Finger-licking spice rub gives this slow cooker chicken a delectable kick

If you're looking for a chicken dish with bold flavors that will knock your socks off, look no further than this slow cooker jerk chicken recipe from Beth of Budget Bytes. Not only is the chicken cooked alongside slices of oranges, onions, and jalapeños (or serrano peppers depending on preference), it's doused in a jerk rub that boasts a mouth-watering mixture of spices that perfectly complements those flavors. 

Don't go running if you aren't a fan of spicy foods! Though jerk chicken traditionally has a kick to it from the peppers, you would simply need to remove the peppers from the recipe to have a much milder dish. 

The jerk chicken itself is incredibly low-carb, as chicken contains no carbohydrates and only the spices contribute a minuscule amount to the dish. Usually jerk chicken is served with rice and beans and/or plantains, which definitely wouldn't fit with a low-carb diet, so substitutions are in order. 

Using cauliflower rice instead of white or brown rice accomplishes this task beautifully, just make sure to leave out the beans, as they are a high-carb food! Toss a simple, fresh salad on the side - perhaps with a citrus dressing to pair well with the orange flavors from the jerk chicken - to provide some contrasting, cooler flavors and textures. 

The ingredients you will need for this recipe are listed below: 
-5 lbs. chicken pieces 
-¼ cup molasses (not black strap) 
-2 Tbsp vegetable oil 
-⅓ cup soy sauce 
-4 cloves garlic, peeled
-3-4 inches fresh ginger 
-1 Tbsp cinnamon 
-1 tsp allspice
-1 tsp thyme
-¼ tsp nutmeg
-1 medium onion
-1 medium orange
-1 medium serrano or jalapeno pepper

Follow this link to the Budget Bytes website for a full, detailed set of instructions on how to re-create this recipe!

Take a look at how beautiful this dish looks in the crock pot before it has even started cooking -- those colors are incredible! 

After a few hours in the slow cooker, the chicken just need to get a little crispy. 

Once it's done, the chicken has a seriously enticing, crispy outer layer that is just begging to be bitten into!

Budget Bytes features the recipe with a side of traditional rice and beans, but again, cauliflower rice would be an excellent substitute. 

What do you think of this jerk chicken recipe -- Would you give it a shot? Do you have any other ideas for low-carb side dishes that would pair well with it? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to share this recipe idea if you loved it as much as we did!