Description
This Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Mushrooms recipe offers a comforting and easy meal featuring tender chicken thighs cooked low and slow with fresh vegetables in a rich, creamy sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish combines sautéed mushrooms, bell peppers, spinach, and aromatic garlic and onions for a wholesome dinner that requires minimal hands-on time.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Vegetables
- 1 large onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 8 ounces mushrooms (sliced)
- 2 large red bell peppers (sliced)
- 4 cups fresh spinach
Sauce
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
- Season Chicken: Start by seasoning the chicken thighs with salt and pepper evenly on both sides to enhance the flavor.
- Brown Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs and brown on each side until golden, about 5-7 minutes per side. Once browned, transfer the chicken to the slow cooker.
- Sauté Aromatics: In the same skillet, add chopped onions and minced garlic. Cook over medium heat until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Cook Vegetables: Add sliced mushrooms, red bell pepper strips, and spinach to the skillet. Cook while stirring until the vegetables are tender and golden, approximately 5 minutes. Then transfer the vegetable mixture to the slow cooker over the chicken.
- Prepare Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together chicken broth, heavy cream, and all-purpose flour until smooth and well combined. Pour this creamy mixture over the chicken and vegetables in the slow cooker.
- Slow Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 5 hours. This slow cooking will make the chicken tender and allow the sauce to thicken into a creamy consistency.
- Finish and Serve: After cooking, check the seasoning and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving and enjoy your creamy, flavorful chicken and mushroom dish.
Notes
- This recipe is excellent for a hands-off dinner, requiring minimal preparation and allowing the slow cooker to do most of the work.
- Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs provide extra flavor and moisture but can be substituted with boneless if preferred.
- The creamy sauce thickens beautifully with the addition of flour; ensure it is well mixed to avoid lumps.
- Feel free to swap baby spinach for kale or Swiss chard for a variation in greens.
- Leftovers reheat well in the microwave or on the stovetop, making it ideal for meal prep.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 662 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 871 mg
- Fat: 55 g
- Saturated Fat: 26 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 25 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 214 mg
