plated photos, but it’s not an ingredient. If I add rice to the slow cooker (instead of making it separately), can I add chicken broth, and how much?
Hi Lesley,
So sorry, I have not tested that with this recipe, I just make my rice on the side. I hope you love this dish!
What rice do you recommend?
I like to use jasmine or basmati rice:)
Can Greek yogurt be used in place of the cream cheese?
Thank you!
Hi Sue,
Sure, that will also work for you! I hope you love this dish, let me know how it turns out for you!
This looks so good…can the salsa be omitted? I’m thinking about cooking this recipe and adding in some cooked rotini noodles after the chicken is cooked 🙂
Thanks so much, Amber! Sure, you could skip the salsa. Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it!
Really good! I didn’t do the butter on top to save calories and I added the broccoli a lot earlier, so it would be softer.
Hi Kathi,
Fantastic! I’m so glad to hear this recipe was a hit, thanks a bunch for making it!🍁
How much earlier did you add the broccoli? My thoughts too; if the broccoli would be soft enough with the time given. Can’t wait to try this soon!
Love this recipe, have made it twice. I’m trying to make freezer meals for after baby comes- what do you think of all of this going in a ziplock freezer and then directly into the crock pot together….think it would come out ok?
Hi Leah,
Happy Monday!! Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback, I’m so glad it was a winner! Yes, that will work nicely for you. Congrats on your newest addition!
Can I use a mild red salsa instead of salsa verde so it’s not spicy for my toddler? Thank you!
Hi Jamie,
That will work here, it’s just going to give a different flavor profile. Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it!
I couldn’t wrap my head around putting 6 tablespoons of butter on top of a rich cheesy creamy dish – what is the point of the extra fat and calories here?
I made this minus the butter – and it was delicious.
Thanks for sharing your feedback, Sarah! Glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, totally fine for you to skip the butter!
Cooked it the instant pot way and it was perfect!! Served over rice for a complete meal and everyone loved it, plus we used extra thyme brown butter for a cracker dip 🙂 Thank you!!
Hey Jess,
Thanks so much! I love to hear this recipe turned out for you, thanks for making it! Happy Wednesday!
Hi! What is the texture of the chicken? I’m thinking of cooking it on low for 4 hours but I don’t want it to come out like shredded chicken. I want more of a juicy chicken breast. Any pro tips?
Hey Jackie, The chicken is super tender and juicy. I wouldn’t change a thing here:) Let me know if you give this recipe a try! xT