Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 2 cups carrots (or other vegetables of your choice)
- 2 cups red bell pepper, chopped
- 4 chicken breasts
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- 1 cup wild rice, uncooked
Instructions:
- Prepare the Ingredients: Clean and chop your vegetables. Mince the garlic cloves finely. Squeeze fresh oranges to get 1 cup of juice.
- Pack and Freeze: Place the carrots, red bell pepper, chicken breasts, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and fresh orange juice into a gallon-sized freezer bag. Ensure that you distribute the ingredients evenly. Seal the bag tightly, ensuring you remove as much air as possible. (Using zipper-style freezer bags will help prevent any leaks.) Flatten the bag for easy storage and place it in the freezer.
- Thaw: The night before you plan to cook, transfer the freezer bag from the freezer to the refrigerator to thaw. It’s okay if it remains partially frozen by the time you are ready to cook.
- Cook in Crock Pot: Empty the contents of the thawed bag into a crock pot. Spread the ingredients evenly. Cover and set the crock pot to cook on low for 8-10 hours. The chicken should be fully cooked and tender by the end of the cooking time.
- Shred the Chicken: Once cooked, use a fork to gently break the chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks. Stir everything in the crock pot to combine well, ensuring the chicken pieces soak up the flavorsome orange sauce.
- Cook the Wild Rice: While the chicken is cooking, prepare the wild rice according to the package directions.
- Serve: Dish out a generous scoop of wild rice onto plates or bowls, and ladle the orange chicken over the top.
Note: This Crock Pot Orange Chicken dish provides a harmonious blend of citrusy sweetness and savory flavors. The convenience of a set-it-and-forget-it crock pot meal, combined with the freshness of the ingredients, results in a delightful dish that’s perfect for busy days. Enjoy!