
Slow Cooker Chicken with Kale, Lemon, Capers, and White Beans
An original slow cooker stew with tender chicken thighs, creamy white beans, kale, and a bright touch of lemon and capers. The result is savory, comforting, and balanced, ideal for a complete everyday meal.
Ingredients
- 900 g boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut en trozos large)
- 800 g cooked white beans (escurridas and enjuagadas)
- 180 g yellow onion (chopped)
- 18 g garlic (chopped finely)
- 180 g kale (without stalks gruesos and troceada)
- 480 ml chicken broth (low sodium if preferred)
- 1 unit lemon (3 tbsp de jugo)
- 30 g capers (escurridas)
- 30 ml olive oil (divided)
- 200 g carrots (en medias lunas)
- 100 g celery (chopped)
- 2 g dried thyme
- 1 g dried oregano
- 2 g black pepper
- 6 g salt (ajustar to taste)
- 2 unit bay leaves
- 15 g fresh parsley (chopped)
- 15 g butter (for terminar)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
1. In a large skillet, heat 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery, and cook for 5 minutes until starting to soften. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.
- 2
2. Transfer the sautéed vegetables to the slow cooker. Add the chicken thighs, white beans, chicken broth, thyme, oregano, black pepper, salt, bay leaves, and lemon zest.
- 3
3. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or on high for 3 hours. If you want to hold it after cooking, use the warm setting; the dish should stay above 140°F / 60°C for safe serving.
- 4
4. Once the chicken is tender, uncover and remove the bay leaves. Add the kale, capers, lemon juice, the remaining 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil, and the butter.
- 5
5. Cover again and cook for 20 more minutes on high, until the kale is tender and the butter has melted into the broth.
- 6
6. Using two spoons, lightly shred some of the chicken pieces directly in the cooker to naturally thicken the stew, leaving some pieces whole for texture.
- 7
7. Taste and adjust salt if needed. Finish with fresh parsley and serve hot.
Chef tips
For deeper flavor, lightly brown the chicken in the same skillet before adding it to the slow cooker. If you prefer a thicker broth, mash a small portion of the white beans at the end of cooking.
Substitutions
You can substitute the kale with Swiss chard. The white beans can be replaced with cannellini or navy beans. For a dairy-free version, replace the butter with 1 additional tbsp olive oil.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageTempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
Illustrative imageT-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
Illustrative imageVictorinox Fibrox Pro 8" Chef’s Knife
Chopping, slicing and cutting strips
- The knife I use most when cooking
- Chops, slices and cuts into strips
- Keep it sharp and hand-dry it
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