This hearty Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken is made with tender chicken thighs, spicy chorizo, smoked paprika, sweet bell peppers, and chopped tomatoes. This recipe creates a rich and smoky stew where the chicken becomes incredibly tender and falls right off the bone. It’s perfect for an easy weeknight dinner any time of year and serves 4 people generously.
Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 7 oz Spanish chorizo sausage, sliced
- 2 onions, sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 red bell pepper, deseeded and sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, deseeded and sliced
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 (14.5 oz) can chopped tomatoes
- ½ cup chicken stock
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
How To Make Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken
- Brown the chicken and chorizo: Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper and place them skin-side down in the pan. Brown for 3-4 minutes on each side until the skin is golden and crisp. You may need to do this in batches. Transfer the chicken to the slow cooker pot. Add the sliced chorizo to the pan and fry for 2-3 minutes until it releases its colorful, smoky oils. Transfer the chorizo to the slow cooker.
- Sauté the vegetables: In the same frying pan, using the leftover chorizo oil, add the sliced onions and bell peppers. Cook for 5-7 minutes until they have softened. Add the crushed garlic and smoked paprika and cook for one more minute until fragrant.
- Combine in the slow cooker: Scrape the cooked vegetables and all the flavorful bits from the pan into the slow cooker. Pour in the canned tomatoes and chicken stock. Stir everything together gently to combine.
- Cook on low: Place the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on the LOW setting for 6-8 hours or on the HIGH setting for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and fall-apart tender.
- Serve: Check the seasoning and add more salt and pepper if needed. Serve the Spanish chicken hot with its rich sauce.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t Skip the Browning Step: Searing the chicken skin until it’s golden and frying the chorizo is essential. This step builds a deep, savory flavor foundation for the entire dish that you simply cannot get by putting raw ingredients directly into the pot.
- Use Chicken Thighs: Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are the best choice for slow cooking. They have more fat and flavor than chicken breasts and remain juicy and incredibly tender over the long cooking time.
- Choose Spanish Chorizo: For authentic flavor, use a cured Spanish chorizo sausage, not the fresh Mexican variety. Spanish chorizo is seasoned with smoked paprika, which is the key ingredient for that signature smoky taste.
- Avoid Too Much Liquid: Vegetables release a surprising amount of water during slow cooking. The amount of canned tomatoes and stock in the recipe is all you need to create a rich, thick sauce, not a watery soup.
What To Serve Spanish Chicken
This delicious stew has a wonderful sauce that is perfect for soaking up. Serve it over a bed of fluffy white rice or with creamy mashed potatoes. A side of crusty bread is also a must for mopping up every last drop of the smoky tomato sauce. For a fresh contrast, pair it with a simple green salad dressed in a light vinaigrette.
How To Store Spanish Chicken Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Allow the chicken to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors often develop and taste even better the next day. Freeze: This dish freezes exceptionally well. Once cooled, portion it into freezer-safe bags or containers. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave.
Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken Nutrition Facts
- Serving size: 1/4 of the recipe (2 chicken thighs and sauce)
- Calories: 585 kcal
- Total Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Sodium: 1150mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 18g
- Dietary Fiber: 5g
- Sugars: 10g
- Protein: 35g
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs? You can, but thighs are strongly recommended for the best result. If you choose to use chicken breast, reduce the cooking time to avoid it becoming dry. Add the browned chicken breasts to the slow cooker for the last 2-3 hours of cooking on LOW.
- My sauce is too watery. How can I fix it? If your sauce is thinner than you’d like, you can remove the lid for the final 30-60 minutes of cooking on the HIGH setting. This allows the excess liquid to evaporate and the sauce to reduce and thicken.
- What if I don’t have a slow cooker? You can easily make this recipe in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid. Follow all the browning steps in the pot, then add the remaining ingredients, bring to a simmer, cover, and cook over very low heat on the stovetop for 1.5-2 hours, or until the chicken is tender.
Try More Recipes:
- Hairy Bikers Paella Recipe
- Hairy Bikers Mediterranean Meatballs Recipe
- Hairy Bikers Hungarian Goulash Recipe
Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken Recipe
Description
An easy and flavorful Hairy Bikers Slow Cooker Spanish Chicken recipe. Tender, bone-in chicken thighs and spicy chorizo are slow-cooked in a rich and smoky sauce made with tomatoes, peppers, and smoked paprika. It’s the perfect set-it-and-forget-it meal for any night of the week.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Brown the chicken thighs and chorizo in a hot pan, then transfer them to the slow cooker pot.
- In the same pan, sauté the onions and peppers in the chorizo oil until soft. Stir in the garlic and paprika and cook for one more minute.
- Transfer the vegetables to the slow cooker. Add the chopped tomatoes and chicken stock and stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender.
- Season to taste and serve hot.
