healthy slow cooker chicken thighs
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Chicken as food
Chicken is the most common type of poultry in the world.[1] Owing to the relative ease and low cost of raising chickens—in comparison to mammals such as cattle or hogs—chicken meat (commonly called just “chicken”) and chicken eggs have become prevalent in numerous cuisines.
Chicken can be prepared in a vast range of ways, including baking, grilling, barbecuing, frying, and boiling. Since the latter half of the 20th century, prepared chicken has become a staple of fast food. Chicken is sometimes cited as being more healthful than red meat, with lower concentrations of cholesterol and saturated fat.[2]
The poultry farming industry that accounts for chicken production takes on a range of forms across different parts of the world. In developed countries, chickens are typically subject to intensive farming methods while less-developed areas raise chickens using more traditional farming techniques. The United Nations estimates there to be 19 billion chickens on Earth today, making them outnumber humans more than two to one.[3]
Honey-Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
Directions
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Lay chicken thighs into the bottom of a 4-quart slow cooker.
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Whisk soy sauce, ketchup, honey, garlic, and basil together in a bowl; pour over the chicken.
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Cook on Low for 6 hours.
Note:
Please note differences in ingredients and cooking time when using the magazine version of this recipe.
Nutrition Facts
Several Best Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Recipes
Easy Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken
There’s no need for side dishes when you make this chicken thigh recipe! Tender white potatoes and healthy veggies are cooked right in the crockpot with the bone-in chicken thighs.
Healthy Crock Pot Chicken and Rice
This Peruvian-inspired chicken dinner is one of our favorite slow cooker chicken thigh recipes! Full of vegetables, delicious seasonings, fiber-rich brown rice, and juicy chicken thighs.
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
This crock pot take on paleo butter chicken is so easy and delicious it’s become one of the all-time best slow cooker chicken thigh recipes on One Lovely Life!
Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken
This recipe delivers all of the teriyaki flavors of Asian take-out, made easily in your slow cooker. This dish features juicy chicken thighs and fresh vegetables tossed in a sweet teriyaki sauce.
Slow Cooker Herbed Chicken and Rice Pilaf
Whether it’s for Sunday dinner or a hearty, healthy weeknight meal, this is one of the slow cooker chicken thigh recipes you’ll make often!
Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore With Potatoes
A classic Italian dinner made easily in a crock pot, Chicken Cacciatore With Potatoes features chicken falling off the bone in a hearty Italian stew!
Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken Thighs
This healthy chicken thigh recipe creates a delicious dinner with a beautiful presentation that will have everyone’s mouth watering before you get it to the table!
Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken
With tender chicken thighs, olives, sweet red peppers, and onion, this slow cooker chicken thigh recipe couldn’t be more delicious, and it’s healthy too!
Crock-Pot Pineapple Chicken
Ultimate Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken Thighs
YOU WILL NEED
6 to 8 chicken thighs, skin-on, bone-in, trimmed of excess fat, about 2 pounds
1 tablespoon Dijon grain mustard
1 tablespoon lemon zest (1 teaspoon for rub and 2 teaspoons for sauce)
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice (from 1 large lemon)
1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken stock, see our chicken stock recipe
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
DIRECTIONS
PREPARE CHICKEN
Make rub for chicken. Combine mustard, 1 teaspoon of the lemon zest, oregano, thyme, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of the olive oil in a small bowl. Use fingers or a brush to coat chicken on both sides with the mustard rub.
In another bowl or measuring jug, combine remaining lemon zest (2 teaspoons), lemon juice and the chicken stock. Set aside. Note: Both the chicken and lemon-chicken stock mixture can be prepared up to one day in advance. Cover both and keep in the refrigerator.
COOK CHICKEN
Heat remaining teaspoon of oil in a large oven-safe skillet or frying pan over medium heat. Add the chicken, skin-side down, and cook 3 to 5 minutes or until the skin has turned golden brown and some fat has rendered.
Transfer the browned chicken to a slow cooker and arrange in one layer with the skin facing up. Cover with lid then cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours or until the chicken is cooked through. Save the skillet with drippings for making the sauce.
MAKE SAUCE
Remove all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the skillet used to brown the chicken. If there is not enough fat, add butter so that 2 tablespoons of fat are in the pan.
Place over medium heat until hot then whisk in the flour. Continue to whisk until the flour and fat turn into a smooth paste and look medium blonde in color; about 1 minute. Pour in the lemon juice-stock mixture and whisk until smooth.
Bring the sauce to a low simmer. As it simmers, it thickens and becomes glossy. Transfer to a jar or measuring jug and refrigerate for when the chicken is cooked.
TO FINISH
When the chicken is done, it will be sitting in an inch or so of cooking liquid and rendered fat. Transfer the chicken to a plate then skim as much fat from the liquid as possible. There should be almost 2 cups of liquid left in the slow cooker.
Warm the lemon gravy made earlier then add the lemon gravy to the slow cooker and stir until blended. Place the chicken thighs back into the slow cooker for serving or serve with the gravy drizzled on top.
DO YOU NEED TO SEAR THE CHICKEN FIRST?
No! I’ve tested this recipe both with searing and without, and it makes such a minimal difference that it’s easier and less mess to skip the searing.
Can you put raw chicken in a slow cooker?
Yes! You can put any raw meat in a slow cooker.
How long should I cook chicken in the slow cooker?
For this recipe, the chicken should cook for 3 hours on high, or 5 hours on low.
How long does it take to cook chicken in the crockpot on low?
This recipe calls for chicken thighs, which take longer to cook than chicken breasts. I’m also using bone-in chicken thighs, which adds a bit longer to the cook time than if you were to use boneless.
NOTES
If you can’t find bone-in skin-on chicken thighs, or if you simply prefer meat without bones, you can substitute boneless skinless chicken thighs.
Boneless meat cooks a bit faster than bone-in, so reduce the cook time to 4 hours on LOW, or 2 hours on HIGH if you make this substitution.
Slow cooker honey mustard chicken thighs
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp butter
- 8 chicken thighs (or fillets if you prefer)
- 8 spring onions, cut into lengths
- 150ml chicken stock
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp double cream or crème fraîche
- 100g frozen peas
Method
- STEP 1
Heat the slow cooker. Melt the butter in a frying pan and quickly brown the chicken thighs all over. Make sure the skin picks up plenty of colour. Season, then put them in the slow cooker. Brown the spring onions and add them to the slow cooker as well. Add the stock, mustard and honey and cook on low for 4 hrs.
- STEP 2
Stir in the cream or crème fraîche and peas, then cook for a further 15 mins with the lid off. Re-crisp up the chicken skin under the grill, if you like.
Can I Cook Frozen Chicken Thighs in the crockpot?
Per the USDA, it’s not recommended to put the frozen chicken into the crockpot, but rather thaw chicken first.
This baked chicken post reviews quick ways to properly defrost chicken thighs.
How To Make Crispy Bone-In Chicken Thighs In The Crock Pot
After the chicken thighs are cooked, simply place them onto a baking sheet and broil them for 3-4 minutes or until the skin starts to brown up and get crispy.
How long to cook on high?
Cook chicken thighs on high for 2 to 3 hours.
How long to cook in the slow cooker on Low?
Cook chicken thighs 4 to 5 hours on low.
Thank you for staying with this post “healthy slow cooker chicken thighs” until the end.
