Description
This comforting 40 Clove Garlic Chicken recipe features tender, slow-cooked chicken thighs infused with the rich flavor of roasted garlic, crispy bacon, and savory thyme. Perfect for an easy, flavorful meal, this dish uses minimal ingredients but delivers maximum taste, with a delicious chicken gravy creating a luscious sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Poultry
- 8 oz. bacon, sliced before cooking
- 2–3 lb. bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (5–6 thighs)
Vegetables and Herbs
- 40 cloves garlic, peeled
- ½ tsp. dried thyme
Seasonings
- ½ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
Other
- 0.87 oz. chicken gravy packet (such as McCormick)
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Cook bacon: Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced bacon and cook until it is crisp and browned. Remove the bacon and drain on paper towels. Discard most of the bacon grease from the pan, leaving about 2 tablespoons for cooking the chicken.
- Brown chicken: Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Add them to the skillet and brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side, to develop flavor and color.
- Transfer chicken to slow cooker: Place the browned chicken thighs in the slow cooker, arranging them in a single layer if possible.
- Add bacon, thyme, and garlic: Sprinkle the cooked bacon, dried thyme, and all 40 peeled garlic cloves evenly over the chicken in the slow cooker.
- Prepare gravy mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken gravy packet and ½ cup water until smooth. Pour this mixture evenly over the chicken and garlic.
- Slow cook: Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is tender and fully cooked through, and the garlic is soft and mellow.
Notes
- Do not add extra salt beyond the specified amount, as the chicken gravy packet contains sufficient salt.
- Only use the specified ½ cup of water; the chicken will release additional juices during cooking to create a flavorful sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1 chicken thigh with sauce and garlic)
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg
