You will be delighted by these seasoned chicken bites—so much healthier than the frozen nuggets so common in our fast-food cuisine. Play with the seasoning to make the sweeter or spicier.
Makes 6 to 8 party servings.
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or thigh
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon fresh parsley, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon lemon zest
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1. If the chicken breasts are particularly thick, place them between sheets of waxed paper and pound them to about 1/2-inch thickness with a mallet or rolling pin. Cut the chicken into “nugget” sizes.
2. In a large bowl, combine olive oil with parsley, garlic, zest, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Stir or whisk to combine well.
3. Put the chicken pieces in the bowl, and stir to coat. If desired, the chicken can marinate in the oil for up to 30 minutes in the refrigerator, but this isn’t necessary.
4. Place the chicken in the slow cooker with the additional oil mixture. Cover and cook on Low for 4 to 6 hours or on High for 2 to 3 hours. In the last half hour of cooking, prop open the lid with the handle of a wooden spoon so some steam is released and the nuggets dry a little.