Arrange forks in the bottom of a slow cooker for a dinner you never thought possible before

Print this recipe
Slow cookers are great for getting juicy, tender meat out of rough cuts. The slow cooking breaks down chewy fibers and is great for stewing meats in their natural juices. Still, even the biggest slow cooker fan will tell you that there are some things that just can't or shouldn't be done in a slow cooker. For example, there is no way of getting any kind of slow-roasted crust in a slow cooker — or is there?
In the slow cooker recipe below for tender garlic Parmesan herb chicken, we do just that. Using forks as a makeshift roasting tray, we lift the chicken out of its juices. Rather than stewing, the chicken cooks slowly and evenly as the hot air circulates around it. What you get is a light crust and an effect fairly close to a slow-rotating barbecue grill.
Advertisement
Tender garlic Parmesan herb chicken in a slow cooker
Servings: 4-6
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 3 hrs
Total Time: 3 hrs, 25 mins
Ingredients
2 pounds skinless, bone-in chicken thighs
1 teaspoon salt
Pepper to taste
1½ cups powdered Parmesan cheese
7 cloves garlic, minced into a paste
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
Directions
1. Line a 6-quart slow cooker with 8 to 10 forks facing up or down, arranging them in a way that keeps the chicken lifted from the bottom of the slow cooker.
Cooktop Cove
2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, rubbing into the meat. Set aside.
Cooktop Cove
3. In a bowl, mix Parmesan, garlic, thyme and rosemary. Sprinkle all over chicken, pressing into the meat to create a crust.
Cooktop Cove
4. Gently place chicken onto the forks in the slow cooker, bone side down.
Cooktop Cove
5. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours.
6. Rest for 5 to 10 minutes with lid partially open. Serve.
Cooktop Cove
Advertisement
Pro tip: For a luscious sauce, pour the juices from the bottom of the slow cooker into a pot and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer until reduced by half. Turn off heat and stir in 2 tablespoons of butter. You're done!
Resources
Print this recipe