An easy, one-pot meal, your entire home will fill with aromas of cinnamon, garlic and rendered butter while this Slow Cooker Chicken and Vegetables practically cooks itself.
One of my favorite things to do in the kitchen is to take the best recipes from my childhood and turn them into an easy, weeknight meal. While these family classics aren’t exactly difficult, they can be a bit time consuming and require a bit too much hands-on time for my liking.
With two very active boys always getting into trouble, I have been relying on the slow cooker more than ever before. In fact, I pretty much always have to lock Jacob into the high chair if I need more than a minute in the kitchen because he is moving around so quickly these days! It’s too bad they aren’t cute. Or smiley.
The inspiration for this dish is my mom’s famous roast chicken made with a good sprinkle of cinnamon. As the dish cooks, the entire house permeates of roasted chicken and warm cinnamon. It is to die for.
My mom typically makes this with olive oil but I was feeling a little naughty and decided to use some of my Aunt Paula’s famous clarified butter that she gifts us every year at Christmas.
As the chicken roasts, the vegetables on the bottom are seasoned with all of the cinnamon-and-butter-spiked juices of the bird. Whole garlic cloves slowly caramelize into sweet and tender roasted bites of goodness.
If you have two slow cookers, I highy suggest making a double batch. There won’t be leftovers.
Your fork is waiting.
- 2 in large sweet potatoes cut large chunks
- 1 in large onion cut wedges
- 8 cloves whole garlic skin removed
- 2 tablespoons All-Purpose Lebanese Spice Blend divided or cinnamon
- pound One 4 or 5 roaster chicken
- 2 tablespoons clarified butter or regular butter
- parsley optional garnish
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Toss the sweet potato chunks, onion wedges and garlic cloves in the bottom of a slow cooker and sprinkle with half of the Lebanese spice blend (1 tablespoon).
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Place the chicken on top of the vegetables and pat dry with a paper towel. Rub the chicken all over with the clarified butter.
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Sprinkle the remaining Lebanese spice blend (or cinnamon) all over the chicken so that all pieces are evenly coated.
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Cook on Low for 8 Hours or High for 4 Hours.
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Serve with fresh parsley on top.
Gwen @ ButtercupsBabies.com
Trying to tell form your pictures, but not sure. Did you remove the skin on the chicken before cooking, or leave it on? Looks like a great recipe to try!
Liz DellaCroce
I’ve done it both ways and either way works!!
Marcy
Hi – I’m making this today and can’t wait to have the scents permeating our apartment! Should I peel the sweet potatoes of leave the peel on? Thanks!
Liz DellaCroce
Either way works!!! Peel = more nutrition! What did you think?
Marcy
DELISH! Thank you!
Liz DellaCroce
So glad you enjoyed it Marcy!
Christine
Sorry to say it was bland, smelled yummy but very little taste. For my family it requires more complex flavors-would not make it again.
Jennifer
Can I prep this the night before and put it on in the morning before work? Or will the yams go brown? Thank you!
Liz DellaCroce
Yes absolutely!!! Just keep the lid on :)
Becky
Love this idea! I need more healthy slow cooker ideas! I hope you are doing well – I know you’ve been traveling a lot :) Take care, Becky
Liz DellaCroce
I am a slow cooking fool lately!!! So great to hear from you friend – I hope our paths cross again soon!
Kathy at kissing the frog
Okay, my mouth was watering as I read this.
And no, your boys are not cute or smiley AT ALL! ;)
Liz DellaCroce
Aww thank you so much!!
fabiola@notjustbaked
Chicken and cinnamon are so good together. Plus it is slow cooker time!!!
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living
Your boys are adorable! Love this easy slow cooker meal – that touch of cinnamon had me!
Liz DellaCroce
Aww thank you so much Jeanette!!
Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction
Your boys are so cute! I need more slow cooker meals like this. My family will love it!
Liz DellaCroce
Thank you so much – they crack me up!!
Matt Robinson
Absolutely love this, especially the flavors!! The perfect weeknight comfort meal for the family.
Liz DellaCroce
Thanks so much Matt- the cinnamon takes it to the next level!
Norma
Yes, I love this chicken. And can I have a bite of those dimples?
Liz DellaCroce
You can have two bites of dimples Norma!
Gaby
This is way too pretty to be so easy! Your boys are adorable!
Liz DellaCroce
Aww thank you!
Dani Meyer
This looks amazing Liz!! Can’t wait to try it. Made a spiced whole roasted chicken kind of like this last night. Sooo good. Can’t beat a whole chicken!
Liz DellaCroce
You can not beat a whole chicken. Love that you did something similar!
DessertForTwo
Those boys look so mischievous! But also so cute! :)
Liz DellaCroce
Mischievous is an understatement. ;) So great seeing you this weekend!
Megan {Country Cleaver}
Have mercy this looks fantastic!! I want to smell this wafting through my house all day long!
Liz DellaCroce
I seriously wanted to bottle the smell and sell it to Yankee Candle – lol. xo
Maryea {happy healthy mama}
Aww I want an Aunt Paula to gift me ghee at Christmas time! I love that. :) I love the looks of this recipe, too. It’s one that would make my whole family happy and without much time in the kitchen. Gotta love that!
Liz DellaCroce
Isn’t it the best? We are a crazy family but I’ll take ghee over chocolate fudge any day. ;)
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes
I wish I was there in your kitchen while this was cooking. I am sure the smell was intoxicating! I love cinnamon in a savory dish, so I am sure I would love this.Looks like I will have to give it a try (bonus: I’ll get to smell it cooking in my own kitchen!)
Liz DellaCroce
The smell was unreal Katie – butter + cinnamon + chicken = heaven.