crockpot wednesdays

These days life is all about busy!  My schedule at school never seems to slacken and, of course, the holidays are pretty much on my mind all of the time.  I’m sure you can easily relate.  This week’s Crock Pot Wednesday offering is an easy sandwich – a change of pace from my recent soup and chili.

I like for our evening meals together to be welcoming and warm especially during these chilly nights.  Sometimes, those meals still need to be relatively simple for me to prepare.  This chicken rarebit is filling and yummy.  It does use a processed pasta sauce, but since I don’t use processed items very often, I will on the occasion when convenience needs to be a priority.  If you’re a Welsh rarebit fan, I think you will find this to be reminiscent of that traditional dish.  I hope it works just as well for your family as it does for mine.

chicken rarebit

1 3/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves *
1 14 to 16-ounce jar cheddar cheese pasta sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 – 3 drops Tabasco
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
4 tablespoons pale ale or dry white wine (optional)
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 large onion, halved crosswise and thinly sliced
6 pumpernickel or rye buns, split and toasted, or 6 slices pumpernickel or rye bread, toasted and halved diagonally
4 slices bacon, crisp-cooked, drained, and crumbled (optional)
1 tomato, chopped (optional)
Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Cut chicken diagonally into 1/2-inch thick slices; set aside.  *I prefer to gently brown the chicken before slicing, but you do not have to do so.  In a 3 1/2 or 4-quart slow cooker, stir together the pasta sauce, Worcestershire, Tabasco, melted butter, wine or ale, Dijon mustard, and pepper.  Add onion and chicken slices.

Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 5 hours or on HIGH for 2 to 2 1/2 hours.  Taste for seasoning. 

To serve, spoon chicken and sauce mixture over bun halves.  Sprinkle with crumbled bacon and tomato.  Garnish with chopped parsley.

Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens.

Be sure to add a favorite slow cooker dish of yours to Mister Linky below.  Thanks so much for participating and be sure to check out all of these great blog events as well:
Chive Talkin
Menu Plan Monday
Tasty Tuesdays
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Tuesdays at the Table
Slow Cooker Thursday