The traditional Iranian stew with chicken and the deep flavors of pomegranate molasses and walnuts, now made easy right in the crock-pot! Slow Cooker Fesenjan Chicken is a hearty gluten-free & paleo dinner recipe that will warm the belly and soul!
This delicious Iranian dish has been a longtime coming! A family friend had told me about Fesenjan about 3 or 4 years ago. She raved about the indulgent, rich, deep flavors of the pomegranate molasses and rich nutty walnuts, cooked down to flavor the chicken. Traditionally cooked in a stew pot for hours, letting the flavors infuse and develop. My mouth was watering just listening to her description of the dish and how much she and her family loved it.
Don’t ask why it took me so long to make it; just know that I did eventually make it and it was…amazing. Now, you know me and chicken. Grill it up or slow cook it, baby! Since we’re in the cold winter season right now and this dish needs to be cooked for a nice few hours to bring out ALL the comfort food vibes, the slow cooker was the winner. Takes out all the fuss of watching a pot on the stove. Just prep it, dump it, and let that slow cooker do its magic!
Let me give you the 411 on the pomegranate molasses. You can buy it, but honestly, it’s expensive and only is specialty ethnic stores or possibly online. Too much of a hassle for one dish when this is a much easier method. Homemade! Yes, homemade and it is a whole lot easier than you’re thinking. You’ll be a pomegranate molasses ninja by the end of this post. All you need to do is cook down some pomegranate juice with some sugar and a touch of lemon juice. This is something you’ll need to prep before putting everything in the slow cooker, but you can always make a big batch to keep on hand. It’s great for topping pancakes, porridge, salmon, eh…everything!
And the walnuts! I don’t even really care for walnuts, but they totally transform in the Fesenjan. This creamy, nutty, soft but crunchy bite with the tender fall-apart chicken. Guys. This is dinner. This is the dinner you’ll be eating ALL winter long. Stick to your ribs, soothing, delicious. Serve this gluten-free and paleo stew over some rice (traditionally) or potatoes. I feel like this could be a really good filling for something like peppers, eggplant, even zucchini boats!
Slow Cooker Fesenjan Chicken
- Pomegranate Molasses:*
- 2 Cups 100% Pomegranate Juice
- ¼ Cup Erythritol
- 1 TB Fresh Lemon Juice
- Fesenjan Chicken:
- 4 Skinless Chicken Breasts
- 1¼ Cup Chopped Walnuts
- 1 Cup Chopped Sweet Onion
- 1 Cup Unsalted Chicken Stock
- ½ Cup Pomegranate Molasses
- ½ Tsp Cinnamon
- ½ Tsp Black Pepper
- ½ Tsp Turmeric
- Fresh Mint Leaves (to top)
- To make the pomegranate molasses, bring the pomegranate juice, sugar, and lemon juice to a boil in a pot on the stove. Reduce to simmer for 1 hour or until the mixture becomes thick. Allow to cool before storing in a container in the fridge.
- To make the chicken, add all stew ingredients to a large slow cooker, cover, and cook on low for 6 hours.
- You can shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker before serving or shred each individual chicken breast per serving.
If you’re reading this recipe in real time (i.e. the week I post it), this dish is perfect for New Years! Why? Pomegranate! You know pomegranate brings all the luck in the new year and always is my choice if I’m going to have a “good luck food”. So that just means you’re obligated now to make this Slow Cooker Fesenjan Chicken! Luck, warmth, comfort, deliciousness; it’s everything you could ever want (or need)!
So tell me:
+ What’s a dish that took you forever to try, but when you did, you fell in love?
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This looks so good! The pomegranate juice likes really interesting!
The magic of fesenjan!
Oh I love slow cooker recipes and this a great alternative to the traditional stews at this time of year, the pommengrate aspect really appeals to me. I shall be saving this to try soon
It is a fabulous cozy meal!
This is such a fun ingredient list that I’ve just got to whip it up and taste it for myself. I’ve been trying to find more gluten free and paleo friendly recipes so this was a great post to stumble on.
These flavors are amazing!
I had not heard of Fesenjan before reading this post, and now I can’t wait to try it! What a great flavor profile! And it looks absolutely gorgeous!
It is such a standout and a must try!
Mouth is watering! This sounds fantastic! Will have to try it out sometime.
I know you’ll enjoy!
I love my slow cooker! This sounds delicious with the pomegranate and molasses, yum! I have pinned this to run it by the family.
Leslie recently posted…Monthly Goals: January 2018
A great cozy meal for the fam!
Sounds Delicious!
It is.
This looks and sounds delicious. A great dish for a cold day also.
A winter must!
Sounds fantastic!
Thanks!
Looks delicious! We absolutely love pomegranates and walnuts, and I’m always looking for new dishes to introduce my son to other cultures and flavors. I have pomegranates on hand but no pomegranate juice, but will definitely keep this one on the back burner (ha ha ha!) for another time.
Well I hope you make some soon! It will be family favorite, I’m sure 🙂
I definitely plan to!
I love new healthy crockpot recipes! saving to pinterest and adding to this weeks rotation. Thanks!
It’s a great recipe for those cold winter days!
I’d never heard of Fresenjan but this sounds amazing! I’d love to try it as soon as I have my slow cooker again!
I think you’ll be needing to give it a go then!
This looks and sounds absolutely amazing. After seeing this I’m ready to have it for breakfast. Thank you for sharing.
Haha, would make one hearty breakfast!
Currently looking for lots of slow cooker recipes Rebecca and this is one I’m definitely adding to my list. I particularly love Middle Eastern flavours. In fact, Iran is somewhere on our bucket list that Lynne and I hope to be able to visit one day!
Then you’ll have to be on the lookout for some authentic fesenjan 😉
Can’t wait to give this a go – I just got a new slow cooker!
Woohoo! Slow cookers for life!
This looks so hearty and delicious! Perfect comfort food for these cold nights!
Taylor Kiser recently posted…Easy Homemade Crockpot Vegetable Soup
You bet!
This chicken is so unique and sounds like it’s packed with flavor! Thanks so much for making me a pomegranate molasses ninja!
Haha! The flavors are amazing!
This sounds so good – especially the pomegranate molasses! I’ve actually found it at Whole Foods in the past, so I own it but don’t often come across good recipes for it – so I’m happy to find this!
Well then you just stumbled on a gem 😉 Now you HAVE to make it! Haha!
This is a totally new recipe I have never fixed or eaten. Don’t have all the ingredients on hand so will have to see where I can find some of these ingredients.
Alright, enjoy!
Love these flavors! What a great slow cooker meal!
Thank you!
I’m gluten free too and always looking for new recipes. This would be great for a dinner meal. Yum!
You’ll enjoy this dinner!
I love it when a dish is nutritious, packed with flavor and easy to make. Great recipe and I am so curious about the pomegranate molasses. Beautiful presentation, too!
Milena | Craft Beering recently posted…Mulled Ale
There is no lack of flavor here and it is pretty nourishing!
I’m always looking for new dinners to cook for my husband and I! this is such a unique recipe….I’ll have to try it soon!
I know you’ll both enjoy this cozy meal!
This looks like a really interesting recipe. Never made chicken with pomegranate juice before! Will comment once I try it! Pinning it on my board
Pomegranate Molasses.
This sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing and the option to make your own pomegranate molasses.
And you can use that for ANYTHING!!
This sounds like a perfect dish to try in the new year!
Perfect for those cold long months ahead!
I look forward to trying this when the winter is here in Australia to try this. Looks yum
Thank you!
I’ve never heard of Fesenjan Chicken. It looks really good!
It is an outstanding dish!