The Best Ever Slow Cooker Sweet Caramelized Onion Chicken Thighs

Today, let’s dive into a delicious recipe for sweet caramelized onion slow cooker chicken thighs. This dish is not only easy to make but also packed with flavor and incredibly tender. It’s the perfect meal for any day of the week!

Delicious sweet caramelized onion chicken

Ingredients

  • 6 bone in skin on chicken thighs
  • salt and pepper to taste ( i used about 1 and 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper)
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • olive oil
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 6 to 8 huge cloves garlic
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar

Instructions Below! (with Step-by-Step Photos)

We’re using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for this recipe. First, we need to season the chicken generously. You’ll want to mix salt, pepper, and dried oregano together before applying it to both sides of the chicken.

Seasoning the chicken with salt and pepper

Once seasoned, it’s time to sear the chicken. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and drizzle in some olive oil. Wait until the oil is hot and shimmering, then add the chicken skin-side down. Sear for about three minutes.

Searing chicken thighs in the skillet

After three minutes, flip the chicken to sear the other side for another three minutes until golden brown. Once done, transfer the chicken into your slow cooker.

Transferring seared chicken to slow cooker

Now, let’s go back to the skillet to sauté some onions. You won’t need to add more oil; there should be enough left from searing the chicken. Sauté the onions over medium heat until they become caramelized, which will take about 10 to 15 minutes.

Caramelizing onions in the skillet

Caramelizing onions adds a rich flavor to the chicken! Once the onions are ready, add a generous amount of garlic cloves and some brown sugar. Sauté everything together for one more minute. The sugar helps enhance the caramelization.

Adding garlic and brown sugar to onions

After everything has cooked together, take the pan off the heat. Pour the caramelized onion mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker, spreading it evenly.

Pouring caramelized onions over chicken

Now, place the lid on the slow cooker and let the chicken cook on high for 6 hours. This slow cooking method will make your home smell amazing!

Slow cooker with chicken and onions

After 6 hours, your chicken will be fall-off-the-bone tender and full of flavor. This dish is perfect served over rice, but you can also enjoy it on its own. The sauce is like a delicious caramelized onion soup you can sip on during the colder months.

Serving the caramelized onion chicken

Enjoy your delicious creation!

Final presentation of the sweet caramelized onion chicken

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