Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Chicken & Potatoes: A Delicious One-Pot Meal
This slow cooker recipe features succulent chicken thighs or breasts, tender baby potatoes, and a rich garlic butter sauce. The chicken is seared for a crispy finish before slow cooking with garlic, butter, olive oil, chicken broth, and fresh herbs, resulting in a flavorful and comforting meal.
Ingredients
- Chicken thighs or breasts bone-in or boneless – Chicken thighs offer extra flavor and moisture, but chicken breasts work just as well.
- Baby potatoes – They hold their shape and cook to perfection in the slow cooker creating a satisfying, tender bite.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic cloves bring the perfect depth of flavor to the garlic butter sauce.
- Butter – Adds richness and helps make the garlic butter sauce irresistible.
- Olive oil – Used for searing the chicken for an extra crispy finish.
- Chicken broth – Adds moisture and flavor to keep the chicken juicy.
- Fresh herbs rosemary, thyme, or parsley – These herbs bring a wonderful aroma and enhance the overall flavor of the dish.
- Salt and pepper – For seasoning and bringing out all the flavors.
Instructions
How to Make Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Chicken & Potatoes
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
- Start by seasoning your chicken with salt, pepper, and any other spices you’d like (garlic powder, onion powder, etc.). If you’re using bone-in chicken, make sure to pat it dry with a paper towel so the skin crisps up when seared.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken to the skillet, skin-side down if using bone-in chicken. Sear the chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. This step locks in the flavor and gives the chicken a nice crisp texture. Once done, set the chicken aside.
Step 2: Prepare the Potatoes
- Next, wash and halve the baby potatoes. You can leave the skin on, as it adds texture and nutrients. Add the potatoes to the bottom of your slow cooker, creating a bed for the chicken.
Step 3: Make the Garlic Butter Sauce
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it. Then, stir in the chicken broth and fresh herbs. Let it simmer for a minute to allow the flavors to combine.
Step 4: Layer in the Slow Cooker
- Place the seared chicken pieces on top of the potatoes in the slow cooker. Pour the garlic butter sauce over the chicken and potatoes, making sure everything is evenly coated. If you prefer, you can also sprinkle some fresh thyme or rosemary on top for extra flavor.
Step 5: Slow Cook
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, depending on the size of the chicken and the model of your slow cooker. The chicken should be tender, and the potatoes should be soft when pierced with a fork.
Notes
Use Bone-In Chicken for More Flavor: Bone-in chicken thighs or breasts will give you more flavor and moisture. If you prefer boneless skinless chicken, you can use that as well, but the dish may be a little less juicy.
Customize with Veggies: Add other vegetables like carrots, onions, or bell peppers to the slow cooker for added nutrition and flavor. These vegetables will cook along with the potatoes and chicken, absorbing the rich garlic butter sauce.
Make It Spicy: For a little kick, add red pepper flakes or a chopped chili pepper to the garlic butter sauce. It pairs wonderfully with the richness of the butter.
Crisp the Chicken at the End: If you like your chicken skin extra crispy, remove the chicken from the slow cooker about 10 minutes before serving, and broil it in the oven for a few minutes to get that golden, crispy finish.