Need advice on this chicken and sweet potato slow cooker recipe

[Anonymous]

Any tips on making it a little spicier or better?

Chicken with Apple and Sweet Potato

Source: Adapted from Clean Eating Magazine, June 2013

Serves: 4

Ingredients
•2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
•1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch cubes
•Sea salt + cracked black pepper
•2 cloves garlic, finely minced
•½ cup chopped red onion
•1 cup unsweetened apple sauce
•2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
•1 tablespoon curry powder (you can also use cumin if you don’t have curry)
•½ teaspoon ground ginger


Instructions
1.Layer the sweet potato chunks and chicken breasts in the bottom of a slow cooker.
2.Season with salt and pepper.
3.In a small bowl, stir together the garlic, red onion, apple sauce, cider vinegar, curry powder, and ginger.
4.Pour the mixture over the chicken and sweet potato chunks.
5.Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, until the chicken and sweet potatoes are tender.
6.Serve alone or over rice.
- See more at: http://www.stockpilingmoms.com/2013/09/crockpot-chicken-with-apple-and-sweet-potato/#sthash.dIfulB5Q.dpuf

[Anonymous]

Maybe leave out the vinegar and add some smoked paprika? Make sure that you had plenty of salt and you might get a better overall flavor if you brown the chicken a little bit first. Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

It seems to me, reading the recipe, that the mixture is going to pour over the chicken and pool in the bottom of the slow cooker - the sweet potatoes will cook in it, but the chicken will be propped up above the liquid and therefore won't get much flavoring.

I think I'd start by marinating the chicken, or rubbing it with a dry spice mix just before cooking. Can you make a spice rub that would complement the flavors - maybe some curry powder, dash of cinnamon, and garlic powder? Browning it is also a good idea.

I also like the idea of playing up the sweet side with the applesauce as a contrast to the curry. Maybe add a bit of pure maple syrup, or some cinnamon?

[Anonymous]

Contrary to the pp, I would add some hear so it doesn't taste like chicken in baby food. Add both curry and cumin and smoked paprika and a little cayenne.

[Anonymous]

Hear = heat

[Anonymous]

Use chicken thighs for this recipe, not breasts. It will be 100% better. Chicken breast is better cooked fast and hot. Slow cooker will dry out the breast.