Name: Slow-Cooked Ranch Chicken and Vegetables
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 435 min
Ingredients: 2 medium onions, cut into thin wedges; 1 tablespoon dried minced onion; 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes, crushed; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper; 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed; 0.5 teaspoon dried dill; 5 pounds large chicken thighs, skinned (12 to 14 total); 2 (10.75 ounce) cans reduced-fat, reduced-sodium condensed cream of chicken soup; 1 (8 ounce) carton sour cream; 2 to 3 teaspoons finely chopped canned chipotle chile peppers in adobo sauce (see Tips); 2 medium red and/or green sweet peppers, cut into 1/2-inch-thick strips; 2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced; 1 3-pound spaghetti squash; 0.25 cup snipped fresh parsley

Slow-Cooked Ranch Chicken and Vegetables

3.5

(11)

11 Reviews

This creamy, veggie-packed chicken dinner comes together easily in your slow-cooker-and makes enough for another night's casserole (see associated recipe)!

EatingWell Test Kitchen

Updated on April 19, 2024

Tested by

EatingWell Test Kitchen

Reviewed by Dietitian

Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

Ingredients

2 medium onions, cut into thin wedges
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes, crushed
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
½ teaspoon dried dill
5 pounds large chicken thighs, skinned (12 to 14 total)
2 (10.75 ounce) cans reduced-fat, reduced-sodium condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (8 ounce) carton sour cream
2 to 3 teaspoons finely chopped canned chipotle chile peppers in adobo sauce (see Tips)
2 medium red and/or green sweet peppers, cut into 1/2-inch-thick strips
2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
1 3-pound spaghetti squash
¼ cup snipped fresh parsley (Optional)

Directions

Place onion wedges in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. In a small bowl combine dried onion, parsley flakes, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, thyme, and dill. Place one-third of the chicken thighs in an even layer in the slow cooker atop onions. Sprinkle chicken with about one-third of the spice mixture. Repeat layers twice, using the remaining chicken thighs and spice mixture.
In a medium bowl stir together condensed soup, sour cream, and chile peppers. Pour over chicken in cooker.
Cover and cook on low-heat setting 6 to 7 hours or on high-heat setting 3 to 3 1/2 hours. If using low-heat setting, turn cooker to high-heat setting. Add sweet pepper strips and squash slices to cooker. Cover and cook 45 minutes more.
Meanwhile, cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise; remove seeds and strings. Place one half, cut side down, in a microwave-safe baking dish. Using a fork, prick the skin all over. Microwave on 100% power (high) 10 to 12 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork; carefully remove from baking dish. Repeat with the other squash half. Cool squash slightly. Using a fork, shred and separate the squash pulp into strands.
Remove all of the chicken thighs from the slow cooker (see Tips). Place 6 of the thighs on a plate; cover with foil to keep warm. Allow vegetables and sauce in cooker to cool slightly (sauce will thicken slightly as it cools). While the sauce cools, remove the meat from the remaining chicken thighs. Using two forks, pull meat apart into shreds. Discard bones. Place shredded chicken in a very large bowl; set aside.
To serve, divide spaghetti squash among six serving plates. Place one of the whole chicken thighs atop squash on each serving plate. Stir the vegetable-sauce mixture in the slow cooker. Spoon about 1/2 cup of the vegetable-sauce mixture over each serving. If desired, sprinkle with fresh parsley.
Stir the remaining vegetable-sauce mixture from the cooker into the shredded chicken in the bowl. Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days; use to make Chipotle Ranch Chicken Pasta (see associated recipe), if desired.

Tips

Because chile peppers contain volatile oils that can burn your skin and eyes, avoid direct contact with them as much as possible. When working with chile peppers, wear plastic or rubber gloves. If your bare hands do touch the peppers, wash your hands and nails well with soap and warm water.

Be sure to thoroughly look through the vegetable-sauce mixture for any chicken bones that may have separated from the meat during cooking or removal of the chicken.

To make ahead

This recipe makes extra shredded chicken for another meal. Cover and refrigerate the extra chicken (Step 7) for up to 2 days.

Associated Recipe

Chipotle Ranch Chicken Casserole

Originally appeared: Diabetic Living Magazine

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

291	Calories
10g	Fat
21g	Carbs
31g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Serving Size 1 chicken thigh, 2/3 cup spaghetti squash, and about 1/2 cup vegetable-sauce mixture
Calories 291
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 21g	7%
Dietary Fiber 4g	14%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 31g	62%
Total Fat 10g	12%
Saturated Fat 3g	16%
Cholesterol 141mg	47%
Vitamin C 32mg	35%
Folate 45mcg	11%
Sodium 494mg	21%
Calcium 83mg	6%
Iron 2mg	11%
Magnesium 63mg	15%
Potassium 960mg	20%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.