Beer Crockpot Chicken

Got a cookout to go to? Then I've got a recipe that's sure to find a cozy place in the hearts of all of your friends! Guests at our event just raaaaaved about how moist and delicious these drumsticks were! The meat was literally falling off the bone. I made two crockpots full (double recipe) and didn't have a single piece of chicken left over!

Play around a little bit - try it with different pieces of chicken, different beers, different spices. It's up to you! Here's what I did...

What You'll Need:

Chicken, can of beer, garlic powder, basil, paprika, black pepper, kosher salt

Pour beer and spices into crockpot

Place chicken in crockpot (meat down if you're making drumsticks)

Sloooooooow cook

Mmm mmm mmm! Can you believe my dad eats all that and stays thin??

Ingredients:

• 4-6 chicken breasts or 7-9 drumsticks
• 1 can of beer of your choice
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp basil
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

Directions:

1. Pour beer and spices into crockpot
2. Place chicken in crockpot (meat down if making drumsticks)
3. If frozen, cook on high 4-5 hours or low 8-10 hours
4. If fresh, cook on high 3-4 hours or low 7-8 hours

Easy Weeknight Grilled Chicken & Garlic Spaghetti

This quick little recipe was put together by Yours Truly, and is perfect if you're looking for a good, week-night meal that doesn't take all evening to make. I used Tyson® Grilled & Ready chicken breast strips, which are the ultimate time-saver in this recipe. No defrosting, no nothing! The most time-consuming part of the whole recipe is waiting for the water to boil!

I was fortunate to have all of the ingredients in my kitchen already, which is how I came up with the recipe. You know those nights - tired, hungry, close to pay day so funds are a bit low. You go looking through all of your cupboards trying to find stuff that'll go good together. It's true what they say - necessity is the mother of invention!

What You'll Need:

Spaghetti noodles (we use whole grain), tomato sauce, Tyson® Grilled & Ready chicken breast strips, minced garlic, vegetable oil, water (not pictured - ignore the messy counter!)

Start by defrosting/warming up your chicken in a skillet over medium heat

While that's going, get your noodles a-cookin' and let them boil until they're aaaalmost done

Once the chicken has started to brown, remove it from the skillet and set aside

Drain your noodles and put them in the skillet with the vegetable oil and garlic

Stir until coated evenly

Cook 3-4 minutes on medium-high heat

Stir in tomato sauce and water

Cover

Reduce to medium-low and simmer for about 10 minutes

Stir in chicken

Increase heat to medium

Cover and cook for about 3 minutes

I added a little parmesan to mine, and enjoyed it with a glass of wine!

Ingredients:

• Spaghetti noodles (how much depends on your sauce:noodle preference)
• 1 can tomato sauce
• Tyson® Grilled & Ready chicken breast strips (amount is up to you)
• 1 tsp minced garlic
• 3 tsp vegetable oil

Instructions:

1. Boil water for noodles; boil noodles about 5 minutes
2. Defrost/warm up chicken in a skillet over medium heat
3. Once chicken has started to brown, remove it from the skillet and set aside
4. Drain noodles; put into skillet with vegetable oil and garlic; stir until coated evenly
5. Cook 3-4 minutes on medium-high heat
6. Stir in tomato sauce and water; cover
7. Reduce to medium-low heat and simmer for 10 minutes
8. Stir in chicken
9. Increase heat to medium; cover
10. Cook for about 3 minutes

Chicken Parmesan Casserole from EmilyBites.com

This lovely recipe is a wonderful adaptation by EmilyBites.com. The original recipe is from Food.com, but I like Emily's much better! And it's only 8 Weight Watchers+ points per serving! I highly recommend checking out EmilyBites.com for more great, healthier recipes that don't skimp on the flavor!

EmilyBites.com

• 2 lbs raw boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ t crushed red pepper flakes (or more to taste if you want it hot)
• ¼ cup fresh basil, finely chopped (I used the kind from the spice aisle as that was what I had on hand)
• 2 cups marinara/pasta sauce
• 1 ½ cups 2% reduced fat shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 2 oz Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, divided (I used the kind from the shaker lol)
• 3.5 oz garlic croutons, roughly crushed, leaving some larger pieces

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly mist a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Spread the cubed pieces of chicken across the bottom of the baking dish in a single layer.
3. Sprinkle the minced garlic, red pepper flakes and basil evenly over the chicken.
4. Spread the sauce evenly across the top.
5. On top of the sauce layer, sprinkle ¾ cup of the Mozzarella and one ounce of the Parmesan evenly across the dish.
6. Sprinkle the crushed croutons across the top and follow with the remaining cheese.
7. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Sooooo simple! The only thing I'd do differently is actually put the cubed pieces of raw chicken in a bowl, sprinkle the minced garlic, red pepper flakes, and basil, then mix it all together. That'll coat the chicken with the spices a lot better, for me at least.

And I love how the croutons give your bites that delicious taste of having used breaded chicken, without the calories!