Poor Man Chicken and Onion Slow Cooker 3-Ingredient

Poor Man Chicken and Onion Slow Cooker 3-Ingredient. My neighbor got this recipe from her grandmother, who lived through the Great Depression when money was very tight. The magic of this dish is how the onions slowly melt down into the most amazing sweet sauce all on their own. Just three simple things make something that tastes like you cooked all day.

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 3 to 3.5 lbs bone-in chicken pieces (legs, thighs, or a whole chicken cut up, with or without skin)
• 3 big yellow onions, peeled and cut into thin slices
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt, split up into smaller amounts for each layer (or 2 teaspoons of regular table salt)

Poor Man Chicken and Onion: Directions

1. Peel your onions, cut them in half from top to bottom, then slice each half into thin pieces shaped like half-moons. Use all of them because they shrink way down as they cook and turn into a yummy sauce.
2. Spread about one-third of your onion slices flat across the bottom of the slow cooker. Sprinkle just a little bit of salt over this first onion layer.
3. Pat each piece of chicken dry using paper towels. Doing this helps the chicken stay juicy and keeps too much water from getting into your sauce.
4. Place half of the chicken pieces on top of the onions in the slow cooker with the skin side facing up. Sprinkle about half of the salt that is left over the chicken.
5. Cover those chicken pieces with another layer of onion slices, using about half of what you still have left. These middle onions add great flavor to the meat and will get soft and golden as everything cooks together.
6. Add the rest of the chicken pieces on top, again with the skin side facing up. Sprinkle the very last bit of salt over them.
7. Spread all the onions you have left right over the top of everything. Try to tuck some down around the edges too. Do not worry if it looks too full because the onions will shrink down a whole lot.
8. Put the lid on your slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, or on HIGH for 3.5 to 4 hours. The chicken is ready when it is very soft and almost falling right off the bone, and the onions look golden, silky, and sitting in a pool of rich juices.
9. When it is done, taste a small spoonful of the onions and juice. If it needs a little more flavor, add just a tiny pinch of salt. Use tongs or a big spoon to gently lift the chicken out without breaking it apart.
10. Stir the soft onions and all the juices together right inside the slow cooker so they mix into a loose and sweet sauce. Put the chicken on your plate and spoon a big pile of the caramelized onions and sauce right over the top. Serve over mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.