Recipes and Cooking Fennel and Pear Chicken Thighs 3.9 (9) Add your rating & review The mild licorice-like flavor of fennel tastes terrific with the pears in this family-pleasing dish. Because the pears are dried rather than fresh, you can make this chicken any time of year. By BHG Test Kitchen BHG Test Kitchen The Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen has been in continuous operation for nearly 100 years, developing and testing practical, reliable recipes that readers can enjoy at home. The Test Kitchen team includes culinary specialists, food stylists, registered and licensed nutritionists, and other experts with Bachelor of Science degrees in food science, food and nutrition, or culinary arts. Together, the team tests more than 2,500 recipes, produces more than 2,500 food images, and creates more than 1,000 food videos each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on June 14, 2011 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Scott Little Prep Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 7 hrs Total Time: 7 hrs 20 mins Servings: 6 Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 1 medium fennel bulb, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch-thick wedges 2 6-7 ounce jar (drained weight) sliced mushrooms, drained ½ cup coarsely snipped dried pears 2 tablespoon quick-cooking tapioca, finely ground 2 ½ pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs ¾ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon dried thyme, crushed ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper 1 cup pear nectar or apple juice Hot cooked couscous or rice Fennel tops (optional) Directions In a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker, combine sliced fennel, mushrooms, and dried pears. Sprinkle with tapioca. Add chicken thighs; sprinkle with salt, thyme, and pepper. Pour pear nectar over mixture in cooker. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 7 to 8 hours or on high-heat setting for 3-1/2 to 4 hours. Serve chicken mixture with hot cooked couscous. If desired, garnish with fennel tops. Makes 6 servings. Rate it Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 407 Calories 7g Fat 41g Carbs 42g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 6 Calories 407 % Daily Value * Total Fat 7g 9% Saturated Fat 2g 10% Cholesterol 157mg 52% Sodium 657mg 29% Total Carbohydrate 41g 15% Protein 42g *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.