40 Clove Garlic Chicken Recipe
5 CommentsMay 15, 2025
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This rich and flavorful 40 Clove Garlic Chicken features tender, slow-cooked chicken in a deeply savory garlic-infused sauce. Don’t let the garlic count scare you—it’s mellow, not overpowering, and delivers a crave-worthy depth of flavor in every bite.
Since the garlic cloves are left whole in the 40 Garlic Clove Chicken recipe, the flavor tastes more like roasted garlic chicken. The golden sauce is terrific with the tender chicken and even better over mashed potatoes. It’s a perfect dish for a Sunday family dinner or for feeding guests.
Ingredients for 40 Clove Garlic Chicken
These simple ingredients make for the best chicken recipe. Find the full recipe in the recipe card below the images.
This recipe keeps it simple but delivers big flavor. You’ll start with bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for that juicy, tender texture. Add crispy bacon, a whole bunch of garlic cloves (they get super mellow and tasty as they cook), and a sprinkle of thyme. Then just mix up a quick chicken gravy with water, pour it over the top, and let the slow cooker do the rest.
How to Make 40 Clove Garlic Chicken – In the Crockpot
Using the crockpot to meld the flavor is the way to go. See how to make it below:
Step One: In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until crisp, then set aside. Drain most of the grease, leaving about 2 tablespoons. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then brown it on both sides.
Step Two: Transfer the chicken to the slow cooker. Top with cooked bacon, garlic cloves, and thyme. Whisk the gravy mix with 1/2 cup water and pour over everything. Cover and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours, until the chicken is tender.
Expert Tips and Variations
Here are my tips for the perfect recipe:
To save time on peeling the garlic, opt for the pre-peeled garlic in a bag from the produce section at the store
Do not mince the garlic, and it will change the recipe completely and make it pungent.
Don’t skip browning the bacon – it will just taste fatty and flavorless in the dish if you skip browning it.
A splash of white wine can be added (about a 1/4 cup); any more would overpower the dish, for the alcohol doesn’t completely cook out.
Best Ways to Serve
This chicken tastes better than an expensive meal at a restaurant. Let me help you choose the perfect side dishes:
- Starchy Sides: Serve with mashed potatoes (I like to add Parmesan to mine for this dish)—or steamed white rice. You can also serve the garlic chicken over angel hair pasta.
- Green Vegetables: Add a green salad with dressing or roasted asparagus.
- Bread: Top off the meal with focaccia bread or garlic bread.
40 Clove Garlic Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 oz. bacon, sliced before cooking
- 2-3 lb. bone-in skin-on chicken thighs, 5-6 chicken thighs
- 40 cloves garlic, these can range in size! I buy pre-peeled garlic cloves for this
- ½ tsp. salt
- ¼ tsp. pepper
- .87 oz. chicken gravy packet, (I use McCormick)
- ½ cup water, (this is all you need for the recipe)
- ½ tsp. dried thyme
Instructions
- Set a large skillet to medium-high heat. Add the sliced bacon. Cook until crisp, then remove and drain on paper towels. Drain off most of the bacon grease (except about 2 tablespoons).
- Sprinkle the chicken thighs with the salt and pepper. Add the chicken thighs to pan and brown on both sides.
- Add the chicken to the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle over the bacon, thyme and garlic cloves.
- In small bowl whisk together the chicken gravy mix and 1/2 cup of water. Pour over the chicken.
- Cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or until the chicken is tender.
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Garlic Recipes:
Crockpot Garlic Confit and Garlic Butter Steak Bites are both rich and savory, perfect for garlic lovers who enjoy bold, comforting flavors.
Garlic Butter Chicken and Veggies pairs juicy chicken with tender vegetables in a buttery garlic sauce for a simple, satisfying meal.
Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Potatoes and Honey Garlic Carrots make delicious sides that are full of sweet and savory flavor.
Crockpot Beer and Garlic Brats are slow-cooked until tender and infused with rich, garlicky beer flavor—great for game day or casual dinners.
I would like to substitute white wine for the water. Your opinion?
I think that would work fine. I think a 1/4 cup of each would be plenty (alcohol can be very strong in the crockpot.
Can I use boneless skinless thighs?
Yes, that would be a great substitute.
Sounds like a good tasty easy recipe. Will he trying this and let you all know what I think.
Cheers