Slow Cooker Beer Chicken
Elevate your dinner game with this irresistible Slow Cooker Beer Chicken, a dish that combines effortless prep with bold, savory flavors. Tender chicken thighs and drumsticks are seasoned to perfection, lightly seared for depth, and slow-cooked in a flavorful beer-infused broth with onion, garlic, and warming spices like paprika and cumin. The result? Juicy, fall-off-the-bone chicken that’s perfect for hearty weeknight meals or casual gatherings. With minimal hands-on time, this recipe transforms simple ingredients like lager or pale ale into a rich, aromatic dish that pairs beautifully with sides like mashed potatoes or steamed veggies. Garnish with fresh parsley for a pop of color and flavor, and let your slow cooker do all the work while you savor the delicious aromas. Perfect for chicken dinner ideas, slow cooker recipes, and fans of beer-braised meals, this dish is your new go-to comfort food!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 4 pieces chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless)
- 4 pieces chicken drumsticks
- 12 ounces beer (lager or pale ale)
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic cloves, minced
- 1.5 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
Pat dry the chicken thighs and drumsticks with paper towels. Season them with 1 teaspoon of salt and 0.5 teaspoon of black pepper on both sides.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken pieces for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. This step helps develop flavor, but it’s optional.
Place the sliced onion and minced garlic into the bottom of a slow cooker, spreading them out evenly to create a layer.
In a small bowl, mix together the paprika, cumin, oregano, remaining salt, and pepper. Sprinkle this seasoning blend over the seared chicken pieces, coating them evenly.
Arrange the seasoned chicken pieces on top of the onion and garlic layer in the slow cooker.
Pour the beer evenly over the chicken. The liquid should partially cover the chicken, but it’s fine if some of the chicken sits above the liquid.
Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on the LOW setting for 6-8 hours or the HIGH setting for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is super tender and falls off the bone.
Once cooked, carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker and set it aside on a serving plate.
Optional: To thicken the sauce, transfer the liquid from the slow cooker to a saucepan and simmer over medium heat for 10-15 minutes until slightly reduced. Serve this sauce poured over the chicken.
Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired, and serve the beer chicken warm with your favorite side dishes, such as mashed potatoes, rice, or steamed vegetables.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
577 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 31.7 g | 41% | |
| Saturated Fat | 8.3 g | 41% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 225 mg | 75% | |
| Sodium | 929 mg | 40% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 8.7 g | 3% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.1 g | 4% | |
| Total Sugars | 1.5 g | ||
| Protein | 56.9 g | 114% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.3 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 58 mg | 4% | |
| Iron | 3.4 mg | 19% | |
| Potassium | 734 mg | 16% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
