Strength and Sunshine

Where Gluten-Free & Allergy-Friendly Food Is Healthy & Delicious

Slow Cooker Applesauce Chicken

by 111 Comments

Two simple ingredients infused together with the help and ease of the slow cooker. Savory and sweet, this applesauce chicken will soon become a family favorite. Paleo and gluten-free with no refined sugars, healthy and simple at it’s best!

Slow Cooker Applesauce Chicken | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 #chicken #dinner #slowcooker #paleo #glutenfree

No, don’t run! This recipe works, 100%! It’s super delicious, even though it may seem strange. The savory and sweet thing going on here is really a pleasure to the palate! It’s isn’t “sweet” sweet anyway since we’ll be using unsweetened applesauce, so don’t get any dessert sweet nightmares here! I’d never post a recipe that tasted bad…although I tend to like weird things, but my brother ate this one and didn’t complain so I think I found a winner!

Slow Cooker Applesauce Chicken | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 #chicken #dinner #slowcooker #paleo #glutenfree

I made this recipe back at home during winter break. I was having major cravings for applesauce and thought, “what the heck?! Let’s throw a jar in the slow cooker with some chicken breasts!” Now though, I’m kicking myself for not making homemade applesauce with it. Next time….. But lazy jarred applesauce works totally fine and it just goes with the theme of easy slow cooking!

Slow Cooker Applesauce Chicken | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 #chicken #dinner #slowcooker #paleo #glutenfree

I guess this isn’t that weird of a combo though. Back in the day when I was a wee-one and still ate pork, I had the combo frequently. My mom would make plain pork chops on the stove and then I would eat them dipped in applesauce. So I guess this is reminiscent of doing that except this is better and more “grown-up” so to speak!

Slow Cooker Applesauce Chicken | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 #chicken #dinner #slowcooker #paleo #glutenfree

Ah, childhood dinner memories. Like the days when smoothing down your pile of mashed potatoes, making garden rows on top with your fork, and then planting broccoli trees in them! My brother and I got really creative with dinner time. Pastina pies, naming our lima beans after Mystic Knights characters (my mom joined in on this one!), good stuff, but we always ate our food too! Haha! We were not picky eaters!

Slow Cooker Applesauce Chicken | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 #chicken #dinner #slowcooker #paleo #glutenfree

Anyway, back to this chicken. I also added some simple spices to flavor it up some more. Of course, if you couldn’t already guess, cinnamon is involved! Needless to say, this smelled phenomenal while it was slowly cooking away! In the end, this chicken falls apart, so soft, and such a wonderful unique flavor! If you want the easiest family dinner ready for you on a weeknight, make this! Kids, adults, grandparents…everyone will like it! Especially if you pair it with some mashed potatoes and broccoli trees 😉

Slow Cooker Applesauce Chicken

Slow Cooker Applesauce Chicken | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 #chicken #dinner #slowcooker #paleo #glutenfree

Ingredients: (serves 4)

+ 2lbs (4 breasts) of Chicken (trimmed and cleaned)

+ 2 Cups of Unsweetened Organic Applesauce (homemade would be awesome!)

+ 1/2 Tsp Onion Powder

+ 1/2 Tsp Garlic Powder

+ 1/4 Tsp Black Pepper

+ 1/4 Tsp Cinnamon

Directions:

+ Place the chicken in the slow cooker first, then add the applesauce and spices. Cover and cook on low for 7 hours or until chicken is done.

Slow Cooker Applesauce Chicken | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 #chicken #dinner #slowcooker #paleo #glutenfree

I always feel silly posting these “recipes”. I mean, there isn’t much to it! I guess I’m just offering cooking for the non-cooks, but everyone always seems to love an easy, quick, simple dish! Plus, the slow cooker just magically transforms chicken. So here are some words or wisdom: when in chicken-doubt, throw it in the slow cooker!

So tell me:

+ Favorite sweet and savory combo? I always forget that an apple and PB counts as sweet and savory (well I guess that depends on the PB or nut butter you use…but, that’s my vote!)

+ Do you still use the slow cooker/crockpot when the weather warms up? I do, but I will also be obsessed with grilling everything! Last summer was so much fun when I finally learned how to use the grill myself!

*Recipe linking up for the week! Allergy Free Wednesdays, #RecipeFridays, #RecipeOfTheWeek, #StrangeButGood, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Real Food Friday, Gluten-Free Fridays, Tasty Tuesdays, Savoring Saturdays, Real Food Recipe Roundup, Tasty Tuesdays, Meatless Mondays,Lena’s Tasty Tuesdays!*

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Comments

  4. Raia says

    I love slow-cooker recipes, especially when the outside heat starts kickin’ in. 😉 Thanks so much for sharing this at Savoring Saturdays, Rebecca!

    Reply

  9. Amiyrah says

    This is one of our family’s favorite recipes. I wrote about it a few years ago and still get those “applesauce on chicken? say what?” emails. LOL! So great to see someone else that enjoys the recipe!

    Reply

  11. She Rocks Fitness says

    Who would have thought? I have all the ingredients on hand…I may throw this in the slow cooker tomorrow and use up the rest of the applesauce that is in my fridge, since I don’t know what else to do with it. Thanks for sharing!!!

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Haha yes! Do it! That’s what happened to me…I had a bunch of applesauce and knew it wouldn’t get finished in time without doing something drastic…like this 😉

      Reply

  13. Nellie says

    Hi Rebecca,
    This sounds like a delightful recipe and so easy. I have been cooking for most of my life, and I am 63 now, but for years now, my rule has been, If I can’t make it in 30 mins. I don’t use the recipe. I used to make these recipes that sometimes took hours or the day, and after smelling it all that time, when it came time to eat it……..it was like Yuk or else it wasn’t worth all the time invested, and at my age, easy is wonderful………..cause I have other things I want to
    do with my time than cook……….lol
    and yes, I do like to use the crock pot at times………..
    Also Cracker Barrel restaurants used to make an applefest chicken recipe years ago in the Fall, that was to die for,
    so am hoping this tastes like it, cause we had it that one Fall and they never had it again for some reason.

    You take care,
    Blessings, Nellie

    Reply

  15. Marla says

    Hi Rebecca,
    This sounds wonderful. I am a chicken lover and this would make a healthy tasty meal. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays Pinned & twitted.

    Reply

  17. Loretta says

    Welcome to Fiesta Friday. Wow, a delightful and unusual combination and when I imagine all the flavors together, it does sound pretty darn good. It turned out deliciously moist by the looks of it, and anything in the slow cooker is a bonus isn’t it? Very nice, and thank you for sharing it with the crowd at Fiesta Friday.

    Reply

  23. Liv @ Healthy Liv says

    This reminds me of the salsa + chicken in crockpot “recipe” that I’ve heard about, just with applesauce instead! I actually love simple meals like this– sometimes, it just gives some inspiration, even if it’s not a complex recipe!

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      I have slow cooker salsa chicken on the blog 😉 I love just pouring in jars of whatever with chicken! It always works!

      Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Yay! I’m looking forward to hearing about it 😉 And….you need a grill! Even a george foreman will do!

      Reply

  31. Evolve with Mary says

    I love strange combinations and this is one strange combination. I can see how applesauce and chicken could go together, I just never thoughts about it. Guess I’ll have to give it a try.

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Right?! Since I only eat chicken now, it’s the perfect (and better!) substitute!
      (I can’t wait to have access to my slow cooker again! Haha!)

      Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      I know I liked the combo as a kid! And this is like…better! Haha! I hope you do try it!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  9. […] 6. Slow Cooker Applesauce Chicken I love my slow cooker and never miss an opportunity to use it, so I really love this sweet and savory applesauce chicken. It’s made in your Crock Pot with chicken breasts, unsweetened applesauce, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and a bit of cinnamon. So yummy and definitely a hit with the kids. […]

    Reply

  18. […] I always tend to post “tropical-themed” recipes during a Winter, intentionally. Yes, a Winter is a time for comforting hearty stews and casseroles, yet this time of year is also a time to give a ambience buds a tiny pleasant getaway when a Winter blues set in. The doesn’t meant we have to splash ice cold smoothies or eat raw salads; we can still make a prohibited and robust meal, only with a tiny some-more zing. And maybe a best partial about all this . . . we get to use a slow cooker! […]

    Reply

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rebecca

Meet Rebecca

Hey there, welcome to Strength and Sunshine! I’m Rebecca and I’m so glad you’re here! This is your go-to destination for delicious, fun, and (mostly) healthy gluten-free and allergy-free recipes, tips & tricks, advice, as well as celiac and food allergy coaching services!

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