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Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken Drumsticks

Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken Drumsticks take just 15 minutes of prep, then your Crock-Pot does all the work for you. But, we still get such surprising fresh flavor from this easy chicken dinner recipe!

Easy, affordable, AND just 15 minutes of prep? Sign me up: These Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken Drumsticks bring together a beautiful riot of colors and tastes, to help jazz up your dinner routine! With minimal chopping, this is almost a dump-and-go recipe — yet, with so much fresh flavor.

chicken drumsticks and veggies over rice

I highly recommend serving your Mediterranean chicken over rice, in order to soak up all the lovely juices and help bulk up this slow cooker chicken dinner into a full meal. Today’s Crock-Pot chicken recipe gets most of its flavor from a deliciously aged balsamic vinaigrette, canned tomatoes, and a little jar of olives from ALDI. These all meld together so well with some fresh chicken & veggies, along with a bit of Mediterranean-inspired garlic, oregano, and other seasonings.

Big family packs of chicken drumsticks have been on sale, so that’s what I used here today to help keep this chicken dinner affordable. Dark meat also stays juicier in the slow cooker, so: Win-win.

Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken Drumsticks

mediterranean chicken drumsticks ingredients

Ingredients

3 lbs chicken drumsticks (about 8 pieces), trimmed if necessary
1 sweet bell pepper, roughly chopped (I used orange)
1 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped
1 cup balsamic vinaigrette
14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
5.75 oz jar manzanilla pimiento stuffed olives, with brine
2 tsp minced garlic (about 4 small cloves)
2 tsp oregano
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp thyme
Sea salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste

Directions

Chop your veggies and trim the chicken. Arrange the drumsticks across the bottom of a large slow cooker, then add the bell pepper & onion.

pouring in balsamic vinaigrette

Top the chicken and veggies with the balsamic vinaigrette, tomatoes, the whole jar of olives (with brine), minced garlic, and spices.

chicken ingredients in the slow cooker

Give things a little stir to get the spices combined in there, then cover and cook on low for 5 hours.

finished chicken in the slow cooker

Stir, and serve! Recommended: Serve your Mediterranean chicken and veggies over rice, to take advantage of all the lovely juices.

Note: You can substitute chicken thighs or even boneless chicken here, if desired. I used drumsticks today because they were on sale and affordable, and dark meat on the bone tends to stay a little moister in the Crock-Pot.

Look at all the beautiful color here!

plate of finished chicken with mediterranean drumsticks title on top

Such a pretty gluten free dinner from your Crock-Pot, with such minimal effort. Just start a pot of rice cooking about half an hour before the chicken is done, and everything will be ready to go at dinnertime. The chicken here ends up falling-off-the-bone tender, while the peppers and olives keep their integrity for a nice mix of textures. This one is garlicky tangy good, and I’ll definitely be making it again. (Excuse me now, while I go indulge in some leftovers for lunch!)

Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken Drumsticks, printable recipe

Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken Drumsticks

Slow Cooker Mediterranean Chicken Drumsticks take just 15 minutes of prep, then your Crock-Pot does all the work for you. But, we still get such surprising fresh flavor from this easy chicken dinner!
Course dinner
Cuisine slow cooker
Keyword chicken drumsticks, crock-pot, drumsticks, gluten free, slow cooker, slow cooker chicken
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs chicken drumsticks about 8 pieces, trimmed if necessary
  • 1 sweet bell pepper roughly chopped (I used orange)
  • 1 medium yellow onion roughly chopped
  • 1 cup balsamic vinaigrette
  • 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 5.75 oz jar manzanilla pimiento stuffed olives with brine
  • 2 tsp minced garlic about 4 small cloves
  • 2 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp rosemary
  • 1 tsp thyme
  • Sea salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Chop your veggies and trim the chicken. Arrange the drumsticks across the bottom of a large slow cooker, then add the bell pepper & onion.
  • Top the chicken and veggies with the balsamic vinaigrette, tomatoes, the whole jar of olives (with brine), minced garlic, and spices.
  • Give things a little stir to get the spices combined in there, then cover and cook on low for 5 hours.
  • Stir, and serve! Recommended: Serve your Mediterranean chicken and veggies over rice, to take advantage of all the lovely juices.

Notes

You can substitute chicken thighs or even boneless chicken here, if desired. I used drumsticks today because they were on sale and affordable, and dark meat on the bone tends to stay a little moister in the Crock-Pot.

Recipes in the real world

weekly ALDI meal plans from Mashup Mom -- six complete dinners for four, $60 out the door! MashupMom.com, every Wednesday.

Be sure not to miss the free ALDI meal plans, which show you how to use these easy family recipes to meal plan affordably and realistically for your family. Or, find more recipe ideas with the Recipe Search!

Recipe Rating




Rachel

Wednesday 8th of February 2023

This is one of my go-tos for a busy day! Thank you! The one thing I do differently is broil the drumsticks to get crispy skin before serving them with the veggies, rice and juices. Other than that, I wouldn’t change a thing!