Savory Slow-Cooked Chicken and Rice with Mediterranean Olives
Indulge in the rich flavors of this Savory Slow-Cooked Chicken and Rice with Mediterranean Olives recipe. Perfect for family dinners or meal prep, this dish combines tender, juicy chicken breast with aromatic spices, zesty garlic, and tangy black olives. Cooked low and slow in a crock pot, the chicken absorbs the delightful essence of sherry and spices, creating a flavorful sauce that perfectly coats fluffy rice. Serve this delicious dish for any occasion, and enjoy the warmth of home-cooked goodness, made effortless with your crock pot.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
15
Ingredients
Ingredients
cooking oil
1 tablespoon (for browning chicken in the skillet)
boneless skinless chicken breast halves
6 (browned in the skillet)
salt
to taste (for seasoning chicken)
pepper
to taste (for seasoning chicken)
onion, chopped
1/2 cup (raw)
garlic cloves, minced
4 (raw)
low sodium chicken broth
1 cup (for the sauce)
dry sherry
1/2 cup (for the sauce)
Tabasco sauce
1 teaspoon (to taste)
bay leaf
1 (for flavoring)
dried thyme
1 teaspoon (for flavoring)
cornstarch
2 tablespoons (for thickening the sauce)
water
2 tablespoons (for mixing with cornstarch)
sliced black olives
1 (2 1/4 ounce) can (added to the sauce)
cooked rice
3 cups (to serve as the base)
Instructions
1
In a large skillet, heat the cooking oil over medium heat. Add the boneless skinless chicken breast halves and brown them on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side.
2
While the chicken is browning, prepare the flavorful sauce by mixing the chopped onion, minced garlic, low sodium chicken broth, dry sherry, Tabasco sauce, bay leaf, and dried thyme in a separate bowl. Stir until well combined.
3
Once the chicken is browned, remove it from the skillet and season generously with salt and pepper on all sides.
4
Place the seasoned chicken breasts into your crock pot and pour the prepared sauce evenly over the chicken.
5
Cover the crock pot and cook on low heat for approximately 8 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the chicken to become tender.
6
After 8 hours, carefully remove the chicken breasts from the crock pot and set aside on a plate.
7
Turn the crock pot setting to High. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch and water, mixing well until smooth. Stir this mixture into the liquid in the crock pot to help thicken the sauce.
8
Cover the crock pot with the lid slightly ajar, allowing steam to escape, and cook for an additional 20 to 30 minutes while the sauce thickens.
9
Once the sauce has achieved a desirable consistency, add the sliced black olives and stir well to combine.
10
To serve, place a generous scoop of cooked rice on each plate, top with the tender chicken breasts, and spoon the rich sauce over the top.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the name of this recipe?
The recipe is called Savory Slow-Cooked Chicken and Rice with Mediterranean Olives.
What appliance is required for this dish?
You will need a crock pot (slow cooker) and a large skillet.
What ingredients are needed for the flavorful sauce?
The sauce is made from chopped onion, minced garlic, low sodium chicken broth, dry sherry, Tabasco sauce, a bay leaf, and dried thyme.
How should the chicken be prepared before slow cooking?
The chicken breast halves should be browned in a skillet with oil for 3-4 minutes per side and then seasoned with salt and pepper.
How long does the chicken cook in the crock pot?
The chicken should be cooked on the low setting for approximately 8 hours.
What is the recommended setting for thickening the sauce?
Turn the crock pot setting to High after the initial 8-hour cooking period.
How do you thicken the sauce at the end of cooking?
Mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and stir the mixture into the crock pot liquid.
When do you add the black olives?
Add the sliced black olives once the sauce has achieved a desirable consistency after thickening.
What is the best way to serve this chicken dish?
Serve it by placing the chicken over a scoop of cooked rice and spooning the rich sauce over the top.
How many chicken breast halves are used?
This recipe calls for 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves.
Does this recipe contain alcohol?
Yes, it uses 1/2 cup of dry sherry for the sauce.
Is this recipe spicy?
It includes 1 teaspoon of Tabasco sauce, providing a zesty kick to the flavor profile.
How much rice is recommended for serving?
The recipe suggests serving the dish with 3 cups of cooked rice.
What type of olives are used?
The recipe uses one 2 1/4 ounce can of sliced black olives.
What aromatics are used in the preparation?
The dish uses 1/2 cup of chopped onion and 4 minced garlic cloves.
Do I need to cover the crock pot while the sauce thickens?
Yes, cover the crock pot with the lid slightly ajar to allow some steam to escape.
What herbs are used for seasoning?
The recipe uses 1 teaspoon of dried thyme and 1 bay leaf.
How long does the thickening process take?
It takes an additional 20 to 30 minutes on the high setting.
Is this recipe suitable for meal prep?
Yes, it is described as perfect for family dinners or meal prep due to its effortless preparation.
What kind of chicken broth should be used?
The recipe specifies 1 cup of low sodium chicken broth.
What type of oil is used for browning?
1 tablespoon of cooking oil is used in the skillet.
When do you season the chicken?
The chicken is seasoned with salt and pepper after it has been browned in the skillet.
Is this dish considered healthy?
Yes, it is tagged as healthy and uses lean chicken breasts and low sodium broth.
What tags are associated with this recipe?
Tags include crock pot, chicken, easy dinner, slow cooker, rice, black olives, healthy, and mediterranean.
What is the first step of the instructions?
The first step is heating cooking oil in a large skillet and browning the chicken on both sides.
How much Tabasco sauce is added?
1 teaspoon of Tabasco sauce is used to add flavor.
How do you prepare the cornstarch?
Mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl until smooth.
What is the texture of the chicken after cooking?
The chicken becomes tender and juicy after being slow-cooked for 8 hours.
What gives the sauce its Mediterranean flair?
The combination of garlic, dry sherry, and tangy black olives provides its Mediterranean profile.
Can the chicken be cooked faster?
The recipe specifically recommends 8 hours on low heat to allow the flavors to meld and the chicken to become tender.