Friday, November 13, 2009

Chicken in the Crockpot

By Ken Kudra

With how easy it is to cook chicken in the crockpot, you would think they were destined to be together. Chicken is one of the most versatile foods you can buy. Cooking chicken in the crockpot makes it easy to create delicious meals ranging from stew to coq au vin. It could be possible to eat chicken every night for a year using your crockpot and never eat the same meal twice.

Using the crockpot keeps your meat tender and moist. To lower the fat content in your recipe, simply take off the skin and extra fat before putting the chicken into the pot. You will not need to worry about the meat drying out since the crockpot uses moist heat. If you like to keep the skin on, you may want to try browning them first. This will make the finished dish more attractive on your plate.

With crockpot chicken, you can make one-dish dinners, stews, entrees, or soups without a problem. Simply drop in all the ingredients in the morning and by the time you get home, you will be greeted with a delicious hot meal.

Easy Chicken Recipes

You will find a great many easy ways to prepare chicken with the crockpot. You can make anything from chicken stroganoff to a roast chicken that falls off the bone. The sheer variety of recipes will astound you. If you like ethnic foods, you can try Chicken Parmesan or chicken tacos, all made in the crockpot.

Chicken soup is also very easy to make in the crockpot. Throw in your chicken and vegetables in the morning, and come home to a hot bowl of soup! There is nothing better on a cold winter night. Serve it up with some bread or rolls for a complete meal.

Crockpot Creativity

Just because you are using a crockpot does not mean you cannot get creative. Try something new like a chicken ratatouille, chicken teriyaki or make your own version of chicken pot pie. For something filling, you cannot beat a good chicken stew. Use thighs for extra flavor and goodness. If you want your meals to be extra healthy, try chicken quinoa or a hearty chicken and lentil soup.

Kids will love recipes like brown sugar chicken. Just place your chicken in the crockpot with brown sugar, seasonings and a bit of vinegar. This dish is a surefire hit. You can also add chicken parts and canned soup to make a wonderful dish to serve with pasta or rice. Try different flavors like cream of chicken, cream of mushroom or even tomato soup. Another way to spice up your chicken is to add some of your favorite salsa to the chicken with vegetables.

Go set up your crockpot. Put some chicken in it. It does not matter if it is thighs, breasts, wings, or a whole bird. Add some delicious ingredients and go on about your daily business. When you return home, you will have a delicious hot meal waiting just for you.

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