Paleo cooking does not have to be expensive and time consuming. This Paleo slow cooker garlic chicken recipe is that magic combo of simple and delicious.
Misconceptions of Paleo
When I first ventured into Paleo territory, it was an eye-opening (and wallet-opening) experience.
I thought that I had to throw out everything I knew and ate and start shopping at the “healthy” grocery store.
While it’s true that some Paleo recipes call for things like coconut flour you might not have on hand, not every dish steps outside of simple staples most people would have at home.
I’ve heard this worry from my Paleo friends, which makes me want to double down on recipes like this slow cooker garlic chicken. It’s back to basics in a big way.
That goes for the amount of ingredients and simplicity of the process too. Not every meal has to be a 20-step production. That’s fine for special occasions or for people who love to cook, but so many others are just looking to get it done!
Foolproof Slow Cooking
If you think you can’t screw up a slow cooker meal, you’re mistaken. It’s not that hard to overcook, undercook, or add too much or too little of something.
This is where recipes are your best friend.
I actually begin many slow cooker meat dishes in the pan. Browning your meat before settling it in to cook slowly will give you a much richer flavor.
The amount of liquid you include in your slow cooker is crucial. Not having enough liquid will make your meat become hopelessly dry and stringy. A cup and a half of warm chicken broth work nicely for this recipe.
You also need to consider the cooking time and temp. This is where knowing your slow cooker is handy. Even two of the same model can differ a bit in terms of performance.
I’ve seen some that get hot quick and tend to cook foods faster, where others put the “slow” in slow cooker. Use the time suggested in the recipe as a guide, but also know if your foods tend to be done faster or slower than expected.
It’s also a good idea to have a sense of your settings. High can be a bit much on some slow cookers, putting your recipes in danger of scorching or drying out. Others may need the high setting even if the recipe calls for low.
It never hurts to check in on the progress of your meal, adjusting as necessary.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, skin side down, to the skillet and brown until the skin is golden and crispy.
Peel the garlic cloves and cut each one in half. Place the garlic cloves and warmed chicken broth in the crockpot. Carefully remove the browned chicken thighs from the skillet and place them, skin side up along with the chicken broth and garlic cloves.
Cook the chicken thighs on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 3 hours until the chicken is completely cooked through.
Season the chicken with salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste, and garnished with the chopped fresh chives before serving. The softened garlic cloves can be served with the chicken, if desired, or pureed with the broth to create a garlic sauce.
Notes
All nutritional data are estimated and based on per serving amounts.
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