Description
This Slow Cooker Chicken and Spanish Rice recipe offers a convenient and flavorful meal perfect for busy days. Tender chicken breasts are slow-cooked in buttery chicken stock with ranch seasoning until succulent, then combined with yellow Spanish rice for a hearty and satisfying dish that requires minimal hands-on time.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter
- 3-4 chicken breasts
- 32 oz. chicken stock or broth
- 16 oz. yellow Spanish rice
- 1 oz. ranch seasoning mix
- Water as needed (to adjust rice cooking liquid)
Instructions
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Grease the inside of the slow cooker with butter to ensure the chicken and rice do not stick and to provide extra flavor.
- Add Chicken and Butter: Place the 3-4 chicken breasts in the crock pot and add the 1 stick of butter on top or around the chicken breasts.
- Season the Chicken: Sprinkle the 1 oz. ranch seasoning evenly over the chicken breasts to infuse them with zesty flavor as they cook.
- Add Chicken Stock: Pour the 32 oz. of chicken stock or broth over the chicken and butter, ensuring the chicken is mostly submerged for even cooking.
- Cook Chicken Low and Slow: Cover with the lid and cook the chicken on low heat for 7 hours, allowing it to become tender and easy to shred.
- Shred Chicken: After 7 hours, remove the lid and shred the cooked chicken breasts using two forks directly in the crock pot.
- Add Rice and Adjust Liquid: Add the 16 oz. yellow Spanish rice to the crock pot and stir to combine. Make sure the rice is covered in liquid; if not, add water as needed according to the rice package instructions.
- Cook Rice Until Tender: Replace the lid and continue cooking for an additional 30 to 45 minutes, or until the rice is tender. Check the rice at 30 minutes and add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water if it needs more moisture, then continue cooking.
Notes
- Tip: Slow cookers vary in temperature. Check chicken doneness after 5 hours on low or 3 hours on high to avoid overcooking and shred early if ready.
- Tip: Different rice types require varying amounts of water. Follow package water recommendations and test rice for doneness before finishing cooking time.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/8 of recipe)
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
