Thrifty Recipe- Slow Cooker Chipotle-Lime Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs can be a thrifty choice. They have quite a bit of meat on them and can be really tasty. At our Rainbow Foods (which is basically the same thing as Pick N Save in Wisconsin), they often put the "family size" package of thighs on sale. Last week I got a package of 12 for about $4.00. Nice. I found this recipe online about six months ago when I googled "chicken thigh crock pot." It's a spicy meal which is great over plain rice. The Food Network website lists a rice recipe on the same page which is probably good as well.

Chipotle-Lime Chicken Thighs
From the Food Network


Photo from Food Network

 Ingredients:
1 cup sliced onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrots
6 to 8 skinless chicken thighs (note that the recipe calls for cooking 4 pounds of chicken but then tells you to save half for another meal- I just go with 6-8 thighs)
Salt and pepper
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1/4 cup lime juice
1 tablespoon minced chipotle chiles in adobo sauce and 1 teaspoon sauce from can (I just buy a tiny can of chipotle/adobo salsa from the Hispanic section of the grocery store and use 1/3 to 1/2 of it)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 avacado, diced (optional- garnish)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves (optional- garnish)
Lime wedges (optional-garnish)

1. Put onion, celery, and carrots in bottom of the slow cooker
2. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper and put on top of vegetables
3. Whisk together tomato sauce, lime juice, chipotle sauce, and garlic. Pour over chicken.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or high for 3 to 4 hours (I've never tried it on high but it works great on low)
5. Serve over rice with avacado, cilantro, and lime for garnish