Description
Succulent slow cooker herb-braised chicken with mushrooms delivers a comforting melody of aromatic herbs and tender meat. Fragrant rosemary and thyme infuse each bite, promising a delightful culinary journey you won’t forget.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 8 bone-in (skin-on) chicken thighs
- 4 slices bacon (cut into 1-inch pieces)
Vegetables and Herbs:
- 1 cup frozen pearl onions
- 10 ounces mushrooms (quartered)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
- Fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 3/4 cups chicken broth (or low-sodium vegetable broth)
- Salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Thoroughly dry chicken thighs with paper towels, seasoning both sides generously with salt and black pepper.
- Sear chicken skin-side down in a hot skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown and crispy, approximately 7-10 minutes.
- Transfer browned chicken to slow cooker with skin facing upward and scatter frozen pearl onions around the meat.
- Render bacon pieces in the same skillet until crisp, removing them with a slotted spoon while reserving approximately 1/4 cup of rendered fat.
- Sauté quartered mushrooms in the reserved bacon fat until richly caramelized and brown, roughly 5-7 minutes.
- Incorporate flour, tomato paste, minced garlic, and thyme into the mushrooms, stirring to develop deep flavors for about one minute.
- Gradually stream chicken broth into the skillet, whisking continuously to create a smooth, integrated sauce.
- Pour the mushroom-infused broth over chicken and onions in the slow cooker, ensuring even coverage.
- Cook on high temperature for 4-6 hours or low temperature for 6-8 hours until chicken becomes supremely tender and fully cooked.
- Plate the chicken, generously ladle sauce over the meat, then garnish with crispy bacon crumbles and fresh parsley.
Notes
- Ensure chicken skin is completely dry before browning to achieve a crispy, golden exterior that locks in moisture and adds incredible flavor.
- Use thick-cut bacon for maximum crispiness and a rich, smoky base that elevates the entire dish’s taste profile.
- Avoid overcrowding the skillet when browning mushrooms to guarantee proper caramelization and prevent steaming, which can make them soggy.
- Opt for low-sodium chicken broth to control salt levels, allowing you to adjust seasoning precisely to your taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (on Low) or 4 hours (on High)
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 330 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg