The Easiest Way to Cook Tender, Flavorful Liver and Bacon in a Slow Cooker

Liver and bacon is a classic comfort food combination that brings back memories of childhood meals or homestyle diners When cooked right, beef or calf liver becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender while taking on the delicious flavors of onion, garlic and smoky bacon

While pan-frying is the usual cooking method, using a slow cooker is hands-down the easiest way to make this dish. The low, gentle heat perfectly breaks down the liver while infusing it with flavor.

In this simple guide, you’ll learn how to make the most delicious, foolproof liver and bacon using a slow cooker.

Benefits of Slow Cooker Liver and Bacon

There are several advantages to making this dish in a slow cooker:

• Requires only 15 minutes prep time – simply assemble and turn on.

• Liver cooks low and slow for ultimate tenderness.

• No monitoring or stirring required – just set and forget.

• Bacon and liver fill the slow cooker with savory flavor.

• Onions caramelize and garlic becomes mellow and sweet.

• You control the consistency – cook longer for falling-apart texture.

• Makes excellent leftovers for liver pâté or dirty rice.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps for flawless slow cooker liver and bacon every time:

Ingredients

• 1 lb beef or calf liver, sliced 1⁄4-inch thick
• 1 lb bacon, diced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup beef broth or stock
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt, pepper and other seasonings

Directions

1. Add the diced bacon to the slow cooker.

2. Layer the liver slices on top of the bacon. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Add the onion, garlic, beef broth and bay leaf.

4. Cook on low for 6-8 hours until liver is fork tender.

5. For thicker, heartier gravy, remove liver and bacon. Mix 2 Tbsp cornstarch with broth and cook 30 minutes until thickened.

6. Discard bay leaf before serving. Enjoy over mashed potatoes.

Helpful Tips for Success

• Look for uniformly sliced liver without blemishes. Rinse and pat dry before cooking.

• Cut bacon into 1⁄2-inch pieces for even cooking and distribution of flavor.

• Brown bacon in a skillet first for more depth of flavor before adding to slow cooker.

• Add butter or beef tallow to further enrich the gravy.

• Cook on high for 4 hours for a firmer texture. Check after 3 hours if concerned about overcooking.

• Garnish with fresh parsley or chopped green onions for a pop of color.

Cooking Other Meats in the Slow Cooker

The slow cooker method works great for all kinds of meats in addition to liver:

• Beef chuck roast – cook 8 hours on low until fall-apart tender.

• Pork shoulder or pork belly – goes perfectly in carnitas or ramen.

• Chicken legs and thighs – cook 4 hours on low until juicy.

• Meatloaf – keep sturdy texture by cooking 4 hours on low.

• Brisket – cook 10+ hours until incredibly tender.

Delicious Liver Recipes to Try Next

Once you’ve mastered basic slow cooker liver and bacon, try one of these creative recipes:

• Liver stroganoff – liver and mushrooms cooked in a creamy sauce.

• Dirty rice – liver and pork sausage cooked with rice and cajun spices.

• Liver pâté – pureed liver with shallots and herbs, spread on crackers or toast.

• Liver kabobs – alternate liver, onions, mushrooms, bacon on skewers.

• Potted liver – shred liver and combine with herbs in ramekins for gifting.

With the simple slow cooker method, you can enjoy melt-in-your-mouth liver and bacon any night of the week. Experiment with different seasonings and vegetable additions while letting the slow cooker do the work.

Frequency of entities:
Liver: 23
Bacon: 16
Slow cooker: 15
Cook: 7
Tender: 3
Flavor: 3