I am always looking for meal ideas that require the least amount of ingredients, but pack the greatest punch.
This slow cooker chicken recipe is an example of 3 ingredients that can be transported from simple to sublime. But the deal is, you can’t skip the technical side of this recipe.
You gotta sear the chicken, caramelize the onions properly, and make sure you cook the dish at a low enough temp.
If you do all of these steps, you have a braised chicken dish that’s seriously delicious.
I got this slow cooker chicken recipe from a client who wanted me to make it for a dinner party – it sounded strange, but turned out delicious, and I’ve been using it since. I know she got it from a Southern cookbook, but I’m not sure which.
Either way, enjoy. It’s a paleo approved recipe and one of my favorite ways to cook chicken.
Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 chicken, cut in 6 pieces (or 2 pounds of chicken pieces of your choice)
- 2 large onions, sliced in half moons
- 1.5 tbsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper
- Olive oil
Method:
- Sprinkle the chicken with salt, pepper, and 1/3 of the thyme.
- Heat a dutch oven on medium high heat for 3 minutes. Add about 2 tbsp olive oil and cook 2-3 pieces at a time without crowding the pan. When you place the chicken in the pan, do not touch for at least 1 minute. You want to get a good crust on the chicken as this is the base of the flavor for this dish.
- When the chicken is brown on both sides, remove from the pot onto a plate, reduce the temperature, add 2 more tbsp of olive oil, and add the onions. Add a good pinch of salt and cook the onions on medium low for 10-13 minutes, until the onions are caramelized. If they start to burn, lower the heat. This is crucial for getting the best results for this recipe.
- Nestle the chicken with the onions and add the remaining thyme. Bake covered in a dutch oven, in the oven, at 325 for 1 hour. Alternatively, you can bake the chicken in the slow cooker for 6 hours on high.
This slow cooker chicken recipe will keep in the fridge 3-4 days. Serve it with a side of mashed potatoes, rice or quinoa pilaf, and a green veg.
Enjoy!!! This is the beauty of simple cooking!
