Because, some days, you need to leave your house knowing that dinner will be waiting for you when you walk through that door.
Coming home, after being out working all day, to a cooked dinner, sounds like the solution to all problems. Right? If we could just nail dinner, we would be fine. And true, we do have an entire book aptly called “Dinner Done” and yes, it solves many many dinner problems. But, what about those days when you need the dinner dilemma solved at 8 a.m. and you just want to walk into the delicious smell of food cooking…?
So yes, we do have some of those ideas, or solutions, in Dinner Done (the Pulled Beef Sandwich on page 136 for one, or the Mommy’s Chicken on page 24 for another) but, when my 8 year old son came home and asked for the dinner that Eitan’s mom makes, my ears perked up.
Eitan’s mom works hard and walks through the door the same time that Eitan does – so, was it take-out he had eaten?
Nope, he said. To be exact, he said “chicken and potatoes in that pot that we make cholent in on Shabbos and also the potatoes were so, so good and also, I ate two plates.”
Two plates? This 8 year old never ate two plates of anything, not even birthday cake.
“Yes, he had two plates” confirmed Eitan’s mom “but I am not giving you a recipe, I’m just not.”
“Why not?” I inquired.
“Because, how shall I say it… there is no recipe. It’s something I made up years ago and I just throw it together so that I have dinner ready when I get home after a long day. It’s nothing.”
This is where I explained very nicely that 90% of our readers only want these types of recipes, and yes, the whole world wants dinner ready when they walk through the door. She was not alone there. And I know you are all nodding with me right now. And two plates did not sound like “nothing.”
So, after much nudging, Eitan’s mom agreed to share her method (it’s not a recipe she says!) and you can all try it and report what you think.
Simply put your chicken pieces over those cubed potatoes.
Add spices…
and drizzle the honey.
Next comes the water.
A closed Crock-Pot liner keeps it all super, super moist.
Cover with a piece of foil, then the lid, and let cook all day.
Your chicken and potatoes dinner will be waiting for you when you get home!
… and I just know that my son wants seconds.
Crock-Pot Chicken and Potatoes
Ingredients
- 4-5 yellow potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 4 chicken bottoms (quarters)
- 2 tbsp onion soup mix
- 2 tbsp consommé
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1 tsp salt
- water (boiling)
Instructions
- Line your Crock-Pot with a Crock-Pot liner. Place the cubed potatoes inside.
- Top with the chicken pieces. Sprinkle spices over the chicken, then add honey. Cover the chicken with water to just cover.
- If you want to give yourself a head start, pour boiling water over it all, or, you can simply use regular water.
- Tie the bag into a double knot, then cover with a piece of foil. Cover and let cook all day, until ready to eat, about 6-8 hours on medium-low. Your chicken and potatoes dinner will be waiting for you when you get home!
Can you prepare it the night before and put in the fridge and then turn on in morning?
I have not made this recipe specifically but have made chicken and potatoes – I always prep it night before and out it up in the morning- it’s totally fine as long as it’s covered in water
Are you saying to cover in water from the night before or to add the water just prior to cooking?
Can it be done with cutlets?
Cutlets would get very dried out in a crockpot. They dont have any fat. Some recipes have them cooking in lots of sauce and then get shredded. This recipe yields chicken that is soft and doesnt even need a knife.
could also be done with cutlets
Best recipe !! Thanks Hadassah!
Isn’t onion soup mix a type of consommé? What do you mean by consommé?
Usually consommé means the chicken soup mix.
How much water should we use?
It says water to just cover.
i have done it with cutlets it is yum cut it into nugget chunks enjoy
I would love to try it with cutlets – it didnt get dried out?
you let it cook regular all day?
I have been making something similar for ages, especially for chol hamoed suppers. I put in chunked potatoes (I find white hold their shape better than yellow), mixed with some chopped onion. Then I smear ketchup on chicken pieces. Bone in works best (I only use skinned chicken); white cutlets got too dried out, and dark cutlets just fell apart. I throw some more chopped onion over and around the chicken. Add a bit of water, maybe halfway up the potatoes. Cook on low all day. It’s hot and delicious and falling off the bone. I dont use a bag for this one, just spray the inside of the crock. Also no foil. If you want to get fancy, add some sliced celery and/or carrots. I tried sweet potatoes once, but they were just mush. Definitely can prep the night before and then put in on in the morning, I do that with my cholent every week.
Sometimes I toss a little onion soup mix with the potatoes, or onion power/garlic powder/paprika, they go nicely too.
Why the need for foil on top? Will I lose out if I skip it?
Can I use spices instead of the soup mix?
Love it!!! As a working Mom, I would definitely appreciate lots more crock-pot recipes just like this!!! By the time we all come home, I can’t start giving everyone attention and making dinner (even quick dinners), so crock pot dinners are the way to go!! Thank you once again Between Carpools for helping us spend more time with the people that matter most 🙂
If I have an eating baby but not yet old enough to have honey, what can I use instead of that?
babies can have cooked honey
Babies under 1 yr of age actually should NOT have honey in any form, even cooked.
Wow! I couldn’t believe it. My son who says the only chicken bottom he would eat is from the chicken soup approved this- hands down! And he asked for doubles!! Definitely making this part of my reg supper rotation. Thank you!
What does the silver foil on top do?
Keeps the moisture sealed in
In my opinion, this one is one of the best articles you have written so far.
How long/ what temp for chicken cutlets?
My family absolutely loved this dinner! And so did their mom!!! Thank you!! I’d love some more crockpot style dinners. Thanks for all<3
I do a version of this with whatever spices I have on hand. To make it a complete dinner I slice some carrots and squash along with onions. I find that I don’t have to add water then-the vegetables release enough fluid to give those that want something close to chicken soup.
This recipe is truly a winner!! My family and I licked our plates clean!! the flavor ( and smell!!)aaaahhh!