Slow Cooker Chicken-Andouille Stew

Ingredients

• 2 large boneless-skinless chicken breasts, trimmed and cut into bite-sized pieces
• 8 links Andouille sausage
• 1 jar roasted red pepper, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 tsp. olive oil
• 1 T minced garlic
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 tsp. Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning
• 1/2 cup chicken stock or broth, simmered to reduce to 1/4 cup
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened and cut into pieces
• Sliced green onions for serving, optional but recommended
• Cooked rice for serving

Directions

1. Coat the insert of your slow cooker with non-stick spray. Set the cream cheese on the counter to soften while you handle the rest of the prep.
2. Cut away any visible fat or spots you do not want from the chicken breasts, then slice the chicken into bite-sized pieces. The trimmed bits can be saved for making chicken stock. Slice the sausage into 3/4 inch rounds.
3. Warm the oil in a medium-sized frying pan over medium-high heat, then cook the onion until the edges begin to color, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, oregano, and Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning, and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
4. Drain the roasted red peppers, cut them into bite-sized pieces, and chop the onion.
5. Add the chicken, sausage, roasted red peppers, and the onion and spice mixture to the slow cooker in layers.
6. Pour the stock into the frying pan and boil it over high heat until it has reduced by half, about 6 minutes. Take the pan off the heat.
7. Cut the softened cream cheese into chunks, then whisk it into the stock until mostly combined. A few small lumps are fine; they will melt in the slow cooker.
8. Pour the stock and cream cheese mixture over everything in the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and has picked up flavor from the sausage and spices.
9. Begin checking at 4 hours, and stop cooking once the chicken is done so the sausage does not overcook.
10. When the stew is ready, stir everything together in the slow cooker. Serve hot over rice, such as low-glycemic Uncle Ben's Rice, if desired, or serve it as a stew without rice or with Cauliflower Rice for a low-carb option, finished with thinly sliced green onions.