Day 263.
This is a good chicken recipe. Don't be concerned by the name--the chicken doesn't turn into applesauce, it gets cooked in it, but still keeps shape. You should make this.
When I made applesauce earlier in the week, I meant to save a bit to try out Amiyrah's from (4 Hats and Frugal) Famous Applesauce Chicken. But the kids ate it all. So I used store-bought.
The Ingredients.
--4 frozen chicken breast halves or thighs (I used 2 of each)
--1 1/2 cups of applesauce
--1 T dried onion flakes, or 1 yellow onion, chopped finely
--1 T apple cider vinegar
--1/4 tsp cinnamon
--1/2 tsp black pepper
--2 cloves garlic, minced
--1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, I used them, and added more to the adult servings)
The Directions.
A 3 or 4 quart crockpot is the best size for this, but I did use a 6 quart. If your pot cooks fast, err on the lower end of cooking time.
I decided to up the applesauce a bit from Amiyrah's original recipe and omitted the water. I live life on the edge.
Put the frozen chicken pieces into your crockpot. Add the onion (if you are using the dried onion, wait and add it to the applesauce). In a bowl, mix the applesauce, vinegar, garlic, and spices together. Pour on top of the chicken.
Cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours, or on high for 3-4.
Serve with rice or quinoa. I used a butternut squash risotto package I had, and then kicked myself because it was the same color as the chicken. I am never going to be a food stylist.
The Verdict.
The kids ate this! And liked it! And said I was the best mother ever and that I should make this every single night from now on. and it had nothing to do with the long lecture about wasting food and starving people. nothing at all.
37 comments:
This seems like a yummy fruit-poultry combo. I think my husband might even eat it. (He eats like your average four year-old). I'm always looking for chicken recipes he might like since he's a lover of the red meat. Thanks for another great idea!
I know you won't make this variation, but your readers might like it. I make a similar pork dish.
Mix on pack onion soup mix with applesauce, pour over pork chops or a tenderloin, and bake/cook until meat is cooked through.
Super easy and so good!
Sounds DELISH! Might have to try it with pork loin. Guess you'll have to take my word on it since, well, you know! ;) Thanks. Have a GREAT one!
As someone who does not eat pork, I really like to see fruit + chicken dishes. Thanks!
If I were to use fresh (not frozen) chicken pieces, how would I alter the recipe and timing? Thanks!
You are so funny (last comment about the starving speech)! Okay, this is the first time I've commented on your blog page, but I have been following it for a few months now and I must say, I love it! I am a 28 year old mother of an 18 month old with another one on the way in two months. I need fast easy recipes with easy clean up after dinners and I'm not very creative in the kitchen, but this has really helped me. I've tried a bunch of your dishes (Ziti, a few dips, a few potato recipes, trail mix, etc.) and so far so good! My husband is impressed and proud of me! That always puts a smile on my face. Anyway, I think I'm going to try this dish next. Chicken is popular in this house b/c we buy it in bulk. That and ground beef. Anyway, I just wanted to say, thanks for your efforts in all these wonderful recipes and for actaully getting me in the kitchen cooking! Mary
Hi Hannah, we really liked it, and my almost-4 yr old was quite impressed.
EJW and Veronica, you know me so well. ;-0 xoxo
~M--I think the timing would be the same on high, but might cook a touch faster on low. It seems that you only need an hour or so longer with frozen chicken. It thaws quickly.
Mary, I'm glad to be of any help to your family. Congratulations on #2!
xox
steph
I like your blog very much and am still following along even though we've moved on from gluten-free (didn't seem to help the situation) and are now on low-sodium--and this recipe sounds like it could fit the bill for that. Is your applesauce sweetened or unsweetened?--I couldn't tell from the photo.
Thanks for this timely recipe! I just bought a bag of frozen chicken breasts and have always been nervous to cook with them because even though it says to use them just like thawed breasts, I always seem to have recipes that make it questionable how to actually use them. This seems like a no-brainer. I can't wait to try it!
I've been visiting your site for a couple of months now and have tried several of your recipes. I just wanted to tell you how happy I am with the recipes I've tried. I especially like that you put a "verdict" on the recipe. I think that is so helpful in deciding to try a recipe. Thanks for your hard work!
This sounds really good - I wonder if you can substitute cinnamon applesauce for the plain applesauce and cinnamon. I might try that.
Your recipes are awesome - you should publish a book !
yay! they liked it! I'm so glad this recipe worked out for you. I like the variations on my recipe...I may have to try it your way next time I make it. I can't wait to see the next recipe from you...these recipes really are saving my sanity. The last one I did was the steak, potatoes and corn all in the crockpot. I was in heaven! DH was amazed too. Thanks again!
I love your blog and because it of I'm using my crock pot so much more! But I've noticed that when I cook my meats for a long period of time (say if a recipe calls for the CP to cook at high for 6-7hrs), my meat is falling apart when I take it out, and it still tastes yummy but doesn't look as pretty. Do you know if this because I need to cook things for a shorter period that what the recipe calls for or will this always happen? Thanks for any insight you can give me!
Hi Sara,
high for 6-7 hours is a pretty long time. I usually stick to high for no more than 4 hours, and low for 5-6 for chicken, longer for red meat.
xox
steph
Help! I just found your blog and it's wonderful. The problem is, I'm supposed to be working. Now I admit to reading a variety of blogs here at work, but most of the time I just read the latest post and then I'm done. No more time wasted than if I were a smoker and went outside to take regular smoking breaks. (They have their addictions and I have mine!) But here, I find myself wanting to go back through 200+ entries looking at recipes -- and then cutting and pasting them into Word files. Anyway -- great blog. I've already found a bunch of recipes I can't wait to try. I'll just have to take my time searching them all! Thanks!
I made apple butter in the crock pot yesterday and it was fantastic. Must remember to blog about it when I get a chance. Both my girls enjoyed it on their toast for breakfast this morning.
Mmmm - I was wondering if you thought you could cook the applesauce you made the other day WITH the chicken (instead of using premade applesauce) - does that make sense? Kind of combining both recipes (like you mentioned doind if your kids hadn't eaten all the applesauce) - except making them at the same time...
You're funny!
Glad there are others around who are crockpot obsessed! :)
This looks like another winner. We loved, Loved, LOVED your brown sugar chicken and everyone we told probably helped raise your hit count there for awhile. They all have told me now that they visit regularly. I'm using my 2 crockpots more often now and will sure be using them more this winter. I even bought a 2 qt one from Wal-Mart with a removeable crock. Only problem with it is it has a plastic lid and the recipe book only has 3 recipes for that small of a pot. But I thought maybe I could adapt some recipes for our empty nest here. We don't really need loads of leftovers! 'cept that brown sugar chicken.....
whoa! Now I feel like eating. This stuff of yours is great.
www.foodista.com
I can't help but notice you have a head of garlic in your picture. Did you put this in the recipe? Or did it just sneak onto the plate...?
I'm going to make this tonight! I don't think I have time to make apple sauce then make the dish, but I will make applesauce too at some point!
Hi Barrie,
huh. I must have! If you have some on hand, throw in 2 chopped cloves. I'll update the recipe, thanks!
xox
steph
About how much chicken (weightwise) do you think you used? I'm looking at a 2-lb. frozen tray of chicken breasts, and trying to figure out just how many actual pieces might be hiding in there.
Looking forward to trying this one tonight--especially since I couldn't make that cheeseburger soup come out low-sodium enough for my husband's diet.
Hi Mama Squirrel,
I'd use 1 pound of your chicken, and save the rest for another day, or double the sauce.
xox
steph
I made this yesterday, and OH! did it ever smell good when I unlidded the Crock. YUM! And the flavor didn't disappoint. Thanks for this great idea! I will definitely be making this again.
You should add the tag "aromatherapy" to this recipe!
I tried this today and we loved it!! This is definitely something I will make it the future! Very good!
My husband's comment: "Are you sure this isn't salted?" (That's a compliment.) My kids all seemed to like it too.
I did use the two pounds of chicken (without doubling the sauce) and it worked fine for us. Guess it just depends on how big your chicken breasts are.
I had to thicken the sauce near the end, though--it was too wet. I mixed a tbsp of cornstarch in a bit of cold water and added it to the pot, let it finish on High for about 20 minutes.
Steph! This is such a winner! I substituted rice vinegar for cider vinegar since I didn't have any cider vinegar. My 2 year old son loved it! Thanks, thanks, thanks! :-)
This recipe is in the crockpot and cooking away. Thanks for writing such an interesting blog. I look forward to trying more of your recipes.
We ate this last night and everyone thought this was great (except the son with autism...shocker...he ate a burger). My daughter was crabby about it but then ate the whole thing without talking at all through the entire meal. I served this with skin on mashed red potatoes and broccoli. This is a keeper!
Made this a few weeks ago and forgot to comment - it was great!! At the beginning of the day, I thought to myself, "I am NOT cooking dinner tonight. I'm going to use my crock pot!" This recipe was perfect- zero effort, tasty results! SO nice to come home to a delicious, hot meal waiting in the crock pot, not to mention the wonderful smell that filled the apartment! Thanks for the recipe!!
a keeper! love that i found this recipe around lunch time, had everything on hand to throw in the croc and had a fabulous dinner just hours later.
Made this one as well and loved it! even my fussy "cant put sweet with savory" husband liked this one!
This was cooking in my 2nd crockpot yesterday (in addition to the baked oatmeal ;) )...i used unsweetened applesauce and had to use a red onion. I really enjoyed it, my dd said it was too spicy (and my son wouldn't come near it, but what else is new, lol). next time, i may leave the red pepper out and just add it to mine after it's cooked. Thanks again Steph for another easy cp meal!
Yummy! I added half a bag of fresh cranberries. Would also work w/ pork.
I tried this chicken even though it did not sound like a winner but had all the ingredients on hand so thought why not. I wish I would have thought it through more...even my hubby who eats everything agreed I should not make it again. To each is own but not again for my family! However, I have cooked many of your other recipes and found them to be fabulous! On a positive note, it did make our home smell delightful as it cooked all afternoon!
I made this exact recipe with a boneless pork roast, and it was fabulous. I'm thinking for chicken substitute the applesauce with whole cranberry sauce. I'm going to try with rice wine vinegar and leave out the red pepper flakes. When I do this again with pork, I will increase the red pepper flakes. I used a whole onion instead of the power. Served with rice, it was really really good. Can't wait to try the chicken with cranberry.
This was the first meal I have EVER made in a crockpot! It was so yummy! We had it with couscous and it was just a greal meal! My husband was very impressed! :)
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