When you are recovering from the end of year festivities, you will want a stress-free meal that will allow you to relax instead of stand over the stove. Chicken with apples is prepared in the slow cooker without any hassle. This wholesome meal combines chicken thighs with apple brandy (hard cider would also work), shallots, herbs, and stock and cooked over low heat. If you do not own a crock pot, you can make this chicken dish in a large soup pot or Dutch oven as well. The chicken will become so tender that it will practically melt in your mouth. Garnish this meal with a dollop of creme fraiche or sour cream and serve with buttery mashed potatoes.
Slow Cooker Chicken with Apples
Courtesy of Betty Crocker
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 1/2 to 3 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
Salt
3 shallots, halved
1/4 cup Calvados (apple brandy) or apple cider
1/4 cup Progresso™ reduced-sodium chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
2 bay leaves
2 or 3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 apples, peeled and cored
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
1/4 cup crème fraîche
Betty Crocker™ mashed potatoes, as desired
Directions:
Step 1: In 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Season chicken thighs with salt. Brown chicken thighs, in batches if needed, on both sides, along with the shallots. Do not worry about cooking the chicken through.
Step 2: Remove chicken and shallots from skillet, and add to slow cooker. Remove skillet from heat; add brandy. Return skillet with brandy to heat to deglaze by scraping up brown bits from bottom. Once the bits are all scraped up, add brandy to slow cooker.
Step 3: Add chicken broth, bay leaves, thyme and apples to slow cooker. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 4 hours. After 3 1/2 hours, stir in sage. After 4 hours, just before serving, stir in crème fraîche. Serve over mashed potatoes.
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