I hope you haven’t put away your slow cooker for the summer because I have the perfect one pot meal for you. The slow cooker can really come into its own at this time of year – the last thing anyone needs on a perfect summer’s day is to slave over a hot stove. If you need a meal you can prepare and forget about until serving it, this dish is a great one to try. I love the flavours of Provence with the warm taste of the mediterranean, basil, tomatoes, peppers, wine and of course Herbes de Provence.
Slow Cooker Provencal Style Chicken with Rice
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 4 to 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 large red onion – thickly sliced
- 2 red peppers cut into thick strips
- 3 cloves garlic – crushed
- 1 tablespoon tomato puree
- 2 anchovy fillets – chopped
- 6 large tomatoes – chopped or 1 x 400 g can of chopped tomatoes
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence
- ½ teapsoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 250 ml (1 cup) of brown basmati rice
- 250 ml (1 cup) of white wine
- 250 ml (1 cup) of boiling water
- 4 skinless chicken breasts
- A generous handful of chopped fresh basil
- Approx 20 black or green olives
- Spray the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray or lightly grease.
- Preheat slow cooker on high.
- In a large frying pan, fry the onion and peppers in oil until lightly browned on the edges.
- Add the garlic, tomato puree and chopped anchovy fillets and fry for another couple of minutes.
- Add the tomatoes, bay leaf, herbes de Provence and salt and pepper and cook for about 5 minutes.
- Add the rice and stir well to coat rice with mixture.
- Pour the wine over the rice mixture and stir in.
- Transfer the contents of the frying pan to your slow cooker pot, add the boiling water and stir.
- Wipe the frying pan clean and add a little more oil.
- Heat to a medium heat and brown the chicken on both sides.
- Carefully place the chicken onto the rice mixture in the slow cooker and cover. (The chicken won’t dry out, it cooks in the steam and is very tender)
- Cook on high for 2½ hours or on low for 5 hours.
- Check the rice is cooked and add seasoning if you wish.
- Stir in your freshly chopped basil and olives.
- Take to the table and serve.
- The recipe provides plenty for 4 people and you don’t really need anything else. That said, if you fancy a treat, serve with a basket of crusty bread and a glass of wine.
Adding herbs to the slow cooker
Dried herbs work well in a slow cooker added at the beginning and intensify as the dish cooks. Fresh herbs are best added at the end because they tend to lose their flavour in slow cooking.
I’m entering Slow Cooker Provence Style Chicken with rice to a few challenges this month:
- Janice’s Slow Cooker Challenge over at Farmersgirl Kitchen where the theme is “one pot meals.”
- Karen’s Cooking With Herbs challenge over at Lavender and Lovage where this month’s featured herb is basil.
- The Extra Veg Challenge created by Helen at Fuss Free Flavours and Michelle at Utterly Scrummy and hosted this month by Nadine at Juggle Mum.
- Credit Crunch Munch created by Helen and Camilla, hosted this month by Sarah over at Maison Cupcake.
Sammie
Tuesday 22nd of November 2016
Ooh this looks delicious. My slow cooker is very old - 20 years, so I would cook this in the oven on a low heat. Definitely a dish our family would love.
sarahj
Friday 25th of November 2016
Thanks Sammie, the recipe would work well in a slow oven. Do let me know how you get on. x
skd
Friday 6th of November 2015
Love all your recipes. Especially the slow cooker ones. Truly delish!!!
July Slow Cooker Challenge Round Up | Farmersgirl Kitchen
Tuesday 29th of September 2015
[…] Slow Cooker Provencal Style Chicken with Rice is the delicious summery entry from Sarah at Tales from the Kitchen Shed […]
Want Some #ExtraVeg Recipes? Read On! | jugglemum.com
Saturday 9th of August 2014
[…] from the Kitchen Shed brought out the slow cooker for this Provencal Style Chicken. Sarah also came up with a Swiss Chard, Mushroom and Potato […]
JuggleMum, Nadine Hill (@Businessmum)
Wednesday 6th of August 2014
It didn't occur to me to use the slow cooker in Summer but you're right - who wants to slave over a hot stove in the heat?! Great idea! Thanks for linking to #ExtraVeg
sarahj
Friday 8th of August 2014
Thanks Nadine and it's a pleasure sharing with #Extra Veg.