Slow Cooker Chicken

Ah, the ease of a dinner cooked in a crockpot. Turn it on before work and dinner is done when you get home! Love it! Here are two different recipes for slow cooker chicken.  The first is the super simple version; the second requires browning the chicken drumsticks before putting in the crockpot so it's more time intensive but the seasoning is more flavorful!

Slow Cooker Chicken

Ingredients:
6-8 drumsticks
seasonings of choice
2 potatoes (I only use 1 because hubby won't eat them)
1 large carrot

Directions:
Spray the inside of the crockpot with cooking spray.  Dice the potatoes and carrot and place in the bottom of the pot.  I toss them with some Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.  Then set the chicken on top of the bed of potatoes/carrots and coat with Italian seasoning and/or Montreal chicken seasoning.  No broth or water needed, the juice from the chicken keeps it moist.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours.


Ingredients:
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup all purpose spice rub (see below)
8 drumsticks
3 potatoes, quartered
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup carrots
1 cup green beans
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 cups chicken broth

All purpose Spice Rub
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:
Mix all ingredients for spice rub together in a small bowl. Mix with the flour. Turn chicken in flour mixture until thoroughly coated, pat off excess flour and reserve flour mixture. Boil potatoes in several quarts of lightly salted water for 5 minutes, drain and place in bottom of slow cooker. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken on all sides, about 4 minutes per side; transfer to plate and set aside. Add a little more oil to skillet, add veggies and saute until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add reserved seasoned flour and stir until vegetable are coated. Add wine and bring to a boil. Add chicken broth and simmer until slightly thickened; pour into slow cooker. Arrange chicken over vegetables. Cover cooker and cook for 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. Remove to a serving platter.