Slow-Cooker Bacon-Mushroom Chicken with Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup chicken broth   or chicken bone broth (make sure to get Whole30-compliant product)
• 3 cloves garlic   minced
• 4 small sweet potatoes   scrubbed and halved lengthwise (about 1 pound total)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme  
• 3⁄4 teaspoon salt  
• 3⁄4 teaspoon black pepper  
• 12 small bone-in chicken thighs approx 2 lbs   skin removed
• 3 cups thinly sliced cremini mushrooms  
• 1⁄2 cup chopped red onion  
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil   melted
• 3 strips bacon   crisp-cooked and crumbled (make sure to get Whole30-compliant product)
• Fresh thyme leaves   optional

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Directions:

In a 6-quart slow cooker, combine the chicken broth and garlic. Place the potatoes, cut sides down, in the cooker. In a small bowl, combine the dried thyme and ½ teaspoon each of the salt and pepper. Place half the chicken thighs, meaty sides up, on the potatoes. Sprinkle with half the thyme mixture. Repeat with remaining chicken and thyme mixture. Add the mushrooms and red onion to the cooker in an even layer.

Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or on high for 3 to 3½ hours. Remove the chicken and potatoes from the cooker. When cool enough to handle, remove the potato skins. Place the potato flesh in a medium bowl; add the coconut oil and the remaining ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Using a potato masher, mash potatoes until smooth.

Serve the chicken and vegetables with the mashed sweet potatoes and drizzle with the cooking liquid. Top the servings with bacon and, if desired, fresh thyme.

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