Slow-Cooker Chicken Ragù With Herbed Ricotta Recipe (2024)

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Cooking Notes

Andrew

I did the recipe without substitutions in a pressure cooker for 45 mins/fast release. Chicken was perfect and felt apart as I stirred.

Anne Marie Redoutey

How about a dutch oven version please!

lisa

Someone asked about Dutch oven. I use that more than my slow cooker. typically use the same proportions in whatever recipe and cook in my LC at 300 for 1.5 to 2 hours, checking for fineness. (Not very exact I know ... but works for me!)

Donna

Done in the crockpot, fall-apart tender, full of flavor. I used bone-in thighs and subbed mascarpone for ricotta because that’s what I had, and the dish was shockingly delicious, maybe the best crockpot dish I have ever made.

anj

I just did this sauce is in my instant pot. Basically followed all the proportions but added some anchovy. I also didn’t have carrots so I put in a little mushroom. Sautéed everything for a few minutes and then did manual high pressure for 8 mins and manual release (I would have done natural release but there were hungry people staring me down). Turned out great.

JT

I followed the recipe exactly except I used a 28 oz can of crushed San Mariano tomatoes, And 2C of ricotta with extra herbs, fancy expensive pasta. I wound up serving it for a friends birthday & it was TERRIFIC - my favorite recipes are “maximum impact for minimum effort” & this fits that!

Jeanne

Cooked this on the stove top in a Dutch oven and it came out great. I browned the boneless, skinless chicken thighs first.Left some nice fond to be scraped into the onion- garlic- herb mix when I sautéed them.After that I added all ingredients except the ricotta mix and cooked on low for about 1 1/2 hours. Even before the ricotta was added it had a great flavor. Finished with the ricotta and a little pasta water and it was wonderful on pappardelle. Will make again!

Patricia Garcia

For those wanting to use a Dutch oven, I suggest browning the chicken thighs first, then add the ingredients as written, and put it in a 325o oven for 1-1/2 hours to braise, rather than fussing with the simmer stages on the stovetop. Been using that method for over 60 years, giving whatever, a stir or a flip over, halfway through. Works on lamb shanks, beef stew, osso bucco, whatever.

Sarah B

I see two notes about using an instant pot - one that says 45 minutes and one that says 8. Thoughts about the difference? Also, any thoughts about using chicken breasts? Thanks!

Staci

I browned the chicken in a pan before adding it to the slow cooker and sautéed the onion and garlic in the browned bits and then added them to the slow cooker. Very easy and tasty.

grptcooker

Instant pot conversion:I did this as written, sautéed ingredients first, then added all in, at high pressure for 15 mins, 10 mins natural release. So good, definitely a repeater

Patricia Garcia

gonna give you my secret hint. When a savory dish is bland, add just a bit of soy sauce or Asian fish sauce. It adds umami! Another, is a splash of lemon juice.

Fxfxrorthogal

LC stands for Le Creuset.

Alex

Miraculously, I already had every single ingredient on hand, with the exception of having to use boneless breasts instead of boneless thighs. I doubled the garlic and reduced the cooking time to 5.5 hours; otherwise, I followed the recipe to the letter. It needed quite a bit of added salt and hot red pepper flakes at the end, but it ended up delicious. The amount of liquid was perfect with no adjustments needed. For beer lovers: this is amazing paired with a pilsner.

tooch

I used the Instant Pot as suggested by others and cooked for 16 minutes, natural release. Was just right.

Sam G

Sauté the onions and carrots first. After four hours I still had crunchy onion bits. I took out the chicken, cooked down the veg on the stovetop, then shredded the chicken and put it back. This also needed a bit of mouth feel, so I added some butter to it while I was cooking down the onions.

Kiz

Made this in the Dutch oven as directed, put in a 325F oven for 2-1/2 hours. Chicken came out perfect. One caveat: one 14 oz can of crushed tomatoes isn't enough to do both the chicken and pasta justice. Added a half cup of pasta water and it still wasn't enough. It's very flavorful, though, especially with the ricotta!

T-Rex

I will leave my original note, but I tried adding a lot more vinegar to my leftovers today and it is much better. Still have to add quite a bit of salt.

t-rex

I am not fond of crockpot recipes and the soft mushy texture things end up having. I read the notes and thought maybe this would be different, but I found myself to eating a plate of bland, soft food. It might be better on the stovetop, but the amount of salt that I am having to add to make it palatable makes this recipe a no for me.

Dawn JM

This was good, but not great. Used 28 oz of fire-roasted tomatoes, extra herbs, and unlike others I *did* use the onion powder. What really puzzled me was the ricotta - it just left little granules/curds in the sauce, and didn't add much flavor. I might try again using some red wine, creme fraiche or heavy cream instead of the ricotta.

Nancy

Made as written in slow cooker with diced tomatoes, came out tasty but watery. Next time will leave lid off for the last 30 minutes.

donna

Much anticipated as the wonderful aroma wafted throughout the house for 6 hours. But the result? The stringy chicken thighs did not make a thick, rich sauce and it was, instead, a gloppy mess. Very disappointed. I did like the ricotta cream, though, and the flavor of the ragù was good.

JoAnn

I added some half and half to the ingredients in the crock pot and did not add the ricotta when serving. Delicious

annie h

This tasted alright but the carrot and onion were totally raw after 5 hours in my slow cooker. Kind of ruined the dish.

JoAnn

I drained the tomatoes and added 1/2 and 1/2 about 2/3 cup.

Doris

Reduce chili flakes by 1/2 tsp. For family friendly meal.Drizzle best EVOO over before serving.

Danielle

Followed the recipe almost exactly. I used the chili onion crunch oil as a combo of the red pepper flakes/olive oil. It needed some extra salt and I did add the 2 egg yolks, it came out lovely and was very filling.

Charisse

I have to say, this was really delicious. I made it exactly as written, except I was a little more generous with the herbs. It was the perfect solution to going on an afternoon outing with friends & then having dinner back at our house. & it was festive enough for casual company too!

Carol

For those that did the instapot version. Did you also put the pasta in right from the get go? Always worried it will be soggy. Thanks

kj

This was really good. Shred the chicken with a hand mixer. Satisfying and took about 10 minutes to make. Did not use onion powder because ew.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken Ragù With Herbed Ricotta Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you thicken Ragu in a slow cooker? ›

Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours, or HIGH for 4-5 hours. The beef is ready if it falls apart easily when pulled apart with two forks. NOTE: If you desire a thicker sauce, stir the cornstarch/water mixture into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high heat for an additional 30 minutes and allow to thicken.

How do I keep chicken from drying out in the crockpot? ›

Using a nice, long, low-and-slow cook time helps chicken breasts retain plenty of moisture - but you can certainly opt to add a splash of water or chicken stock to the crockpot if you like!

Why is my slow cooker chicken tough? ›

Aside from accidentally overcooking the meals, the most common reason we see for tough, rubbery, or overdone chicken is customers using a Crockpot that is far too big.

Can you overcook chicken in a slow cooker? ›

You can overcook chicken in a slow cooker. If the chicken is cooked too long, it will become dry and tough. Check your chicken for doneness early, especially if it is one of your first times making it.

What is the best cut of meat for ragu? ›

You could also use beef blade, oyster, skirt or topside for this recipe. These cuts of meat become lovely and tender when slow cooked. Once cooked, the ragu can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

How do you keep a sauce from going watery in a slow cooker? ›

5) Adding Cornstarch Slurry

A cornstarch slurry is a mixture of a cold liquid with cornstarch. It is used as a thickening agent, and is particularly common in Asian sauces. As a rule of thumb, dissolve 2 parts cold water and 1 part cornstarch. Add the slurry to your sauce as it simmers in the slow cooker.

Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in a slow cooker? ›

We found that the only way to cook chicken (and turkey) in a slow cooker is on the low setting and for a relatively short amount of time.

Does chicken get more tender the longer you slow cook it? ›

That is why tough meats become “fork tender” in the slow cooker. Chicken breasts have very little connective tissue; that means they can be cooked quickly because the long cooking time needed to soften connective tissue isn't necessary. They also have little fat, which means they can become dry if cooked too long.

Do you have to brown chicken before putting in a slow cooker? ›

"Browning, or caramelizing, meat before putting it into a slow cooker isn't 100 percent necessary, but it is well worth the effort for the most flavorful and full-bodied end result," he says. "The caramelized surface of the meat will lend rich flavor and color to the finished dish."

What is difference between crockpot and slow cooker? ›

However, Crockpots generally have ceramic or porcelain pots, while most slow cookers have a metal pot. As with a lot of cooking appliances, the biggest difference comes from the distribution of heat.

Is it okay to put raw chicken in a slow cooker? ›

Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!

Why does chicken get rubbery in a slow cooker? ›

Rubbery chicken is usually an indicator of overcooked chicken. The longer the chicken cooks, the more moisture it loses, and without moisture, the protein fibers become elastic, AKA rubbery.

Can you leave chicken in crockpot on low for 8 hours? ›

A great rule of thumb is: For a whole chicken – Place it in your slow cooker breast side down. Cover with the lid and cook on High for around 4-5 hours or Low for 6-8 hours.

How long can you leave chicken in a crockpot on low? ›

Cover your crock pot and cook chicken breasts on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Chicken is done when the internal temp reaches 165 degrees F. Use chicken in your favorite recipes. Perfect for shredding!

Can you slow cook chicken for 8 hours? ›

Place chicken breasts in slow cooker, and sprinkle with seasonings (and liquid, if using). Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or until the chicken shreds easily with a fork. (*If making a smaller batch, keep an eye on your slow cooker as the chicken will likely need less cooking time.)

How do you thicken watery ragu? ›

Cornstarch: Make a slurry of half water, half cornstarch and whisk until smooth. Cornstarch is a powerful thickener, so start by whisking in no more than 1 tablespoon of the mixture per 2 cups of simmering sauce; stir and simmer for 2 minutes, check the thickness, and repeat with more slurry as needed.

How to thicken up sauce in a slow cooker? ›

#1 Cornflour: Mix 1-2 tablespoons of cornflour with 1-2 tablespoons of cool tap water. Mix until you have combined the two well so that it is a liquid without lumps. Pour this mix straight into your slow cooker dish approx 20-30min's before serving.

How do you reduce liquid in ragu? ›

Let the excess liquid evaporate away by bringing the substance to a boil or a simmer until the desired consistency is reached. This method is great for sauces – including a quick pan sauce created after cooking a protein – and gravies that are only marginally looser than desired.

Does taking the lid off a slow cooker thicken the sauce? ›

Take the lid off

Place the cooker on a high setting, and open the lid for 30-45 minutes to let excess moisture cook off. The liquid will reduce, leaving you with a thick and delicious gravy or sauce. (Tip: This trick can also be applied for thickening stews, or when you've accidentally added too much liquid.)

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