Balsamic Chicken & Sausage in the CrockPot

 I could eat this for days.  So easy and  yummy.  It makes a large batch so you can either feed your family or have leftovers to take for your lunch at work.  I ate mine with sauteed brussel sprouts and it was delish.  My kids chose to have theirs over macaroni noodles.  You could also use rice.  I think this could even be turned into a stew.  I would add some cut up carrots, maybe some parsnips, celery chunks, green peppers - whatever you would like in a stew!  I will waste no more time talking - get Crockin' people!!

This is a paleo & clean eating option.

Adapted from Popular Paleo
Balsamic Chicken & Sausage (in the CrockPot)

Ingredients:
6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
6 Italian sausage links - sweet or spicy, whatever your preference*
1 yellow onion, sliced
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons EVOO
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (1)
1 teaspoon garlic powder (1)
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
1 cup water (rinse out tomato sauce cans)
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (2)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (2)

Instructions:
Place raw frozen chicken breasts in bottom of a 6 quart crock pot.  Drizzle with olive oil and add seasonings labeled (1) over chicken.  Lay sausage over chicken (I cut mine in half, but you don't have to).  Add sliced onions and minced onion, then add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, water and balsamic vinegar.  Top with last round of seasonings labeled (2).  Cook on low for about 7-8 hours or high for about 5.

Serve over spaghetti squash, zucchini made into noodles, cut up brussel sprouts, or whole grain pasta.

*I used Savory Kitchen Sweet Pepper Chicken Sausage found at Sam's Club
This recipe is high in sodium - you can reduce by using a low-sodium sausage or reduced sodium crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce.

Nutrition facts from www.fatsecret.com based on 6 servings (including 1 chicken breast and 1 sausage) using the chicken sausage listed above.
Calories - 454, Fat - 16.2 g, Cholesterol - 148mg, Sodium - 1408mg, Potassium - 652mg, Total Carbs - 24.92g, Fiber - 6.7g, Sugars 12.47g, Protein 48.17g

Here's a pic of the kid's dish with macaroni noodles and sprinkled with some Parmesan cheese.  Still working on the whole - pasta sauce over veggies thing with them.  :)