Im not sure who invented the crockpot or slow cooker, but it has to be one of the best timesaving appliances in the entire world. All of these meals are easy to prepare with less work as possible. Thats when you come home from work to a delicious, fragrant, hot meal. And you didnt even have to slave over the stove, even though it may taste like a gourmet dinner. Although the crockpot does a great job with any meat, I think my favorite food to cook is chicken.

What's so delightful about chicken is that it absorbs any flavor of what your spicing it with, so its the perfect centerpiece of any meal. Because Im so enthusiastic about poultry, my mother got me a book of crockpot recipes for chicken that is filled with over 500 different variations on slow cooker chicken. I am especially fond of combining pineapple with chicken for a wonderful sweet and exotic flavor. This book of crockpot chicken recipes has more than 40 recipes with chicken and pineapple, so I dont think I am going to run out anytime soon!

Tonight Im making teriyaki chicken with pineapple citrus glaze. Yum! If you love chili but are trying to stay away from beef, because its higher in fat and cholesterol, you may want to consider trying a recipe for chicken chili. The first time I heard of chicken chili, I thought it probably must taste awful. You can make your chili mild or spicy with the same amount of heat and perfect seasoning whether you use the traditional beef recipe or try it with chicken. My favorite chicken chili recipe turns out to be a white chili, meaning that it uses fresh yellow tomatoes, shredded chicken, chili peppers, onions, and canned white beans, plus the usual seasonings and spices that give it a smoky and rich flavor.

Because they are sometimes not in season, yellow tomatoes are the only ingredient which you may have a hard time finding. You can use a rotisserie chicken to save time, or roast your own. The chicken will be tender and the flavors will mingle into one after several hours simmering in a large pot. Once you try this chicken chili recipe, you wont want to go back to beef again! Some baked chicken breast can be the main dish of a wonderful and healthy meal. By buying the boneless and skinless chicken breasts in frozen bags, you can thaw only the amount you will need for your meal.

This is often the least expensive way to purchase chicken for your family. You can bake chicken breasts in almost in flavor, so you can eat them all the time and still feel like you are having something different all the time. You can season the chicken breast with pre-made marinades, homemade marinades, or dry seasonings. If you choose to use marinades you can thaw chicken the night before and place it in a freezer bag with the marinade of your choice and it will be ready to go when you are ready to cook your dinner.

You can also season your chicken with dry seasonings like garlic or onion powder. For a southwestern type chicken breast mix together onion and garlic powder, chili powder, and cumin. Sprinkle this mixture on both sides of your chicken breasts and bake.