Crock Pot Pesto Chicken

I can't seem to get enough of my pesto. I thought it would be delicious to make it with a protein  so what better than chicken? I made the pesto the night before and then put it in a crock with the chicken and magic definitely happened! You can also just buy store bought pesto and add if you are pressed for time- but really- homemade pesto is SO good and actually very easy.

2 chicken breasts

1 cup pesto sauce

1 cup vegetable or chicken stock
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
2 teaspoons dried minced onions

Pesto: 

Roughly 3 cups basil

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese (can be vegan or dairy free version)

1/4 cup walnuts

1/2 cup olive oil

salt and pepper 

1 clove garlic

Directions:

• Put your chicken in the crock pot and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and dried minced onions. 
• Then put all of your pesto ingredients in a blender or food processor (minus the olive oil). 
• Pulse the ingredients until well mixed
• Slowly start to pour the olive oil into the blender or food processor until the pesto has the desired consistency. It should be somewhat liquid but still have some thickness to it. 
• Then add 1 cup of the pesto and the stock to the chicken breasts.
• Cook on low for 6 hours. 
• Shred the chicken in the crock pot and stir, let it sit about 15 minutes or up to an hour on warm. You can also just carefully pull the chicken out whole, but I like that the pesto gets all over every bit when you shred it!
• Serve over rice, pasta or just serve it with a side salad!