Sluggish Cooker Hen Legs – The Almond Eater

May 13, 2023

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These mouthwatering Sluggish Cooker Hen Legs are excellent for easy, but flavorful weeknight dinners. The hen is calmly seasoned to let its pure flavors shine, then slow-cooked in a savory sauce till the meat is juicy and falls off the bone.

The most effective methods to make hen for dinner is to pop it within the sluggish cooker and let it do its factor for a number of hours. There’s minimal hands-on work concerned and also you get juicy and tender hen each time! That’s why my sluggish cooker hen thighs and these Sluggish Cooker Hen Legs are all the time a success for simple weeknight meals.

Cooking hen legs within the sluggish cooker is straightforward and virtually foolproof. The legs are submerged in a savory sauce made out of broth, butter, and garlic to infuse the meat with a great deal of taste and moisture. The crockpot works its magic over low warmth for a number of hours till the mouthwatering and juicy hen is able to serve.

Recipe options

The sluggish cooker does all the work, so there’s no babysitting concerned.
It’s made with a handful of easy spices and easy-to-find elements. You will have all of them in your kitchen already!
It makes a giant batch of hen legs for weeknight household dinners and particular occasions.

Components

Hen drumsticks – Drumsticks are the decrease a part of the leg, whereas hen quarters are your complete hen leg (the drumstick and the thigh). I used drumsticks on this hen legs recipe however you possibly can swap them for quarters and thighs if that’s what you have already got at house (simply know that they’ll take longer to prepare dinner).

Spices – I seasoned the hen with a mix of smoked paprika, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and onion powder. Be happy to experiment with these spices to fit your style buds.

Hen broth – The legs are cooked low and sluggish in broth to infuse them with moisture and taste. Attempt to use high quality store-bought broth, make your personal, or use selfmade bone broth as an alternative.

Butter – It retains the hen moist and tender whereas including scrumptious taste.

Garlic cloves – As a result of garlic makes every thing higher! I used two minced garlic cloves, however including one other clove or two is rarely a nasty thought.

Step-by-step directions

Step 1: Season the hen. Pat the drumsticks dry with a paper towel. Stir the dry spices collectively in a small bowl, then use your palms to rub the dry rub everywhere in the hen.

Step 2: Add every thing to the sluggish cooker. Switch the seasoned drumsticks to the sluggish cooker. Pour the broth over prime, then add the butter and garlic.

Step 3: Prepare dinner the hen. The meat is assured to fall off the bone when it’s cooked over low warmth. Nonetheless, should you’re in a rush, you possibly can flip the warmth as much as excessive. Serve the juicy crockpot hen together with your favourite aspect dishes, then take pleasure in!

Suggestions and FAQs

If you’d like additional crispy hen legs, sear the legs in a scorching skillet on the range earlier than including them to your sluggish cooker. As soon as the legs are completed cooking, place them underneath the broiler till the pores and skin is crispy.
To thicken the liquid within the sluggish cooker, switch it to a saucepan on the range over medium-high warmth. Whisk in 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and let it simmer till it turns into a gravy-like sauce. Brush the sauce over the cooked hen legs or drizzle it over prime earlier than serving.
You’ll know the hen legs are completed cooking when their inner temperature reaches 165ºF. Use a meat thermometer to test for doneness proper earlier than the cooking time is up.

What else can you employ to season hen drumsticks?

You possibly can simply customise the flavour of the hen legs by switching the spices within the recipe card for a dry BBQ rub, lemon pepper seasoning, Cajun or Creole spices, blackening seasoning, or curry powder.

Are you able to make this recipe with frozen hen legs?

No, I don’t advocate cooking frozen hen legs within the crockpot. It’s all the time greatest to thaw the legs within the fridge first to allow them to prepare dinner evenly and rapidly.

What goes effectively with hen legs?

The choices are limitless! I really like serving this dish with one starchy aspect, like mashed pink potatoes, baked candy potatoes, rice, or caramelized onion quinoa, and one vegetable aspect, like roasted broccoli, roasted carrots, or sauteed asparagus.

Storage

Fridge: Let the hen legs cool to room temperature, then place them in a resealable bag or container. Retailer within the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

Freezer: Wrap every leg individually in plastic or foil. Place the wrapped hen legs in a freezer-safe bag and freeze for two to three months. Let the legs thaw within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating.

Reheating: Return leftover hen legs to the sluggish cooker with some broth, and reheat on Low for two to three hours or till heated by means of. Alternatively, you possibly can reheat leftovers within the microwave with a splash of broth for 1 to 2 minutes.

Extra sluggish cooker hen recipes

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