Slow Cooker Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

When you have church at 1pm (therefore not getting home until almost 5pm), crock pot dinners are a must.  I usually put everything together Saturday night and stick it in the fridge, then Sunday morning all I have to do is drop the basin into the slow cooker and I come home to a delicious-smelling house and dinner already half done!  This chicken is definitely a crowd-pleaser around here.  It is sweet without being too sweet, spicy without being too spicy, and deliciously tender and juicy.  You can serve it over rice or noodles, or whatever else you want, really.  I like to do baked potatoes with it and just use the sauce as an awesome potato topping.

Slow Cooker Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

Number of Servings: 4-5
Time to Prepare: 6 hours 10 minutes

• 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup white vinegar
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup lemon-lime soda
• 3 Tbsp minced garlic
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 Tbsp corn starch
• 2 Tbsp cold water
• crushed red pepper flakes

Spray slow cooker lightly with cooking spray.  Place chicken in slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, whisk together brown sugar, vinegars, soda, garlic, soy sauce, and pepper.  Pour over chicken.  Cook on low for about 6 hours.

Remove chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm.  Pour sauce into a medium saucepan over high heat.  Combine corn starch and cold water in a small bowl.  Slowly whisk into the sauce.  Bring sauce to a boil and cook for 2-3 minutes until it thickens somewhat.  Remove from heat and let sit for a few more minutes to allow it to thicken more.  Drizzle about 1/2 cup of the sauce over the chicken (reserving the rest for serving) and sprinkle with red pepper flakes.

Source: slightly adapted from Six Sisters' Stuff

Produce Used: Garlic