Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken Thighs {easy weeknight meal}
Being busy doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice great food. Try these Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken Thighs that will cook all day while you’re busy doing other things. Best part is, it will probably be enough for two meals!
This is a sponsored post written by me, on behalf of Just BARE Chicken®.
You all know I’m a fan of easy to prepare meals. I’m also a fan of leftovers. I have a food blog, so it seems that there is nothing I would rather do than cook, right? Well sometimes, I’d rather sit on the couch and watch tv run around outside with my kids. So slow cooker meals and leftovers make me smile.
So does Just BARE Chicken®. I was thrilled to continue my partnership with them and have the chance to create a recipe of my own (and you’ll be seeing more of them around here in the future).
I was also excited with the challenge of creating a quick meal for those busy weeknights that we all have during the fall. I strive for the majority of my recipes to be pretty easy to prepare, but this one is a cinch.
Fall is the busiest time of year for us. My husband is a school administrator so the first few weeks of school are chaotic. Add football season and all the beginning of the year school events and we’re on the go a lot!
Moroccan chicken thighs can be prepped the night before and cooked all day while you’re off doing fun things. The only thing left to do when you get home is to make some couscous to serve with the chicken. That takes less than 10 minutes!
Tip: I have a full tutorial on how to cook butternut squash that includes step-by-step photos of how to peel and cut if you need some guidance!
What you’ll like even better is that there are plenty of leftovers! We enjoyed it for two dinners as well as one lunch stuck in the freezer for my husband to take to work. I used two of the family packs of Just BARE Chicken® thighs. These packages are so convenient with over 2 pounds of meat. You could use boneless skinless chicken breasts if you prefer white meat.
Oh, and this recipe! It’s a winner. Flavorful, filling, colorful, and perfect for fall. Tons of spices, lots of sweet butternut squash, and hearty chicken thighs. Everything about it is screaming cool-crisp air and falling leaves.
I should note that Ben isn’t really a fan of Indian food and curry. He took one bite of this and said, “What’s in this?”
My first thought? Honestly? “Oh, shoot, he doesn’t like it.”
My answer? “Chicken….raisins….squash….and some spices.” Vague is the key here, people.
Ben’s reply is “Is it Indian?”
My response: “Umm…no…it does have some of the same flavors though.”
I fessed up eventually to what was actually in this, but he really did love it. Ate it two nights and is happy to take it in his lunch one more time.
Phew! Hubby’s happy, I’m happy. He also said that he would gladly eat it again.
If you enjoy the warm spices of Moroccan recipes, try Moroccan Stew with Butternut Squash and Chickpeas, Moroccan Freekeh Pilaf with Golden Raisins and Apricots, or Moroccan Carrot Noodle Salad with Chickpeas and Walnuts.
Make it Whole30 and Paleo:
Make Moroccan Chicken Thigh Whole30 compliant by omitting the couscous (try it with cauliflower rice) and use Whole30-compliant raisins.
Make It Gluten-Free or Low-Carb:
Make this dish gluten-free by serving the Moroccan chicken thighs with your favorite gluten-free grain like rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice.
Looking for other slow cooker meals?
- Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili (always a favorite!)
- Slow Cooker Marsala Beef Stew
- Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
- Southwestern Slow Cooker Barley Casserole with Ground Turkey
- Slow Cooker Macaroni and Cheese (mac and cheese is a meal, right?)
- Crock Pot Teriyaki Chicken
- Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage
- Crock Pot Chicken and Gravy by Spicy Southern Kitchen
- Crock Pot Creamy Ranch Chicken and Potatoes by Wishes and Dishes.
Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken Thighs
Being busy doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice great food. Try these Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken Thighs that will cook all day while you’re busy doing other things. Best part is, it will probably be enough for two meals!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 12 Just BARE Chicken Thighs (2 family packs), skin removed
- one medium-sized butternut squash, peeled and diced into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup golden raisins
- 1 cup chicken broth
- two 10 ounce boxes of couscous, cooked according to package directions
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or parsley, to garnish
- 1/4 cup toasted almond slices, to garnish
Instructions
- In a small bowl, stir together olive oil, garlic, cinnamon, cumin, cardamom, cayenne, turmeric, salt and pepper.
- Put chicken thighs into a large slow cooker and rub spice/oil mixture all over chicken thighs.
- Add squash, raisins and chicken broth on top of chicken. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
- Serve chicken mixture over couscous and garnished with fresh herbs and toasted almond slices.
Notes
- Instead of couscous, you could serve this with quinoa, rice, or even cauliflower rice.
- To reduce sodium, you could use low sodium chicken broth, or no salt added broth.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 2 thighsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 841Total Fat: 44gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 32gCholesterol: 334mgSodium: 822mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 5gSugar: 17gProtein: 68g
RachelCooks.com sometimes provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as they are not calculated by a registered dietitian. Please consult a medical professional for any specific nutrition, diet, or allergy advice.
Disclaimer: I am in an ongoing paid partnership with Just BARE Chicken but all thoughts are my own, as always.
48 Comments on “Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken Thighs {easy weeknight meal}”
If you half the recipe is the cook time less or could you do warm for 8 hrs? Looking to cook while I’m at work but there’s only two of us eating it
I don’t know that warm would cook it. I would still cook it at the same time for the same time, just as long as it’s not too empty.
i make it tomorrow
Let me know what you think!
I actually was looking for Moroccan spice’s, that I had seen on another recipe. I will try yours, sounds wonderful.
This recipe sounds very appealing and delicious.
I will be making it tonight.
I always look at the sugar content and limit my input as well as milk. No Lactaid for me.
Thank you
I hope you loved this recipe!
I have made this dish multiple times, and keep coming back. It is easy, full of flavor, and healthy! I use breasts instead of thighs (personal preference), and sweet potato instead of squash (again, preference), and it is still a winner. Off to make it again tonight!
Thank you so much for taking the time to come back and let me know! I’m so happy you like it so much — this comment made my day!
I made this last night for the first time and it was DELICIOUS. The raisins bring a little sweetness and the spices blend beautifully. It was my 92 y.o. mother’s first taste of a Morroccan dish and she loved it. Will definitely make it again. It was very simple to put together. Thanks for posting!
Thank you for taking the time to come back and share your experience with this recipe! I’m so happy you all loved it, especially your mother — how special!
Definitely trying this soon! Looks SO flavorful.
Dinner tonight for sure!
This looks 100% wonderful! I want a plate full tonight!
Thank you! :)
Those seasonings sound good!
What a marvelous new idea for all the chicken in my freezer! And the slow cooker makes cooking it a breeze!!!
Can you use boneless chicken thighs in the Moroccan chicken?
Yes, that should work fine!
I would love to make this with chicken breast! About how many pounds of chicken did you use? Looks delicious!!!!
About 4 :)
I used diced pumpkin that I had from last fall.. Was wonderful.
Would frozen butternut squash work in this recipe?
Frozen, diced butternut squash (not pureed) should work. I haven’t tried it but I don’t see why it wouldn’t. :)
Rachel, can you cook this on high for 5-6 hours instead?
yes!
I made this today. It was super easy to make, and it made the house smell so nice. My husband really enjoyed it! Next time I will add just a little less cinnamon and a little more stock. And serve it with pitas. Thanks for the recipe!
So glad you liked it! It would be fantastic with pitas!
Yuummmmm!! I made this yesterday, as written with the exception that I reduced the cinnamon down to two teaspoons. It was absolutely LOVELY. The house smelled like heaven while it was cooking, for sure! And it was so full of good autumn flavor. Thanks so much for the recipe!
So glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to come back and let me know :)
Those these flavors! It looks awesome Rachel.
This is a little outside of our comfort zone too, but I think we’d like the flavors. I’ll try anything in the slow cooker.
sounds yummy and easy
This totally something my family would love for dinner!
Thanks Sheila! I hope you try it :)
Wow! Now this is one mega mouthwatering meal. I love that it’s an all-in-one meal and so easy!
Thanks Georgia!
I love these Moroccan flavors. Mouth is watering!
Thanks Cassie!
This sounds delish! And I love, love, LOVE the idea of coming home to dinner already being done. Woot!
Thanks Windy! Coming home to dinner made is the best part :)
I love easy slow cooker dinners and these flavors are perfect for the fall!
Thanks Zainab!
Just love all of those ingredients. And it screams Fall!
Doesn’t it? Thanks Amy :)
I’m all over this dinner! Love all the great flavors happening in this dish!
Thanks Kelli!
I love these flavors!! And easy slow cooker meals really are great for this time of year – especially when they will feed the family more than one night :)
Definitely! Win-win!