This 4-ingredient slow cooker chicken dinner is the kind of simple mid-summer meal that helps stretch a grocery budget without giving up comfort or flavor. Chicken drumsticks cook up tender and juicy in the crock, and with just a few pantry-friendly ingredients, you get a hearty family supper with hardly any hands-on work. It is especially handy on busy days when you want to start dinner early and let the slow cooker do the rest.
Serve this chicken with buttered rice, mashed potatoes, egg noodles, or a big scoop of simple baked beans to soak up the savory sauce. For summer sides, corn on the cob, sliced tomatoes, coleslaw, or green beans all fit nicely, and a piece of warm bread is always welcome for rounding out the plate.
4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Poor Man's Mid-Summer Meal
Servings: 4 to 6
Ingredients
8 raw chicken drumsticks
1 large onion, sliced
1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup barbecue sauce
Directions
1. Lightly coat the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick spray if you like easier cleanup. Spread the sliced onion over the bottom, then arrange the raw chicken drumsticks on top in an even layer.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the condensed cream of chicken soup and barbecue sauce until smooth. Pour the mixture evenly over the drumsticks.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the chicken is very tender and reaches a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Gently spoon some sauce over the chicken before serving. If you want a thicker sauce, remove the lid for the last 20 to 30 minutes of cooking. Serve hot with your favorite simple sides.
Variations & Tips
For picky eaters: Use a sweeter, milder barbecue sauce and be sure to slice the onion thin so it melts down into the sauce as it cooks. That way the finished dish has plenty of flavor without any strong bite from the onion.
Make it stretch farther: If you are feeding bigger appetites, serve the chicken over rice or noodles so every bit of sauce gets used. You can also add an extra onion if you want to bulk it up a little without spending much more.
Add a little color: A side of green beans, peas, or corn makes the plate feel more complete and gives this budget-friendly supper a fresh summer look. Even a quick tomato and cucumber salad works nicely next to the rich chicken.
Easy cleanup tip: If your slow cooker tends to brown sauce around the edges, stir the sauce gently once near the end of cooking and spoon it back over the drumsticks. Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before plating so the juices settle and the sauce clings better.