Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken is such a nutritious, though simple dish, that can fill up your stomach with a plate of comfort food. For days when you`re tight on time, this recipe comes in handy as it requires few ingredients and takes more time to cook, so you can enjoy its flavors. This dish features juicy chicken thighs and tender potatoes cooked in a thick garlic-based sauce infused with Parmesan flavor. This one-pot unicorn will be your most loved recipe without a doubt.
Why Make Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken?
There are a multitude of factors as to why this recipe would have such a draw for people who are into housebound activities. Initially, you would be able to effortlessly prepare your slow cooker meals, even if you do not have much time at your disposal. The “set it and forget it” method that a slow cooker affords is what separates people from the task of preparing the meal for about 4 hours. The trio of garlic, Parmesan, and tender, slow-cooked chicken gives that heavenly, nothing-can-be-better-than-this-taste-a feeling that is hard to resist.
However, the slow cooker takes charge, gently cooking the chicken to achieve ideal tenderness. The potatoes, thus, sit in the chicken and garlic juices getting a full meal. If you wish to prepare chicken that always turns out juicy, be sure to make the chicken brine recipe for juicy, flavorful chicken every time. Add a little extra moisture that helps to intensify the appetizing taste and bring out the delightful and harmonizing flavors.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the preparation of Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken take and have all of the following ingredients. Small products are not difficult to find and they can give you that big result if you prepare something simple that is still indulgent.
- 4 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs: Bone-in chicken thighs are the best option for preserving the most moisture. The skin does not just cook with flavor, it also inherently gives the fatty flavor to the chicken.
- 3 cloves of minced garlic: Normally fresh garlic is out with minced garlic but if you don’t have minced garlic you can use jarred garlic powder.
- 1 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese: This ingredient adds a creamy, salty taste that brings the dish together.
- 1 pound of baby potatoes, halved: Baby potatoes are the best choice, but if you do not have any, you can use others like russet or Yukon gold, chopped into large pieces.
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil: Olive oil acts as the vehicle for intensifying the natural flavors of the chicken and keeping them moist while searing.
- 1 teaspoon of garlic salt: If you don’t have a garlic salt, you can replace it with a few garlic powder and enough natural salt.
- 1 teaspoon of paprika: The same shall be the case if you are looking forward to get the quality smoky aroma to your food.
- 1 teaspoon of pepper: Pepper here gives off the earthiness reminiscent of freshly ground pepper.
- Parsley for garnish (optional): Add fresh parsley at the end to enhance the dish with a fresh taste. The fresh parsley can give the dish a splash of green and a feeling of freshness.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken
The preparation of a perfectly cooked and flavored dish require you to do as follows.
Step 1: Preparing the Ingredients
Start by getting the necessary ingredients, as the collection of these ingredients is very necessary for a better cooking result, along with the peeling of the baby potatoes in half, canning of the garlic, and garnishing of some garlic salt, paprika, and pepper on the chicken thighs. This way, you can be sure that you have everything set up and prepared for cooking.
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Step 2: Searing the Chicken
Even though searing is a step that is not obligatory, it can add a great amount of taste and at the same time make the chicken more attractive. Begin the process by heating the tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium to high heat and then start searing the skin-side down chicken thighs, which you about two minutes on each side. It’s the adding of a golden-brown crust and capturing the moisture in the chicken that does the searing. Also, it quickens the cooking process and gives meat a deeper taste. The searing process will make the dish taste better because it will have caramelized bits on the dish, which will add flavor to it. This will turn it into something extraordinary rather than just another casual slow-cooked meal.
Step 3: Layering the Ingredients in the Slow Cooker
Place the potato halves at the bottom of the machine. Then, you should drizzle over them with a tablespoon of olive oil and the rest sprinkle with garlic salt, paprika and pepper. This way, potatoes that are at the bottom are sucking in the chicken flavors as they cook.
Then go with the chicken thighs, which sit on top of the potatoes, being arranged skin side up. The way you place the meat one assures the juice, which will be a pretty good product, remains while the flavor of the garlic and the potato infuses with the meat. d of potatoes.
Step 4: Cooking on Low or High
Cover the slow cooker and cook it either on LOW for 6 to 7 hours or HIGH for 3 to 4 hours. The long time of the slow cooking, will make the chicken very tender, the potatoes, which are also soft, will take on the spice flavors. Use a thermometer to check the meat’s internal temperature; if it’s below 165°F, the meat isn’t fully cooked yet.
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The procedure of slow cooking not only tenderizes the meat but also it lets the garlic and Parmesan flavors fuse harmoniously with the chicken. If you want more sauce, just add a splash of chicken broth or white wine at this stage.
Step 5: Parmesan Cheese
Cover the chicken with the Parmesan cheese when there are only thirty minutes left of cooking time. That step is what makes the end product a creamy and cheesy steak that melts over the chicken and potatoes. Again, cover the slow cooker and give it time to allow the cheese to melt completely.
Step 6: Garnishing and Serving
You can give it a bit of a kick by adding the mint leaves just before serving. Lime juice can be drizzled on the green beans and mixed through before serving everything up. I have added the description of this modification in the following lines.
Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken
If you wish to make this fantastic dish even better, you might want to ponder on these useful tricks:
- Go for Chicken Thighs for Better FlavorsThighs of chicken are fatty which distinguishes them from the lean breasts of chickens. Slow cooking them keeps the juice intact, and they come out tasting so good. The presence of bone makes the dish deeper and each bite more delightful. In case you have chosen white meat and are worried about dryness, you can either brine them or give them a quick dip in the saltwater bath.
- Do Not Get Rid of the SearSearing is an extra option, but It does make the chicken taste richer and the meal looks delicious. This process is hardly time-consuming yet, it impacts the taste and texture of food greatly.
- Chicken will release juices naturally, so you don’t have to add any extra liquid. Nevertheless, if you want a saucier dish, just pour a little chicken broth, cream, or maybe white wine over the meal to make it more tasty.
- Examine Different Potato VarietiesYoung/smaller potatoes are prescribed in this recipe but you can easily go for Yukon golds or a different sort of potatoes like sweet potatoes if you want. If you try different potato varieties, read this Cracker Barrel Cheesy Potatoes recipe and learn about the diversity of potato types in cooking.
Variations and Substitutions
Here is the main recipe which can be cooked in a few different ways. This is our adaptation of the recipe that we have been cooking at home for years. You may want to choose this one instead.
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken PastaMake this meal into a pasta dish by adding cooked pasta to the slow cooker in the final 30 minutes. The Parmesan cheese will result in a sauce that coats the pasta, making it a full and substantial dish.
- Low-Carb or Keto-Friendly VersionSkip the potatoes and replace them with low-carb vegetables such as cauliflower or broccoli. These vegetables should only be added to the crock pot during the last hour of cooking so that they can stay at the right texture.
- Vegetarian Adaptation To make a vegetarian version of this dish, replace the chicken with large portobello mushrooms or pieces of tofu as the main ingredient. Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth for the base.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use boneless chicken thighs or breasts?
You can also use boneless chicken, which cooks faster. When using boneless chicken, check for doneness at 3 hours on LOW or 2 hours on HIGH. Make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F to confirm that it’s properly cooked, even if you followed all the steps correctly.
Do I need to add liquid to the slow cooker?
There is no need to pour in any liquid to this dish since the chicken sprays off enough moisture as it cooks. Nonetheless, in case you are a fan of dishes with more sauce, you could as well add chicken broth or white wine to the pot of food.
Can I freeze leftovers?
Yes, the already prepared chicken and potatoes can be frozen. Put a lid on the container and leave them in the freezer for about three months. Then when you want to eat them, defrost them in the fridge overnight and then warm them up at 350°F in the oven.
What other vegetables can I add?
The next option here may be carrots, bell peppers, or green beans. These should be incorporated during the last hour so as not to be too mushy. Also, you may want to give a try other comfort foods such as taco casserole recipe.
Nutritional Information and Health Benefits
This dish is not only delicious but also provides various health benefits:
- Highly lean and low in cholesterol Chicken of the Protein-Enriched sort. The muscle growth of healthy and whole repairing of the tissues is in deed essential namely with protein that this dish provides at every meal.
- Heart-Healthy Fats This recipe uses olive oil, which is rich in monounsaturated fats that support heart health.
- Garlic’s Health Benefits Garlic offers many health advantages, including boosting the immune system and promoting heart health.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
When storing them, put the chicken and potatoes in a cool and dry place for at most 4 days in the fridge. To reheat, transfer the contents to a baking dish, cover with foil, and warm in a 350°F oven for about 20 minutes.
To make the “slow cooker garlic parmesan chicken sample” last for a longer time, you can freeze this dish in a freezer-safe container for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Serving Suggestions
A slow cooker garlic parmesan chicken dish is a great accompaniment to a variety of sides, for example:
- Vegetable Side Dishes Roasted green beans or Brussels sprouts are delicious supplements that will give the meal a crunchy texture.
- Green SaladA simple green salad with a light lemon vinaigrette will be perfect alongside the rich flavors of the chicken.
- Garlic BreadFor a more luxurious meal, garlic bread is an addition, which is very nice to dip in this flavorful sauce and eat together with the chicken.
Conclusion
To conclude, Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken offers a cozy and delicious dish which is also easy to make. It is soft to the touch and moist soup sauce will make eating it a sure thing. Its flexibility and the simplicity it offers lend a hand: it is a recipe that you should undoubtedly include in your diet if you generally have slow-cooked meals. So give it a go and do not hesitate to make it your version only by adding personal twists.