Mom’s Weekend Chicken
Weekends always alter the pace in my kitchen.vThere’s no rush. I don’t plan it all out. I just want to find something simple that still feels like a real meal at the end of the day.
The recipe began on one of those slow Saturdays. I stood in front of the fridge, not particularly in the mood to cook anything complicated. I saw chicken breasts, a can of cream of chicken soup, a packet of ranch seasoning and some chicken stock. Not exciting by themselves, but put together they looked like dinner.
So I got the slow cooker. I put the chicken in, mixed up the soup, ranch seasoning and broth in a bowl and poured it all on top. I gave it a quick stir, and shut the lid.
That’s all I did. No additional steps. No checking at all times. And I just kept on with my day and let it cook. Hours later the smell started to creep through the house. That warm, creamy, savory smell that makes people walk into the kitchen, not even thinking about it.
When I opened the lid, the chicken was soft and tender. It came apart easily with a fork. The sauce was thick enough to cling to everything but not so heavy. I usually serve it with mashed potato or rice. Sometimes I want something different like noodles. It depends on what I have and not on what I planned.
Every time I make it, people eat their plates, without asking for anything else. That is usually enough for me. This recipe is now in my weekend rotation because it never stresses me out. It takes almost no effort, makes almost no mess, and always gives me a warm meal when I need it.
What you’ll need
- 4 skinless boneless chicken breasts
- 1 can cream of chicken soup (10.5 ounces)
- 1 packet of ranch dressing mix
- ½ cup chicken stock
Directions
Step 1: Put all the ingredients in the slow cooker
- Put chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
- In a bowl combine the cream of chicken soup, ranch seasoning and chicken broth.
- Pour the mixture over chicken.
Step 2: Cooking
Cook covered:
- LOW 6-7 hrs
- HIGH for 3-4 hours
Cook until chicken is tender and falls apart easily.
Step 3. Serve
- Shred chicken in the slow cooker or leave it whole.
- Ladle the sauce over the top.
- Serve with mashed potatoes, rice or noodles.
Little Kitchen Notes
- Add vegetables like peas or carrots if you want more colour and texture.
- If you’re in the kitchen stir once while cooking, but don’t worry if you’re not.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, remove the lid towards the end.
- Leftover food makes a quick lunch the next day.
Why this recipe is so good
- Four simple ingredients.
- no special steps
- All the work is done in the slow cooker
- Inexpensive and filling
- Simple weekend cooking
Conclusion
This recipe works because it takes very little. Just a few ingredients, a slow cooker and some time. That’s enough to make a meal that feels warm, simple and worth repeating.
