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Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken – Cozy Dinner Recipe

Slow cooker cranberry chicken cooks low and slow in a tangy cranberry-orange sauce until the chicken is tender and reaches 165°F. A quick cornstarch thickening step gives the sauce a lightly thickened finish to spoon over dinner.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours 20 minutes
Total Time 5 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 430
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the chicken
  • 1 yellow onion medium, thinly sliced
  • 2.5 lb chicken thighs boneless, skinless
  • 1 tsp salt kosher
  • 0.5 tsp pepper black
For the cranberry sauce
  • 1 can (14 oz) cranberry sauce whole-berry
  • 0.5 cup chicken broth low-sodium
  • 0.25 cup orange juice
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar packed, light
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp thyme dried
For thickening
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp water cold

Equipment

  • 1 6-quart slow cooker

Method
 

Arrange the chicken
  1. Place the onion in a 6-quart slow cooker.
  2. Arrange the chicken thighs on top and sprinkle with the salt and pepper.
Make the cranberry sauce
  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the cranberry sauce, chicken broth, orange juice, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, garlic, and thyme.
  2. Pour the cranberry sauce mixture over the chicken.
Cook and thicken
  1. Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or HIGH for 2 to 3 hours, until the thickest part of the chicken reaches 165°F.
  2. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and tent loosely with foil.
  3. Whisk the cornstarch and cold water together until smooth.
  4. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the sauce in the slow cooker.
  5. Cover and cook the sauce on HIGH for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring once, until lightly thickened.
  6. Spoon the cranberry sauce over the chicken to serve.

Notes

For the most tender result, check the thickest part of the chicken for 165°F. Refrigerate leftovers for 3 to 4 days; freeze for up to 3 months. For a gluten-free meal, check that the broth and Dijon mustard are certified gluten-free.