Slow Cooker Chicken And Greens Recipes

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN AND GREENS

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet until hot. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add it to the skillet. Cook until well browned on all sides, and skin crisps up nicely, cooking in batches if necessary.
• While the chicken is cooking, add the chopped greens, onions, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes to your slow cooker pot. Cover with the broth and add a pinch of salt and pepper.
• Add the seared chicken pieces to the slow cooker pot, and nestle them into the greens. Add enough broth or water to ensure that the chicken is covered at least halfway.
• Cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours, until chicken is cooked through and greens are tender.

SLOW COOKER GREEN CHILE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Remove stems from cilantro and tie together; save leaves for sauce.
• Place cilantro stems, chicken thighs, water, onion, and garlic into a slow cooker. Season with 1 tablespoon cumin, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 tablespoon pepper, and 1 teaspoon salt.
• Cook on Low until chicken is no longer pink in the centers and juices run clear, 8 to 10 hours. Transfer chicken to a plate and shred using 2 forks. Set aside. Reserve 1 to 1 1/2 cups cooking liquid. Let onion and garlic cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Dice and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Place tomatillos cut-side down and jalapeno onto the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with canola oil.
• Roast in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and wrap jalapeno pepper in aluminum foil to let 'sweat' for about 10 minutes. Remove skin from jalapeno.
• Transfer tomatillos, jalapeno, reserved cilantro leaves, green chiles, vinegar, cumin, chili powder, honey, pepper, and salt to a food processor or blender. Mix sauce until well combined.
• Pour tomatillo sauce into a large pot and add shredded chicken, diced onion and garlic, and beans. Add reserved cooking liquid. Let simmer over medium-low heat for 15 minutes. Serve.

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN CHILI WITH GREENS AND BEANS

Steps:

• Place black beans, white beans, tomatoes, and kale in a slow cooker.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in the onion; cook and stir until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer the onion to the slow cooker.
• Sprinkle with chili powder, garlic and herb seasoning, and salt.
• Place the chicken breast halves on top, then pour the chicken broth into the slow cooker.
• Cook on Low for 6 hours. Remove the chicken breasts, and shred or cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. Stir the shredded chicken back into the chili.
• Stir in the heavy cream, allow to heat for a few minutes, and serve.

SIMPLE ROAST CHICKEN WITH GREENS (AND BONUS STOCK)

Steps:

• Season your chicken all over (including the cavity) with about 2 teaspoons kosher salt and a lot of black pepper. If you like, add the grated garlic clove or two, some lemon zest, some spices like cumin or garam masala, or chopped thyme or rosemary.
• If time permits, let the chicken rest uncovered in the fridge for a few hours to dry out the skin. Stuff the woody herbs, if using, in the cavity either before or after resting.
• When ready to roast, heat the oven to 425 degrees, and, at the same time, heat a skillet on your stovetop for a few minutes. Coat the pan with a little oil or butter, and add the bird so it's lying on its back. Let it cook for about 5 minutes, then move it to the oven.
• Roast the bird until it's burnished all over and the wing tips - if your chicken still has them attached - are a little singed, about 45 minutes for a small bird, and up to 75 minutes for a larger bird. The juices should run clear if you prick the thigh with a fork. (An instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the thigh should read 165 degrees.) Move the bird to a cutting board and let it rest for 10 minutes.
• Return the same pan to the stove and set it over medium heat until the drippings sizzle. Add the leeks and garlic and sauté until tender and golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the kale and a splash of water and cook until the leaves are very tender and the water evaporates. If the kale is still tough and the pan is dry, add another splash of water. Season with salt and serve with the chicken. Pick any remaining meat off the carcass and save it for another meal.
• Make the optional stock: Put the chicken bones in a medium pot. Add a teaspoon of salt and whatever aromatics you have around: an onion or other alliums, leftover leek tops, a carrot, a bay leaf, herbs or herb stems, peppercorns, a celery stalk or the tops.
• Cover with cold water and let it all simmer for 2 or 3 hours. Or use an electric pressure cooker and let it cook at high pressure for 1 hour, or a slow cooker for 3 to 6 hours. Strain it after it cools, if you like. Stock will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months.

SLOW-COOKER LEMON-PEPPER CHICKEN WITH GREEN OLIVES AND POTATOES

Steps:

• Spray 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Add potatoes, 1 teaspoon of the lemon pepper seasoning, 1 teaspoon of the thyme, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Toss to coat.
• Season chicken with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Arrange chicken thighs, skin-side down, in skillet; cook, turning once, 6 to 7 minutes or until browned.
• Transfer chicken to slow cooker.
• Drain all but 1 tablespoon drippings from skillet. Add onion; cook and stir 4 minutes over medium heat. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until onions are lightly brown. Transfer onion mixture to slow cooker.
• Add broth and lemon peel to skillet; heat to boiling over medium heat, scraping up brown bits on bottom of skillet. Transfer to slow cooker.
• Add green olives to slow cooker. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 5 to 6 hours or until chicken is cooked through (at least 165°F) and potatoes are tender.
• Garnish with remaining 1 teaspoon thyme and the parsley. Serve with lemon wedges on the side.