Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken Thighs

I love to cook chicken thighs because it's almost impossible to overcook them.  Break out the slow cooker - this recipe makes sticky, flavorful thighs with very little effort.  

Make a flavorful spice rub by combining dried granulated garlic, dried basil, fine salt, ground black pepper, and dried granulated onion. 

Other flavor components needed - olive oil and freshly minced garlic.

Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with the spice rub.  Use it all. 

Put olive oil in bottom of 5 or 6-quart slow cooker.

Add freshly minced garlic.  Garlic is oil soluble so that garlic flavor is going to flavor that oil beautifully.

In goes the seasoned chicken thighs.  Try to place them in a single layer.  I'm only making half a batch today, so I'm using my small slow cooker.  More on below the recipe.

Time to douse the chicken with balsamic vinegar.  IMPORTANT - be sure to use really good, aged, sweet balsamic.  This stuff is awesome!

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or high for 4 hours.  I know it doesn't look that great now, but just wait.

Alrightly - here we are after 4 hours on high.  Serve the chicken as is, or go the extra step and turn those yummy drippings into a rich glaze.  I'll show you how.

But first, decide whether or not you want to keep the chicken skin.  The skin doesn't get crispy in the slow cooker, so I place the chicken thighs, skin side up, on the sheet pan and I place them under a preheated broiler for a few minutes.  If you're not a fan of the skin, you can just discard it.

Pour the leftover drippings into a skillet and reduce by half, then taste and, if desired, add a teaspoon or two of honey.  

Pour glaze over chicken and sprinkle with fresh parsley. Enjoy!

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• slow cooker https://amzn.to/3s4CwwK

• balsamic vinegar https://amzn.to/32PA3xx

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Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken Thighs

makes 8 servings

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon dried granulated garlic

• 1 teaspoon dried basil

• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt

• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

• 2 teaspoons dried minced onion

• 4 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar (very good quality)

• 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

• sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley

• Optional: honey to taste

Directions

1. Combine the dried granulated garlic, dried basil, fine salt, ground black pepper, and dried minced onion in a small bowl and sprinkle over both sides of the chicken; set aside.

2. Place olive oil and fresh minced garlic in the bottom of a 5 or 6-quart slow cooker.

3. Place chicken pieces in the slow cooker, in a single layer; pour balsamic vinegar over chicken.

4. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or high for 4 hours.

5. Remove chicken from slow cooker and discard skin OR leave skin on and arrange chicken pieces, skin side up, on a sheet pan and place under a preheated broiler for several minutes to crisp skin.

6. Make glaze by pouring the leftover drippings from the slow cooker into a skillet and reduce by half over medium-high heat.

7. Carefully taste the reduced glaze and serve as is, or, whisk in a teaspoon or two of honey in until it reaches the sweetness level you like.

8. Pour glaze over chicken and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

Notes

• Recipe can be halved using a 2 or 3-quart slow cooker.

• Boneless, skinless chicken thighs may be substituted.

adapted from  Sugar Free Mom

Beef and Tomato Bake

I love the simplicity of this one-pot-meal featuring beef, tomatoes, and BACON!! It’s comfort food with the volume turned up. Can also be used as a stuffed pepper filling. Yum!

We'll start by chopping some "rashers" (aka slices) of streaky bacon.

Saute the bacon in an oven-proof pan until it browns.

Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and minced garlic.

Continue to saute until the onions and peppers are soft and tender, stirring frequently to keep the garlic from burning.

Add the "mince" (aka ground beef) and continue to saute until the beef is cooked through.

Ready for the next step.

Add the rice and stir for a minute or so.

Next we'll need chopped tomatoes and tomato paste.  Have you found tomato paste in a tube yet?  It's so much easier to use than the canned stuff.

I like to cook the tomato paste a little before adding anything else. 

Add the remaining ingredients - tomatoes, beef stock, dried basil, and ground black pepper.

Bring the mixture to a boil, then turn the heat off.

Cover the pan and place it in a preheated 180C oven (356F) for about 30 minutes.  

I added a few fresh basil leaves just before serving - it was super tasty.  We also discovered a sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese finishes this dish off well.  Enjoy!

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• braiser https://amzn.to/2J2S79Z

• tomato paste in a tube https://amzn.to/3dlzMCT

• nakiri knife https://amzn.to/2Wvg2qA

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Beef and Tomato Bake with Bacon

makes 4 servings

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 8 rashers of streaky bacon, chopped

• 1 bell pepper, chopped

• 1 medium onion, chopped

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 500g ground beef (just over 1 pound)

• 200g uncooked white rice (about 1 cup)

• 6 tomatoes, chopped

• 1 tablespoon tomato paste

• 1 beef stock cube dissolved in 300ml water (or 1 1/4 cups beef stock)

• 1 teaspoon dried basil

• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 355F.

2. Saute bacon in an oven-safe pan over medium high heat until brown.

3. Add onions, peppers, and garlic; continue to saute until the onions and peppers soften.

4. Add the rice the cook for about a minute, then add the remaining ingredients.

5. Bring the mixture to a boil, remove from heat and cover.

6. Bake in preheated oven for 20-30 minutes.

adapted from Searching for Spice