Description
This Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Thighs recipe features tender bone-in chicken thighs cooked to perfection in a rich, creamy sauce infused with sundried tomatoes, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. Slow cooking enhances the flavors and ensures juicy, melt-in-your-mouth chicken ideal for a comforting dinner served over pasta or alongside roasted vegetables.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 6 bone-in chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Cooking Base
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1/2 onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/3 cup chopped sundried tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
Creamy Sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- Optional: 1 cup fresh spinach
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry and season both sides generously with salt and pepper to enhance flavor.
- Brown the Chicken: Heat butter and oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place chicken thighs skin side down and cook for 3-4 minutes until the skin is golden. Flip and cook for an additional 1 minute. Remove chicken from the skillet.
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Transfer the browned chicken thighs to the slow cooker.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet, sauté chopped onion and minced garlic in the leftover oil and butter for 3-4 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Deglaze the Skillet: Pour chicken stock into the skillet to deglaze, scraping up the caramelized bits stuck to the bottom to incorporate more flavor.
- Add Ingredients to Slow Cooker: Pour the onion and garlic mixture along with chopped sundried tomatoes and Italian seasoning into the slow cooker, mixing gently with the chicken.
- Slow Cook the Chicken: Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 7 hours until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Optional Crisping: Remove chicken thighs from the slow cooker. To achieve crispy skin, place them under a preheated broiler at 200°C for 2-3 minutes.
- Prepare the Sauce: Add heavy cream and Parmesan cheese to the slow cooker liquid. If desired, add fresh spinach. Cover and cook for another 20-30 minutes to thicken and meld flavors.
- Combine and Serve: Return the chicken thighs to the slow cooker and spoon the creamy sauce over the top. Serve hot over pasta or with roasted potatoes and vegetables.
Notes
- Use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for optimal flavor and juiciness.
- Broiling the chicken skin at the end adds a delightful crisp texture but can be omitted if preferred.
- Spinach is optional but adds color and nutrition to the dish.
- Sundried tomatoes can be substituted with sun-dried tomato paste or omitted if unavailable.
- Leftover sauce can be used as a flavorful gravy or pasta sauce.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or coconut cream for a dairy-free option.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg