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Slow-Cooker Pesto Chicken with Vegetables

Stephanie Wise
Updated Mar 31, 2015
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Yes, you can cook a whole chicken in the slow cooker! This easy, pesto-rubbed recipe is quick to prep and tastes delicious.

Slow-Cooker Pesto Chicken with Vegetables

  • Prep Time 15 min
  • Total 7 hr 15 min
  • Servings 6
  • Ingredients 7
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Ingredients

  • 1 medium white onion, quartered, sliced
  • 2 medium russet potatoes, peeled, cubed
  • 1 whole chicken (3 1/2 to 4 1/2 lb)
  • 1/4 cup basil pesto
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped zucchini (about 1 medium)
  • 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives

Instructions

  • Step 
    1
    In 6-quart oval slow cooker, place onion slices and cubed potatoes.
  • Step 
    2
    Remove chicken from packaging; remove and discard giblets. Rinse chicken; pat dry. Rub pesto all over chicken including inside cavity. Place chicken over vegetables in slow cooker, leaving 1-inch space around chicken.
  • Step 
    3
    Cover; cook on Low heat setting 6 hours. Do not remove lid before 6 hours.
  • Step 
    4
    After 6 hours, add tomatoes, zucchini and olives to slow cooker. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 30 minutes to 1 hour longer or until zucchini is tender and instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of chicken thigh muscle and not touching bone reads at least 165°F (legs should move easily when lifted or twisted).
  • Step 
    5
    Set oven control to broil. Carefully transfer chicken to roasting pan. Broil 5 minutes or until skin is golden brown and crisp. Let chicken rest 5 minutes before serving with vegetables.

Nutrition

350 Calories
17g Total Fat
33g Protein
15g Total Carbohydrate
4g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
350
Calories from Fat
150
Total Fat
17g
26%
Saturated Fat
4 1/2g
23%
Trans Fat
1/2g
Cholesterol
100mg
34%
Sodium
240mg
10%
Potassium
640mg
18%
Total Carbohydrate
15g
5%
Dietary Fiber
2g
10%
Sugars
4g
Protein
33g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
10%
10%
Vitamin C
15%
15%
Calcium
6%
6%
Iron
15%
15%
Exchanges:
1/2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 4 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
1
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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