Slow Cooker Chicken & Bacon Chowder

Relaxing, warming and satisfying, this slow cooker meal is a perfect mid-week mood lifter.

At a glance

Approx 7- 9 hours
Serves 4 - 6 people

Ingredients

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 small leek, cleaned, trimmed and sliced
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 6 mushrooms, sliced
  • 4 tbsp butter, divided
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 3 chicken breasts, diced
  • 250g cream cheese
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1kg Ziggys Bacon, large sliced
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried thyme

Method

  1. Heat slow cooker on low setting. Then add garlic, leek, celery, mushrooms, onions, 2 tbsp butter, 1 cup chicken stock, sea salt and black pepper. Cover, and cook vegetables on low for 1 hour.
  2. Complete this next step while the vegetables are cooking – In a large pan over medium-high heat, pan the diced chicken breasts in the remaining 2 tbsp butter until they are browned. Remove chicken from pan and set aside. Throw in your sliced bacon and cook till brown. De-glaze the pan with the remaining 1 cup of chicken stock. Using a rubber spatula, scrape up any bits of chicken that may be stuck to the pan. Add chicken stock to slow cooker.
  3. Add heavy cream, cream cheese, garlic powder, and thyme to the slow cooker. Stir until well combined and there are no longer any visible chunks of cream cheese.
  4. Add the chicken and bacon to the slow cooker. Stir until all ingredients are well combined. Cover and let cook for 6-8 hours.