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Chicken/ Hearty Dinners

Slow Cooker Chicken and Chorizo

October 4, 2020 (Last Updated: January 27, 2023) by Chris Collins

This slow cooker chicken and chorizo is absolutely loaded with flavour! It’s rich, hearty, and delicious comfort food that’s perfect for a no-fuss dinner.

black serving spoon digging into slow cooker of chicken and chorizo

The ULTIMATE Chicken and Chorizo Recipe

The great thing about a slow cooker recipe is the fact you can just flick it on and leave it to do its magic. However, if I’m leaving something to cook for up to 8 hours it best be darn flavoursome when it comes out the other end. That’s something I was conscious of when working on this recipe.

One of the very first things you can do to work in extra flavour to this dish is fry the chicken before placing in the slow cooker. By doing this you build a nice golden crust on the chicken where the meat caramelizes on the hot pan. This is bonus flavour you simply won’t get by plonking the raw chicken straight into the slow cooker. Same with the onions and peppers, I fry them over high heat to char them slightly, just to add a gentle smoky flavour.

Do you need to cook chicken before putting it in a slow cooker?

Short answer – no. There’s little difference in texture between frying and not frying, but there is a difference in flavour, so it’s definitely something I recommend doing if you’ve got the time. If you’re throwing the chicken straight in the slow cooker I recommend trimming any fat beforehand as you won’t have a chance to render this down in the pan.

Best cut of chicken to use?

Chicken thighs work best as they tend to be more flavoursome than breast. You can use boneless or bone in, but in both cases you’ll want to remove the skin.

Process shots: heavily season thighs and add to pan over high heat with oil (photo 1), flip when golden then place in slow cooker (photo 2), add peppers and onion to pan (photo 3), stir in garlic then place in slow cooker (photo 4).

4 step by step photos showing how to pan fry chicken and veg

Slow Cooker Chicken and Chorizo

Frying the chicken, onions and peppers is the only pre-cooking you’ll need to do, it’s smooth-sailing from here out, promise 🤣

Once you pop in all the ingredients you want to add chicken stock and chopped tomatoes – both of these will help create the sauce. At the start it may seem like there isn’t enough liquid, but as the stew cooks it squeezes all the moisture from the veg which help create the sauce.

How long do I need to slow cook for?

I’ve tried this recipe on both low and high settings and the difference is negligible. I find best results come when cooked on high for 4 hours or low for 7-8hours.

Can you overcook in a slow cooker?

You can, so I don’t recommend going too much over those timings (more leeway on low settings, going over an hour or so won’t hurt). You’ll notice the top of the stew start to dry up and the edges of the sauce start to burn if you slow cook for too long.

Process shots: add everything into a slow cooker (photo 1), give it a good mix (photo 2), pop lid on and slow cook (photo 3).

3 step by step photos showing how to slow cook chicken and chorizo

Serving Chicken and Chorizo

When it comes to serving this dish I usually serve individual portions with buttered bread, but it’s hearty enough to serve by itself. If you want to bulk out the meal more you could serve with rice or mash. If you want to add a little ‘something something’ then crumbled feta and finely diced fresh parsley goes nicely on top.

If you’re looking for another delicious chicken and chorizo recipe check out my Chicken and Chorizo Bake, Cheesy Chorizo Hasselback Chicken and my Chicken and Chorizo Pasta!

If you’re looking for more similar recipes check out these beauties too:

Delicious Hearty Dinner Recipes

Alrighty, let’s tuck into the full recipe for this slow cooker chicken chorizo shall we?!

close up shot of chicken and chorizo in large white bowl served with two slices of buttered bread

How to make Slow Cooker Chicken and Chorizo (Full Recipe & Video)

black serving spoon digging into slow cooker of chicken and chorizo

Slow Cooker Chicken and Chorizo

This slow cooker chicken and chorizo is absolutely loaded with flavour! It's rich, hearty, and delicious comfort food that's perfect for a no-fuss dinner.
5 from 12 votes
Print Pin Rate
Servings (click & slide): 4
Course: Dinner / Main Course
Cuisine: Spanish
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Calories per serving: 653kcal
Cost per serving: £3 / $4

Equipment:

  • Slow Cooker
  • Large Frying Pan & Wooden Spoon
  • Tongs
  • Sharp Knife & Chopping Board
  • Serving Spoon

Ingredients (check list):

  • 4 Skinless Chicken Thighs, boneless or bone-in
  • 7oz / 200g Chorizo, diced into bite sized chunks
  • 1 cup / 240ml Chicken Stock
  • 1x 14oz/400g can of Chopped Tomatoes
  • 1x 14oz/400g can of Butter Beans, drained (can sub Cannellini or other large bean)
  • 1/2 - 1 cup of Mixed Olives
  • 8 Sun Dried Tomatoes, halved
  • 2 Peppers, cored & diced into large chunks
  • 2 small Red Onions, peeled & quartered
  • 3 cloves of Garlic, finely diced
  • 2 tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 2 tsp Smoked Paprika
  • 1 tsp Cumin
  • 1 tsp Honey (can sub sugar)
  • 1 sprig of Fresh Rosemary
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • splash of Vegetable Oil
  • Salt & Pepper, to taste

Instructions:

  • Chicken: Generously season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper. Add a drizzle of oil to a pan over high heat and add chicken. Fry both sides until nice and golden then place into the slow cooker. No need to cook them right through, this step is just to render down the fat and build extra flavour in the crust.
  • Fry Veg: Place pan back on high heat and add onions and peppers to the leftover fat. Fry for a couple of minutes until they begin to char, then add in garlic and fry for another 1-2mins longer. Scrape everything into the slow cooker.
  • Slow Cooker: Into the slow cooker add in chorizo, beans, olives, sun dried tomatoes, tomato paste, chopped tomatoes, chicken stock, smoked paprika, cumin, honey, rosemary, bay leaf and a pinch of salt and pepper. Give it all a good mix then place on the lid and slow cooker on high for 4 hours or low for 7-8hours.
  • Serve: Take off the lid and keep on warm or low for 10-15mins, just to let the steam escape and allow the liquid to thicken/reduce slightly. Serve up and enjoy! (suggestions in notes below)

Quick 1 min demo!

Notes:

a) Serving Suggestions - I usually serve this as it is with some buttered bread on the side. It also works nicely with rice or mashed potato. The beans do bulk it out nicely though so you won't need much of either. Another nice way to serve this is with some crumbled feta and or finely diced fresh parsley! 
b) Chicken - Chicken thigh works best here because it's generally more flavoursome than breast. You can also fry it on high heat to get a really nice crust without it drying through the centre. Bone in or out won't make a huge difference, but just ensure you take the skin off. Slow cooker chicken skin doesn't have an appealing texture (in my opinion!)
c) Do I have to fry the chicken/onions/peppers beforehand? - If you're short on time you can skip this, you'll just miss out of a bit of bonus flavour from the caramelization in the pan. If you're throwing the chicken straight in the slow cooker I recommend trimming any fat beforehand.
d) Calories - assuming the whole thing is shared between 4 people using 2 tsp veg oil to fry, 3/4 cup olives and no sides/toppings.

Your Private Notes:

Nutrition:

Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Chicken and Chorizo
Amount Per Serving
Calories 653 Calories from Fat 299
% Daily Value*
Fat 33.26g51%
Saturated Fat 11.688g58%
Trans Fat 0.039g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.179g
Monounsaturated Fat 14.435g
Cholesterol 225mg75%
Sodium 1209mg50%
Potassium 1335mg38%
Carbohydrates 30.79g10%
Fiber 7.7g31%
Sugar 10.46g12%
Protein 57.96g116%
Vitamin A 1352IU27%
Vitamin C 67.7mg82%
Calcium 126mg13%
Iron 6.11mg34%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition is based on the absence of salt unless stated as a measurement in the ingredients. Cost is worked out based on ingredients bought from UK supermarkets, then divided by the number of servings. In both instances these values are just for guidance. Please check out my FAQ Page for more info.
Tried this recipe?Show me how you got on by tagging @dontgobaconmyheart_ on IG and #dontgobaconmyheart
Looking for more?You'll find plenty more delicious comfort food like this in my Debut Cookbook 'Comfy'

If you loved this Chicken and Chorizo recipe then be sure to Pin it for later! Already made it or got a question? Give me a shout in the comments and pick up your free ecookbook along the way!

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Recipe Rating




26 Comments

  • Reply
    Sarah
    October 29, 2023 at 10:38 pm

    Please can you advise if this recipe can be cooked in the oven on a low heat? No longer have a slow cooker

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      October 30, 2023 at 10:27 am

      Hey Sarah! I imagine it definitely could be, but unfortunately I haven’t tested it myself so couldn’t offer times and temps! C.

  • Reply
    Phil Burgess
    October 1, 2023 at 9:21 pm

    5 stars
    I followed the recipe to the letter (except I used chickpeas instead of butter beans and used 6 chicken thighs) and it is absolutely delicious (eating it now). Incredible depth of flavour. Thank you!

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      October 3, 2023 at 12:13 pm

      So great to hear, Phil! Thanks so much for popping back for a review 🙂 C.

  • Reply
    Yuksel Davies
    September 14, 2023 at 1:50 pm

    5 stars
    I didn’t know what to cook today luckily an email from Chris landed in my in box with this yummy recipe don’t have any butter beans, hence I put some new potatoes and still cooking. Just had a little taste of it and absolutely yummy
    Thank you and bless you Chris for saving my day . So grateful I have found you on Pinterest

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      September 14, 2023 at 5:51 pm

      Ah this is so lovely to read! Thanks so much for following along and hope you enjoy the recipe 🙂 C.

      • Reply
        Yuksel Davies
        September 14, 2023 at 8:35 pm

        5 stars
        It was absolutely yummy we just loved it and ate it all thank you ever so much ❤️

  • Reply
    Hayley
    May 5, 2023 at 6:27 pm

    5 stars
    Just made this and was delicious!

    Thoughts on freezing?

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      May 5, 2023 at 7:02 pm

      Thanks, Hayley! Glad it went down well. I imagine freezing will work just fine. Just allow it to completely cool then tightly store, then thaw in the fridge and reheat until piping hot again. C.

  • Reply
    Neil
    January 20, 2023 at 11:21 am

    This sounds incredible! I just wondered what would be the best way to reheat any leftovers?

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      January 20, 2023 at 7:49 pm

      Hi Neil! I’d probably place it in a baking dish with a dash of extra stock or water, then cover and bake at 180C/350F until piping hot through the centre again. C.

  • Reply
    Anne
    November 26, 2022 at 1:05 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely superb! So so tasty and very filling. I make it with 3-4 chicken breasts. Always brown them on the pan first.
    I have served this to many friends and all have loved it. Thank you

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      November 27, 2022 at 11:39 am

      So great to hear, Anne! Thanks so much for the review 🙂 C.

  • Reply
    Sean
    May 17, 2022 at 10:52 am

    “Chicken thigh works best here because it’s generally more flavoursome than thigh”
    Thigh is better than Thigh? …

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      May 20, 2022 at 1:33 pm

      Thanks for spotting that!

  • Reply
    alimak
    December 8, 2021 at 10:17 pm

    This reads great – going to cook it in the oven though; I hate slow cookers with a passion!

  • Reply
    Michael
    April 18, 2021 at 6:16 pm

    4 chicken thighs does not seem like much to me. I assume it will not require any adjustments to the recipe if you decide to put in double that.

  • Reply
    Michael H
    March 16, 2021 at 2:07 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Chris! Thanks for this recipe. We bought a slow cooker a few months back and it really is a game-changer! My 3 year old son is a bit of a Chorizo snob so he absolutely loved this and the rest of my clan did too! 🙂

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      March 16, 2021 at 6:07 pm

      Awesome to hear! Glad it passed the chorizo test with the little one!! Chris 🙂

  • Reply
    Cath
    February 14, 2021 at 9:36 pm

    5 stars
    This dish was delicious and I have to say I was tempted to add some wine but fortunately I didn’t, it had plenty liquid in the end. I served it with cheesy mashed potato and it fed four people for 2 days. I love this site and the recipe but found all the advertising off putting and distracting..

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      February 15, 2021 at 4:33 pm

      Hi Cath, so glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe and thanks so much for popping back for a review 🙂

  • Reply
    Andrea Metlika
    November 30, 2020 at 1:17 am

    5 stars
    This is just bursting with so much flavor! I can’t wait to taste this!

  • Reply
    Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness
    November 29, 2020 at 11:50 pm

    5 stars
    I had to get rid of my slow cooker when I moved to the US, but now I want one! Mainly to make this recipe 😉 This looks amazing!

  • Reply
    Dionne
    November 29, 2020 at 10:25 pm

    5 stars
    Chicken and chorizo – that combo is unbeatable! I can imagine how flavorful this recipe is, considering all of the slow cooking to be done!

  • Reply
    Luci
    November 29, 2020 at 9:04 pm

    5 stars
    Yum! This slow cooker chicken and chorizo is delicious! So easy to make and perfect for busy weeknights. I loved how filing it was and the flavor was wonderful.

  • Reply
    rika
    November 29, 2020 at 8:23 pm

    5 stars
    Chorizo is one of my favorite things to eat! I love the combination of chicken and chorizo too! Yum!

  • 5 KNOCKOUT

    DINNERS

    YOU'LL NEVER STOP MAKING!

    A FREE EMAIL SERIES, FROM ONE FOODIE TO ANOTHER