Recipe: All-Purpose Crock Pot Chicken
Total Time: 9 hours
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories per Serving: 247.2
Ingredients:
- 1 whole chicken
- Lemon pepper
- Salt
- 1 bell pepper
- Celery
- Carrot
- Green onion
- Garlic
- Water
Description:
Unearth the wonders of this All-Purpose Crock Pot Chicken, a culinary gem born from a quest for chicken and rice that morphed into something extraordinary. The result? A dish that epitomizes tenderness and flavor, an ideal make-ahead marvel for the summertime where all the culinary magic happens before the crock pot even begins to warm.
This versatile creation seamlessly fits into various culinary escapades. It’s a star in fajitas, a delight in pasta salads, a hero in chicken salads, a warm companion in soups, an enhancement in beans and rice, a crown jewel atop bread for chicken sandwiches, or a refreshing cold treat on its own.
Ingredients Insight:
- Chicken: Opt for thigh portions or a cut-up fryer, ensuring to remove all skin and excess fat. Pro tip: Boil the skins with garlic for a special treat for your canine companion.
- Lemon Pepper & Salt: The dynamic duo that elevates the chicken’s flavor profile. A sprinkle of Cajun seasoning adds a hint of spice – tread lightly, for this is not your average low-salt affair.
- Vegetable Ensemble: A medley of bell pepper, celery, carrot, green onion, and garlic to enhance the aromatic symphony.
- Water: The liquid foundation that brings all the flavors together.
Instructions:
- If using thigh portions or a cut-up fryer, strip away the skin and excess fat, reserving the skins for a dog-friendly treat.
- There’s no need to bone the chicken; leave it as nature intended.
- Add approximately 1/4 inch of water to the slow cooker.
- Rinse the chicken thoroughly, ensuring to get into all the crevices, then generously sprinkle both sides with Cajun seasoning.
- Layer the seasoned chicken in the slow cooker, allowing each piece its moment in the flavorful spotlight.
- After seasoning all the chicken, cover the pot and let it rest for 30 minutes.
- At the end of this resting period, fully submerge the chicken in water and set the cooker to the “Low” setting. The cooking time is flexible but a minimum of 8-10 hours is recommended. Consider an overnight stint for a flavor infusion that lasts 12-24 hours.
- This dish is a salvation for those who never mastered the art of deboning. Post-cooking, simply retrieve the chicken pieces, effortlessly separate the bones from the succulent meat – it practically disintegrates. Save the broth for enhancing mashed potatoes, gravy, rice, or soups.
- With a bounty of chicken at your disposal, portion it into smaller containers and freeze for future culinary escapades.
Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 247.2
- Fat Content: 17.3g
- Saturated Fat Content: 5g
- Cholesterol Content: 86.2mg
- Sodium Content: 99.9mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 0g
- Fiber Content: 0g
- Sugar Content: 0g
- Protein Content: 21.4g
Rating: 5 stars
Reviews: 12
Embark on a gastronomic journey with this All-Purpose Crock Pot Chicken, a culinary revelation that transforms a simple desire for chicken and rice into a symphony of flavors and tenderness. Perfectly suited for a myriad of dishes, it promises a culinary adventure that goes beyond the ordinary, making it a star in your recipe repertoire.
