One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is smothering a perfectly cooked turkey breast in savory gravy. The combination of gravy, juicy turkey, and mashed potatoes definitely causes me to go in for seconds even though I really don't need to, leading to the inevitable food coma. The recipe below allows me to enjoy that dish all year long.
Slow cooking chicken breasts with gravy mix creates the same juiciness of a slow roasted turkey but involves a fraction of the effort. I like to throw some bacon in there to add a smoky element to the dish, but also because who doesn't love bacon?
Cook the bacon over medium heat in a large skillet, or in the oven on a baking sheet, until it is well cooked and crispy. Once cooled, chop the bacon into bite sized pieces.
In a 6-quart slow cooker, combine the cooked bacon, chicken, thyme, garlic, salt, and paprika.
In a small bowl, combine the gravy mix and the water and whisk until smooth.
Pour the gravy over the chicken and cook, covered, on high for 3 1/2 hours.
Remove the chicken and slice.
Add the cream to the gravy and whisk until well combined.
Serve the sliced chicken over rice or mashed potatoes and top with the gravy.
