Slow cooker chicken with carrots, prunes, and a gentle black tea, orange, and thyme sauce

Name: Slow cooker chicken with carrots, prunes, and a gentle black tea, orange, and thyme sauce
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 360 min
Total time: 380 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Fusión mediterránea
Ingredients: 1.75 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs; 12 oz carrots; 1.25 cups onion; 4.25 oz pitted prunes; 1 tbsp garlic; 1 cup strong brewed black tea; 1/2 cup orange juice; 2 tsp orange zest; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 tbsp fresh thyme; 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1 tbsp cornstarch; 1 tbsp cold water; 2 tbsp fresh parsley

An original homestyle stew where chicken cooks slowly with tender carrots and prunes until juicy, surrounded by an aromatic sauce of black tea, orange, garlic, and thyme. The result is balanced, lightly fruity, and deeply comforting.

20 minPrep

360 minCook

380 minTotal

4Servings

Gluten-FreeDairy-FreeHigh Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

800 g boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut en trozos large)
350 g carrots (peladas and sliced gruesas)
180 g onion (en pluma fina)
120 g pitted prunes (whole)
15 g garlic (chopped)
240 ml strong brewed black tea (templado)
120 ml orange juice (freshly squeezed)
4 g orange zest (solo the parte orange)
30 g tomato paste (for dar cuerpo a the sauce)
15 ml olive oil (for mezclar with the chicken)
6 g fresh thyme (hojitas, more extra for terminar)
1 g ground cinnamon (cantidad suave)
6 g salt (or to taste)
1 g black pepper (freshly ground)
8 g cornstarch (for espesar al final)
15 ml cold water (for mezclar with the harina of maíz)
8 g fresh parsley (chopped for servir)

Nutrition facts

per serving

412 kcal

Calories

35 g

Protein

24 g

Carbs

18 g

Fat

4 g

Fiber

20 g

Net carbs

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

No declared allergens

Instructions

1
1. In a large bowl, mix the chicken thighs with the olive oil, salt, black pepper, and ground cinnamon until evenly coated.
2
2. Place the onion, carrots, garlic, and prunes in the base of the slow cooker. Set the seasoned chicken on top.
3
3. In another container, combine the brewed black tea, orange juice, orange zest, and tomato paste. Stir well and pour this mixture over the chicken and vegetables.
4
4. Sprinkle the fresh thyme over the top, cover, and cook on low for 6 hours, until the chicken is very tender and reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F / 74°C.
5
5. When cooking is done, transfer 3 to 4 tablespoons of the hot sauce to a small cup and mix it with the cornstarch and cold water until fully dissolved.
6
6. Pour this mixture back into the slow cooker, stir gently to combine without breaking up the chicken too much, cover again, and cook on high for 15 more minutes so the sauce thickens slightly.
7
7. Taste and adjust with more salt or pepper if needed. Serve hot with fresh parsley and a little extra thyme on top.
8
8. If you want to keep it warm before serving, use the warm setting. When reheating leftovers in the oven or a skillet, make sure the center reaches 165°F / 74°C.

Chef tips

For a brighter sauce, add a little extra orange zest right before serving. If you want a richer finish, lightly shred part of the chicken into the sauce before thickening.

Substitutions

You can replace the chicken thighs with turkey thigh pieces, adjusting the time based on size. Prunes can be swapped for dried apricots, though the flavor will be less deep. If you do not have fresh thyme, use 1 teaspoon dried thyme.

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 image
Cosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
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Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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Illustrative image
T-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
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