Easy & Delicious Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice

The Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice recipe is a simple yet delicious meal that you can make on any day of the week. This dish combines the fragrant aroma of jasmine rice with the hearty taste of bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, and the nutritious goodness of frozen vegetables.

The flavors are further enhanced with a blend of spices and soy sauce, all slow-cooked to perfection. This dish is not only comforting but also fills your home with an inviting aroma that is hard to resist.

Ingredients

Jasmine Rice: This is a long-grain variety of rice that has a subtle floral aroma and a soft, sticky texture when cooked. It’s the base of our dish and will absorb all the flavors of the ingredients it’s cooked with.

Frozen Vegetables: A convenient and nutritious addition to any dish. They add color, flavor, and essential nutrients to the meal.

Chicken Broth: This is a flavorful liquid made from chicken bones and vegetables. It adds depth and richness to the dish.

Soy Sauce: A staple in Asian cuisine, soy sauce adds a salty and umami flavor to the dish.

Salt: An essential seasoning that enhances the overall flavor of the dish. Adjust the quantity as per your taste.

Bone-in, Skin-on Chicken Thighs: These are the star of the dish. The bone and skin add flavor and keep the meat juicy and tender during the slow cooking process.

Garlic Powder: This is a dried spice that adds a concentrated garlic flavor to the dish. It’s a key ingredient in the seasoning mix for the chicken.

Onion Powder, Paprika, Dried Parsley, Dried Oregano, Dried Thyme, and Black Pepper: These spices combine to create a flavorful seasoning for the chicken. They add depth and complexity to the dish.

Onions and Garlic: These are sautéed and added to the slow cooker for additional flavor.

Making The Slow Cooker Chicken & Rice

Preparing the Rice and Vegetables
Start by pouring the jasmine rice into your slow cooker. Add the frozen vegetables to the rice, then pour the chicken broth and soy sauce. Season with a little bit of salt to taste. Mix everything, ensuring all ingredients are well incorporated. Taste for salt and adjust as needed. Once everything is mixed in, set this aside for later.

Preparing and Seasoning the Chicken
Use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for this recipe. Prepare a spice mix using garlic, onion powder, paprika, dried parsley, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. Mix all the spices thoroughly. Season both sides of the chicken thighs with the spice mix.

Browning the Chicken
Before adding the chicken to the slow cooker, brown it for additional flavor. Heat a pan with oil over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken to the pan, searing it for 2 or 3 minutes on each side until a brown crust forms.

Adding the Chicken to the Slow Cooker
Once the chicken has browned on both sides, transfer it to the slow cooker.

Sautéing the Onions and Garlic
In the same pan used for the chicken, sauté some sliced onions until they caramelize slightly. Add minced garlic to the pan and sauté for an additional 30 seconds to release its flavor. Transfer the caramelized onion and garlic to the slow cooker.

Slow Cooking
Mix the onions into the rice and vegetables in the slow cooker. Place the lid on the slow cooker and let it cook on high for 4 hours.

Checking the Rice
After about 3 hours of cooking, stir the rice to ensure even cooking. Since a slow cooker isn’t a rice cooker, some parts of the rice might cook faster than others. Stirring the rice helps prevent uneven cooking.

Serving
After 4 hours, the rice should be soft and the chicken tender and falling off the bone. Serve this comforting dish hot and enjoy the delicious flavors of your slow-cooked chicken and rice.

Tips and Variations:

1. Variety of Rice: While jasmine rice is used in this recipe for its fragrant aroma and soft texture, you can experiment with different types of rice, such as basmati or brown rice, for a different flavor and texture.
2. Chicken Variation: If you prefer, you can use boneless chicken thighs or breasts. Adjust the cooking time, as boneless chicken tends to cook faster.
3. Vegetable Options: You can use fresh vegetables instead of frozen. Add colorful vegetables like bell peppers, peas, carrots, or even mushrooms for extra flavor and nutrients.
4. Spice it Up: If you like a bit of heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the spice mix.
5. Herb Infusion: For an additional layer of flavor, consider adding a couple of sprigs of fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme to the slow cooker.
6. Browning the Chicken: Don’t skip the step of browning the chicken. This process helps to seal in the juices and provides a deeper flavor to the dish.
7. Checking the Rice: As slow cookers can vary in temperature, it’s a good idea to check the rice after about 3 hours. If it’s cooked to your liking, you can switch the slow cooker to the ‘keep warm’ setting to prevent the rice from becoming mushy.
8. Serving Suggestion: This dish is a meal in itself, but you could serve it with a side of steamed greens or a fresh salad for a complete meal.