How to Slow Cook a Whole Chicken (and Make Broth)

OCTOBER 24, 2011 4 COMMENTS AND 1 REACTION

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As we wrap up Crocktoberfest this week, I thought this easy recipe was appropriate. If you haven’t roasted a chicken in your crock pot yet… try it!

Not only is it the cheapest and easiest way I’ve found to make chicken, but you get a couple quarts of chicken broth from it too!

Ingredients and Tools:

• A whole chicken (Usually available for under $2/lb for even organic)
• 1 tbsp butter
• favorite herbs and spices (I add 1 tsp garlic granules or powder, 1 tsp sea salt, and about 1/2 tsp each of basil, oregano, thyme, and rosemary.)
• Crock Pot

How To Slow Cook a Chicken In the Crock Pot (Don’t blink or you’ll miss the instructions!)

1. Rinse chicken and make sure innards are removed.
2. Put butter in bottom or crock pot and turn on low (butter is to prevent sticking, can use coconut oil).
3. Once butter melts, put chicken in crock pot (putting breast-down will make it cook faster)
4. Sprinkle with desired spices. (I’ve also heard of stuffing the chicken with an onion, apple or orange for more moistness and great flavor)
5. Put lid on and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until well cooked.

To Make Broth:

1. Remove chicken and pull meat off the bones but leave all the juices in the crock pot.
2. Put the bones back in the crock pot and add 1 small chopped onion, 2 ribs of celery, 1 chopped carrot and a little more sea salt.
3. Add 2-3 quarts of water (depending on what your’s will hold)
4. Cook on low overnight.
5. Strain bones and vegetables out.
6. Use within 3 days or freeze for later use.

Note: This makes a thick broth which can be frozen in ice cube trays for “instant” chicken broth when needed in recipes.

Some other ideas for using your whole roasted chicken:

• Put a small colander on top of the chicken when almost done cooking and fill with veggies. It will steam them so you have the whole meal ready to serve.
• For the last few hours, put some medium sized sweet potatoes on top of the chicken and put the lid back on. Both will be ready for dinner.
• After making the broth, remove the bones, add some chicken back in along with a few cups of favorite veggies and you have an easy chicken soup (with tons of nutrients)

Crockpot Simple Short Ribs

Crockpot Simple Short Ribs

This one is going to be nice and short. Just wanted to give a huge shout-out to my awesome friend Tim from Big Tim's Primal Journey. That links to his Facebook page, I need everyone to go give him a huge high five and like, this man has cured himself of Type II Diabetes and is not longer really big Tim, he is shrinking daily. This man is an inspiration to many and it needs to be recognized. When your done there you can go check out his website too HERE. Now onto this recipe, it was so simple yes so delicious. I had Big Tim himself make it after I did just to taste it and make sure, it passed and the photos below are courtesy of him. I hope you guys enjoy.

Difficulty

Servings: 3-4
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 8 Minutes

Ingredients:

Courtesy of Big Tim

• 3 Lbs of Beef Short ribs, boneless or bone in
• 1 Large Red Onion, sliced
• 1 Large White Onion, sliced
• 3 Stalks Celery, diced
• 3 Carrots, peeled and diced
• 1 Cup Water
• 1/2 Cup Red Wine Vinegar
• 1 Tsp Paprika
• 1 Tsp Curry Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Chili Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Dry Mustard
• 2 Tsp Sea Salt
• 1 Tsp Black Pepper

Process:

1. Line the bottom of your crock pot with your onions, celery, and carrots
2. Heat a saute pan or cast iron skillet over high heat and sear all sides of your short ribs for 2-3 Minutes per side (This step is optional)
3. Place your short ribs on top of your veggies
4. Mix all other ingredients in a bowl and pour over the top of your short ribs
5. Cover your crock pot and cook on low for 8 Hours
6. After it is cooked, if you would like you can remove the veggies and beef and add some arrowroot powder to thicken the sauce and serve over your beef
7. Enjoy

Courtesy of Big Tim

Courtesy of Big Tim

Bacon Apple Crock Pot Chicken

OCTOBER 17, 2011 0 COMMENTS AND 0 REACTIONS

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This is one of my favorite easy chicken recipes… In fact, it never lasts long enough to get a picture…

Bacon Apple Crock Pot Chicken Ingredients:

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (can also be done with a whole chicken or thighs)
• 2 apples- peeled, cored and grated
• 1 cup homemade barbecue sauce -or Mitch’s (sugar sweetened) and Nature’s Hollow(xyitol sweetened) are both decent options if you don’t make your own
• 8 pieces of bacon

How To Make:

1. Wrap each piece of chicken in 2 pieces of bacon and place in bottom of crock pot.
2. Mix grated apple and barbecue sauce and pour over chicken.
3. Cook on low for 7-8 hours until done.
4. We enjoy with homemade cole slaw or sweet potatoes.

How do you cook chicken in the crock pot? Share below!

Delicious Slow Cooker Chicken

by MYRA on OCTOBER 11, 2011

My mom got me hooked on this fantastically easy slow cooker chicken recipe years ago when I was still at home. The beauty of this recipe is that it can be totally customized with various herbs and spices. You seriously can’t mess it up…and throwing all the ingredients in the slow cooker only takes a few minutes.

{drool}

World’s Easiest Slow Cooker Recipe

• Chicken {I buy organic whole chickens and chicken breasts. Use whatever you like or have on hand.}
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 T. olive oil or butter
• 1/2 t. salt
• freshly ground black pepper {I usually just give my grinder a few twists}
• herbs & spices – garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, McCormick garlic & herb blend etc.

Place the chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker. I’ve done both frozen and thawed chicken…so whichever is fine…as long as you get the insides out of a frozen whole chicken before hand.

Add sliced onion, water, salt & pepper, spices, oil or butter. Turn the slow cooker on high for 4-5 hours or low for 8-10 hours. Cover it up and forget about it for the rest of the day…or until you start smelling the deliciousness wafting through your house!

This slow cooker chicken recipe always, always, always produces the most tender, delicious chicken in the world!

Spinach and Artichoke Chicken [Crock Pot]

OCTOBER 5, 2011 2 COMMENTS AND 0 REACTIONS

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Ever had spinach and artichoke dip in a restaurant? This recipe is similar to that but with more protein and less chips. I had a craving for spinach and artichoke dip one night and decided to turn it in to a whole dinner.

Some kids might not like the strong flavors in the artichokes, but mine really liked this recipe. We served with homemade Caesar salad and it was wonderful!

Spinach and Artichoke Chicken Ingredients:

• 2 lbs of chicken breast or strips (or one of those bags of frozen chicken)
• 1 package of frozen chopped spinach, very well drained
• 1 large (about 15 ounce) jar of marinated artichoke hearts
• 1 package of cream cheese
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese (optional)
• Garlic powder, salt, pepper

How to Make Spinach and Artichoke Chicken

1. Chop chicken into bite sized pieces, season with garlic, salt and pepper and place in crock pot for 2 hours (on high) or 4 hours (on low) [Note: This can vary by crock pot.]
2. When chicken is almost cooked, add the well drained spinach, can of artichoke hearts, cream cheese, and parmesan cheese.
3. Cook for another hour until cheeses are well melted and stir to incorporate flavors.
4. Top with mozzarella cheese and serve.

What is your favorite crock pot recipe? Any you would like to see a healthy version of? Tell me below!