Creamy Chicken

This recipe – more like a technique, really – has really been a lifesaver these past few months! It is one of the simplest dishes I know how to make, and for those who like making the most of the food they purchase, this dish is a winner – the only parts left are the bones – and those can be easily dumped into a pot for bone broth! I’ll write more about bone broth later, but for now, here’s our family’s creamy chicken.

Creamy Chicken

by: Danielle @ lovelovething.com

Ingredients

• one whole uncooked chicken (can be frozen or not – and if it comes with the giblets, don’t toss ’em! They’re super nourishing and the way this recipe is made, you won’t ever taste them) –or– various assorted chicken (with skin). I usually purchase the drumsticks and thighs in 8-packs, because they’re always inexpensive and I prefer them, anyway.
• sprig fresh rosemary – optional
• 2 tablespoons ghee or butter – optional if dairy-free or for Paleo
• sea salt
• pepper
• seasoning salt like this one – optional, but gives great flavor

Equipment

• crock pot
• immersion blender
• or, a high speed blender or food processor could also work
• large bowl (glass mixing bowl works well)
• plate for bones
• quart sized jar for gravy (or the plastic container that comes with the immersion blender)

Instructions

This is a very simple dish!

1. Place the chicken (either whole, breast side up, or pieces) into the crock pot. Rinsing is not necessary. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper, and seasoning salt, if using. Place rosemary on top, if using. Cook for 5 hours on high or 8 hours on low. You can also do this overnight on low.
2. When finished, grab your large bowl, plate, and quart sized container and arrange them all near the crock pot. Now remove the chicken from the crock pot, separating three ways: place the meat into the large bowl, the bones onto the plate, and all the skin, soft tissue/cartilage, and organs into the quart jar. This usually takes me about 5-10 minutes. Make sure absolutely no bones end up in the jar!!! I can’t stress this enough. 🙂
3. Now that everything is separated, it’s time to make your gravy. (I wrote another post about nourishing gravy here.) Add the ghee or butter (if using), 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (or more to taste), 1/2 teaspoon pepper (or more to taste), 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt (you get the idea), and about 1 cup of the chicken broth that’s left in the crock pot. Now, blend, baby! About 30 seconds on high with your immersion blender should do the trick. You can thin your gravy out more by adding more broth, if desired. (If you don’t have an immersion blender, a regular blender, high-speed blender, or food processor could also work.)
4. Pour the gravy over the chicken and mix well, shredding the larger pieces with a fork as you go.
5. Ta-da! Easy creamy chicken. And did I mention it was good for you? Easy crock pot dinner.

Notes

This tastes great hot or right out of the refrigerator. It makes a fantastic, nourishing base for chicken salad. Add it to soups; just get creative!

Don’t toss those bones – you can still use them for bone broth. 🙂

This can also be done with beef, turkey, and duck!

Pin it:

Tuck this one away – it can really come in handy!

Love,

Danielle

P.S. If you are into traditional food, nourishing recipes, feel free to follow my Pinterest board, Nourished:

Follow Danielle {It’s a love/love thing}’s board Nourished on Pinterest.