Slow Cooker Chicken

Whole Chicken (with rosemary and lemon)

Many people try to eat a little more healthy after the holidays are over.  I would be one of them.  One of my new year’s resolutions is to eat no (or less) fried foods.  Well I eat a lot of chicken (it is pretty good for you if prepared well).  Here is a quick and easy way for you to make a chicken for your next family dinner.  The recipe is designed for a whole chicken (a whole chicken fits nicely into your slow cooker), but you can use other chicken cuts (breast, thighs, wings) if you desire.

A note about a whole chicken: don’t underestimate it!

Many people stick to the chicken breasts because of one reason or another.

I am here to tell you that a whole chicken has a LOT of meat, great flavor, SUPER easy to cook (if you follow this recipe), and often times you can find them at a great price too!

Print a copy of this recipe for your own kitchen: CLICK HERE

Ingredients:

·   4-6 t. salt (some people like to use less sodium, others like more… that’s okay)

·   4 t. paprika

·   2 t. chili powder

·   2 t. garlic powder

·   2 t. chopped dried chives

·   2 t. black pepper

·   2 t. thyme

·   1 large onion - sliced

·   1 large roasting chicken

·   2-3 sprigs thyme

·   1 lemon

·   1 c. chicken stock

I
nstructions:

·  Combine all of your dry ingredients in a small bowl; mix well

·  Slice one large onion (can use white or yellow… remember yellow is sweeter)

·  Lay out your chicken or chicken cuts on some parchment

     paper

·  Squeeze the juice of one lemon all over your chicken

·  Take your dry ingredients and generously rub them into your chicken *save the lemons when you are done with this step!*

·  In your slow cooker, place 1 c. chicken stock in the bottom of the pot

·  Place half of your sliced onions in the bottom of the pot

·  Place your chicken on top of the onions and stock

·  Place the remainder of your onion slices all over the top of your chicken

·  Place the juiced lemon halves in the slow cooker with your chicken

·  Place fresh thyme (you can use rosemary too if you prefer that herb more) directly on top

·  Cover and cook on high for 4-6 hours

·  Important: check to make sure that the temperature of the chicken reaches at least 165 degrees

After about two hours you will begin to smell the aroma of this chicken cooking.  The combination of the chili powder, lemon, and especially the thyme will waft and aroma around your house that will make your family wondering “what time is dinner??”

Again, when the chicken is done (or when you think it is done) make sure you take the temperature of the bird.  It is important that the thickest part of your chicken reaches a minimum internal cooking temperature of 165 degrees.  After that you can lift your chicken out of the slow cooker.  Your chicken will literally fall apart.  (This is not the recipe if you want to display a nice golden brown whole chicken for a nice presentation… I mean it isn’t Thanksgiving.)  Take your lemons, thyme, and onions out of the slow cooker.  Place them on a nice serving tray.  Piece by piece portion out your chicken on the tray as well.  Try to separate the white and dark meat.  Everyone has their preference.

Feel free to experiment with this recipe too!  Add cloves of garlic if you want, swap out the herb, add another spice or two to your seasoning rub… the sky is the limit with an easy recipe like this one.

Slow Cooker Roast

 This recipe could be used for a roast or any other cut of meat (ex. London Broil).  The great thing about this recipe is its flexibility too!  The recipe can be amended to suit a specific taste and can be spiced up to a desired flavor.  Cooking meat in a crock pot is almost sure to guarantee a moist and tender entrée - as long as you ensure that your slow cooker has enough liquid.  I mentioned it in an earlier blog post- but you must be sure to use a lot of liquid when using a slow cooker.  (You can’t have too much- so aim high!)

This recipe is for a small roast to serve 2-3 people.  You can use a larger slow cooker and a larger cut of meat.  Just add more potatoes and vegetables (which can also be customized to suit your specific taste).

Print your own copy of this resume: CLICK HERE!

Ingredients

·         Roast or Cut of Meat

·         4-6 Potatoes

·         1 c. Baby Carrots (or you can use peeled, cut carrots)

·         ½ Onion - sliced

·         1 Pkg Dry Onion Soup Mix
·         1 Pkg Dry Ranch Dip Mix

·         ½ can Coke (you can use Diet Coke or Coke Zero)

·         ½ can Chicken stock

Instructions

·  Peel vegetables and potatoes (where applicable).

·  Place all vegetables (except onions) in the bottom of the slow cooker.

·  Place roast (or other meat cut) on top of vegetables.  *meat can be frozen or thawed; the only difference is the cooking time would be lengthened for frozen meat*

·  Pour can of coke over roast (use ½ can if making a smaller roast)

·  Pour can of chicken stock over roast (use ½ can if making smaller roast)

·  Pour package of dry Onion Soup Mix and Dry Ranch Dip Mix over the top of the roast

·  Place sliced onion over the top of the meat

·  Cover

·  Cook for 6-8 hours, or until the thickest part of the meat reads 145 on a meat thermometer

When you are done you will note that your cut of meat is very tender and will almost fall apart.  At that moment you will know why you used a slow cooker and will probably begin to plan your next meal!

Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

I love chili in the winter, and I really enjoy a good turkey chili.  This is a very simple turkey chili recipe that will be sure to wow your friends, family, or dinner guests.

In just minutes you can toss all of these items in the slow cooker and in a few hours you have a delicious meal.

Print a copy of the recipe to try at home: CLICK HERE!

Ingredients

·         2 chopped onions

·         4 chopped garlic cloves

·         1 chopped green pepper

·         ¼ c. olive oil

·         2 cans stewed tomatoes

·         1 can diced tomatoes

·         1 small can tomato paste

·         1 can chicken stock

·         2 T. chili powder

·         1 T. cumin

·         1 t. oregano

·         1 t. black pepper

·         2 lbs. ground turkey - cooked

·         ¼ c. shredded cheese

Instructions

·  In a medium or large slow cooker, mix stewed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken stock, and olive oil.

·  Chop onions

·  Chop garlic

·  Chop green pepper

·  Add chopped vegetables to the slow cooker

·  Brown 2 lbs of ground turkey and add to slow cooker

·  Add cumin, oregano, pepper, chili powder, and shredded cheese

·  Mix slow cooker together

·  Allow to cook on medium-high for 4 hours.  (you could cook it on low all day if you want - the longer you cook the more intense the flavors get!)

I always serve my chili with corn bread!

Top chili with sour crème and/or shredded cheese too!

Chili keeps for several days in the fridge or can be frozen in freezer bags for many months!

Slow Cooker Equipment

If there is one thing that every kitchen needs it is a slow cooker.  I actually think that every kitchen could use two, three, or four slow cookers!  Once you learn how to use your slow cooker to your advantage, you will see how great your meals can taste and how easy it is prepare a meal!

A little background…

Many people call a slow cooker a crock pot.  Crock-Pot is actually a trade marked brand in the US.  Coincidentally Slo-Cooker is a trade marked brand in the UK.

For the month of January I will be posting recipes that are made in your slow cooker.

Families are busier and busier, and while January isn’t a historically busy month - people are still decompressing from all of the holiday gatherings and engagements.

If you don’t have a slow cooker - RUN DON’T WALK!

One brand or another is on sale every week at local discount retailers like Target and Bed Bath and Beyond.  You don’t need to be too picky- just pick a size that isn’t too small!

I use three different sizes regularly.

I have a large slow cooker that is 5 quarts.  (5 or 6 quarts is a large size, but is one of the most versatile sizes that you can have.)

I also have another slow cooker that is 3 quarts.  This is great for small appetizers, small meals, or desserts.  (Yes!  You can make desserts in a slow cooker!  I will have at least one of those on here this month.)

I also have a small 1 quart slow cooker.  This is perfect for one thing - DIP.  I will be posting at least one slow cooker cheese dip recipe.

 

If there was one tip to remember about using a slow cooker it would be this…

Cardinal Rule of Slow Cooking:
Use lots of liquid.  All the slow cooker recipes that I will put on the site are tried and true.  Be sure that if you are going to alter any of the recipes that you don’t skimp on any of the liquid.  In order to not scorch your food (and your equipment) you must make sure that there is enough moisture in your slow cooker.