Well, I was going to a work event to have some nice socializing with co-workers, and decided today would be the perfect day for a slow cooker recipe. I looked everywhere and just could not find the enchilada sauce. I was seriously frustrated and decided I just wasn't going to do it. I was tired of cooking, I was tired of just everything and I just wanted to go out and have fun. Very mature, right?
Well, I got all my stuff ready to go, packed the baby in the car and got halfway down the block. I don't know why, but I just felt bad and so I turned around, unpacked the baby, went back in the house, and got everything ready, replacing the enchilada sauce with salsa.
I think it was a turning point for me. But I feel good about it now. I decided to do something, and I stuck to it, even though it was very difficult to do!
So anyway, here it is:
Chili-Orange Chicken
- Active Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 6 minutes
Recipe Ingredients
- 3/4 cup mild enchilada sauce 1/4 cup barbecue sauce (we used Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Chipotle) 1 Tbsp salt-free chili powder 1 tsp ground cumin 4 bone-in chicken breasts (about 2 3/4 lb), skin removed, or 8 chicken drumsticks (about 2 1/2 lb), skin removed 3 Tbsp orange marmalade 1/2 cup chopped cilantro 2 tsp grated orange zest
Recipe Preparation
1. Mix enchilada sauce and barbecue sauce in a 6-qt or larger slow cooker.2. Mix chili powder and cumin in a small cup. Rub all over chicken. Put chicken in slow cooker and turn to coat with sauce.
3. Cover and cook on high 3 to 4 hours or on low 5 to 7 hours until chicken is cooked through.
4. Turn off cooker. Remove chicken to a serving platter. Stir marmalade into sauce until blended. Stir in cilantro and orange zest, then pour over chicken.
My Experience:
The Process-
Well, getting started on the process, as I mentioned, was definitely a challenge. But this slow cooker recipe was true to how I feel crock pot recipes should be. Simple, easy, minimal preparation. One thing I was sad about was that the chicken shrunk significantly, but I should have known that since it always happens to me.
The Result-
This food was really, very good! I never would have thought barbecue sauce with enchilada sauce (salsa), and oranges would taste good. But it was, really good! I used the remaining sauce on the rice and thoroughly enjoyed dinner.
My husband also thought it was very good, and today was the first day we had no leftovers ;)
Five stars! Easy, delicious, and surprising.
