Chicken & Cherries Jubliee Slow Cooker
Submitted by gitanjeri
Discover this easy slow cooker Chicken and Cherries Jubilee recipe with tangy chili sauce and dramatic flambé finish – perfect for beginner cooks seeking impressive dinner ideas like “slow cooker chicken with cherries and sherry” or “flambéed savory cherry chicken for special occasions."
YIELD
8 servingsPREP
20 minCOOK
6 hrsREADY
7 hrsA Sizzling Twist on Classic Jubilee: Chicken Edition
Picture this: tender slow-cooked chicken bathed in a sweet-tangy cherry sauce that gets a dramatic flambé finish.
It’s like the famous Cherries Jubilee dessert went savory and invited chili sauce to the party. Perfect for impressing guests or elevating a weeknight dinner into something unforgettable.
This revamped recipe fixes a few original quirks, like missing brandy for the flame and unclear cherry handling, while streamlining steps for beginners.
You’ll avoid soggy chicken by browning first, and the slow cooker does the heavy lifting for melt-in-your-mouth results.
Chef Tips
- Browning is key: It locks in juices and adds depth. Skip it, and you’ll miss that caramelized magic.
- Safety first for flambé: Do this in a well-ventilated area away from flammable items. Have a lid handy to smother flames if needed. No kids or pets nearby!
- Taste as you go: Chili sauce varies in sweetness, so sample the sauce before thickening and add a pinch of sugar if it’s too tangy.
- Slow cooker smarts: If your model runs hot, check chicken at 5 hours to prevent drying out.
- Pairing perfection: Serve with wild rice or mashed potatoes to soak up the sauce, and a green salad for balance. A chilled white wine cuts through the richness.
Optional Variations
- Fresh Cherry Twist: Swap canned for 2 cups fresh pitted cherries in season. Simmer them briefly in the sauce to soften, ideal for “fresh cherry chicken recipes for summer dinners."
- Booze-Free Version: Omit sherry and brandy; use apple juice instead for a family-friendly take on “non-alcoholic slow cooker chicken with cherries."
- Spicy Kick: Stir in ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes with the chili sauce for “spicy cherry chicken slow cooker meals for bold flavors."
- Vegan Swap: Use plant-based chicken substitutes and vegetable bouillon for “vegan cherries jubilee inspired dinners."
Ingredients
2 chickens, about 3-4 pounds each, cut into 8 pieces for each cooking, thighs, drumsticks, breasts, wings *
Directions
- Rinse the chicken pieces under cold water and pat them dry thoroughly with paper towels. This step ensures crispy browning and prevents steaming in the pan.
- Heat the butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat until it foams. Add the chicken pieces in batches if needed, browning them on all sides for about 4-5 minutes per side. Don’t overcrowd the pan to avoid sogginess.
- Transfer the browned chicken to your slow cooker. Season generously with salt and black pepper.
- Pour ½ cup of the reserved cherry juice into the same frying pan. Scrape up any browned bits (those flavorful drippings) with a wooden spoon over medium heat for 1-2 minutes.
- Pour this deglazed mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker. Add the chili sauce and bouillon cubes (crumble them for quicker dissolving).
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours, or until the chicken is tender and pulls easily from the bone. Check at 6 hours to avoid overcooking.
- Carefully remove the chicken to a platter and cover with foil to keep warm.
- Pour the cooking juices into a saucepan. Skim off excess fat from the top with a spoon. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and reduce slightly, about 5 minutes, to concentrate the flavors.
- Stir in the sherry and the remaining cherry juice. Let it simmer for 2 minutes.
- In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water until smooth (this slurry prevents lumps). Stir it into the saucepan and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the drained cherries to the sauce and heat through gently, about 1 minute. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Arrange the chicken on a warm serving platter. In a small pan, warm the brandy over low heat (do not boil). Carefully ignite it with a long match or lighter, then pour the flaming brandy into the cherry sauce. Let the flames die out naturally for that dramatic effect. Spoon the sauce over the chicken immediately.
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