Slow Cooker Maple Bacon Chicken
This Slow Cooker Maple Bacon Chicken is an easy slow cooker chicken dinner made with tender chicken thighs, smoky bacon, and a sweet maple glaze. It’s a dinner recipe that works for all occasions.
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It’s great for cozy fall evenings, family dinners, and Sunday meals. You can serve it with mashed potatoes, rice, roasted vegetables, or a simple green salad.
And here are more crockpot fall dinner ideas that are worth trying.
How to Make Slow Cooker Maple Bacon Chicken
Ingredients you’ll need for this recipe
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Season the chicken thighs on both sides with the salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
2. Wrap each chicken thigh with one slice of bacon and place seam-side down in the slow cooker.
3. In a bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
4. Pour the maple mixture evenly over the chicken.
5. Cover and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
6. Carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place on a plate. Cover loosely with foil.
7. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth.
8. Stir the cornstarch slurry into the sauce remaining in the slow cooker.
9. Turn the slow cooker to HIGH and cook uncovered for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens into a glossy glaze.
10. Return the chicken to the slow cooker and gently turn to coat in the thickened maple glaze.
11. Spoon extra glaze over the chicken before serving.
Serve & Enjoy!
Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve warm.
Important Recipe Notes
- Pat the chicken thighs dry before seasoning so the bacon wraps around them more easily.
- Wrap the bacon tightly around each piece of chicken and place it seam-side down in the slow cooker to help keep it in place while cooking.
- Use pure maple syrup instead of pancake syrup for the best sweet maple flavor.
- Avoid opening the slow cooker while it cooks, as this lets heat escape and can increase the cooking time.
- Make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) before serving.
- If the sauce isn’t thick enough after adding the cornstarch slurry, let it cook uncovered on HIGH for a few extra minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Spoon plenty of the thick maple glaze over the chicken just before serving for the best flavor.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley to add a little color and freshness to the finished dish.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until warmed through.
Slow Cooker Maple Bacon Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 slices bacon
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
- Season the chicken thighs on both sides with the salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Wrap each chicken thigh with one slice of bacon and place seam-side down in the slow cooker.
- In a bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
- Pour the maple mixture evenly over the chicken.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
- Carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place on a plate. Cover loosely with foil.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth.
- Stir the cornstarch slurry into the sauce remaining in the slow cooker.
- Turn the slow cooker to HIGH and cook uncovered for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens into a glossy glaze.
- Return the chicken to the slow cooker and gently turn to coat in the thickened maple glaze.
- Spoon extra glaze over the chicken before serving.
- Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve warm.
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