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Slow Cooker Honey BBQ Chicken with Glazed Carrots and Wild Rice

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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 7 hours
Total Time 7 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 575
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 2.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs Skinless and boneless is best for even cooking in the slow cooker
Sauce
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce Choose a sauce with a bit of vinegar to balance the sweetness
  • 0.25 cup honey Local honey works great if you have it
  • 0.5 tbsp apple cider vinegar Adds brightness to cut through the sweetness
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika This gives it that BBQ smoke flavor without a grill
  • 1 tsp garlic powder Fresh garlic can burn in the slow cooker, so powder is safer
Vegetables
  • 1.5 lbs baby carrots Peel them if they're thick, leave skin on if they're thin
  • 0.25 cup brown butter Brown it until it smells like nuts for a deeper flavor
Wild Rice
  • 0.75 cups wild rice Rinse it first to remove any grit
  • 1.5 cups chicken broth Low sodium so you can control the saltiness

Method
 

Prep the Chicken and Sauce
  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels, then season generously with salt and pepper on all sides.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the BBQ sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, and garlic powder until smooth.
  3. Place the chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker, skin-side down if you have skin on, and pour the sauce over it.
  4. Stir in the baby carrots around the chicken, making sure they're mostly covered by the sauce.
Cook the Chicken
  1. Cover and cook on low for 7 hours, or until the chicken is tender and pulls apart easily with a fork.
  2. Remove the chicken and carrots to a large bowl, keeping the cooking liquid in the slow cooker.
  3. Shred the chicken with two forks, discarding any large bones or gristle pieces.
  4. Return the shredded chicken and carrots to the slow cooker, stirring gently to recombine with the sauce.
Cook the Wild Rice
  1. In a separate saucepan, bring the chicken broth to a boil, then stir in the wild rice.
  2. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
  3. Fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the brown butter until it's glossy and coated.
  4. Divide the wild rice among plates, then spoon the chicken and glazed carrots on top. Drizzle with any remaining sauce from the slow cooker.
Check for Doneness
  1. Before serving, insert a food thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken to verify it has reached a safe internal temperature.

Notes

Use fresh carrots from the farmer's market rather than the bagged ones — they hold their shape better in the slow cooker and don't turn to mush. If you're short on time, you can add the carrots during the last 2 hours of cooking, but they'll be softer. The wild rice cooks perfectly in the leftover sauce; just let it sit covered after cooking to soak up all that flavor.