Crock Pot French-ish Chicken & Barley

Total Time: 2 hrs 45 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1/2 lb bacon, diced
• 6 chicken thighs, bone in
• 1 cup pearl barley
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup leek, chopped
• 1 cup carrot, chopped
• 1/2 cup celery, chopped
• 2 tablespoons herbes de provence
• 1 cup water
• salt and pepper

Recipe

• 1 in heavy skillet, on low heat, cook diced bacon slowly until very crisp. drain & set aside. reserve 1/2c drippings!
• 2 in a medium saucepan, bring 2c chicken broth & 1c barley to a boil. reduce heat & simmer about 20 minutes until soft & liquid is absorbed. set aside.
• 3 season chicken thighs with salt & pepper. fry in bacon fat, on medium low heat, skin side down, until very browned. turn & cook 5 minutes longer. set aside.
• 4 saute chopped leeks, carrots & celery in drippings. add herbs de provence.
• 5 put sauteed vegetables into crock pot. add cooked barley. add 1c barley & stir. place chicken on top.
• 6 cook on high 1 hours until chicken is thoroughly cooked. add reserved crispy bacon, stir, cook another 15 minutes.
• 7 enjoy!