Garlic Clove Chicken Thighs with Bacon in Gravy Recipe
This Garlic Clove Chicken Thighs recipe combines tender, slow-cooked chicken with crispy bacon and mellow, roasted garlic cloves in a flavorful gravy sauce. Perfect for a comforting and savory meal, the chicken thighs are browned for a crispy skin, then cooked low and slow in a slow cooker with a rich chicken gravy, dried thyme, and a generous amount of garlic cloves infusing the dish with aromatic depth.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein
- 8 oz. bacon, sliced before cooking
- 2–3 lb. bone-in skin-on chicken thighs (5–6 thighs)
Seasonings and Flavorings
- 40 cloves garlic, peeled
- ½ tsp. dried thyme
- ½ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- 0.87 oz. chicken gravy packet (such as McCormick)
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Cook the bacon: Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced bacon and cook until it is crisp and browned. Remove the bacon and drain on paper towels. Discard most of the bacon grease from the pan, leaving about 2 tablespoons for cooking the chicken.
- Brown the chicken thighs: Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Add them to the skillet and brown on both sides for about 3-4 minutes per side, to develop flavor and color.
- Prepare slow cooker: Place the browned chicken thighs in the slow cooker, arranging them in a single layer if possible.
- Add bacon, thyme, and garlic: Sprinkle the cooked bacon, dried thyme, and all 40 peeled garlic cloves evenly over the chicken in the slow cooker.
- Make the gravy sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken gravy packet and ½ cup water until smooth. Pour this mixture evenly over the chicken and garlic.
- Slow cook the dish: Cover and cook on LOW for 5 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is tender, fully cooked through, and the garlic is soft and mellow.
Notes
- Do not add extra salt beyond the specified amount, as the chicken gravy packet contains sufficient salt.
- Only use the specified ½ cup of water; the chicken will release additional juices during cooking to create a flavorful sauce.
Keywords: Garlic Chicken Thighs, Slow Cooker Chicken, Bacon Chicken Recipe, Slow Cooked Garlic Chicken, Comfort Food Chicken