Ingredients

• 3 -4 lbs cut up chicken, skin removed (I used a pack of broiler or fryer pieces, I usually will cut the breasts into 2 pieces so they cook )
• 1 lb large shrimp, peeled
• 12 ounces eckridge smoked sausage, cut in 1 1/2 - 2-inch pieces on a angle
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce (now I often use a garlic herb, basil oregano, or any combination you like, but even just plain sauce)
• 1 cup white wine (1/4 to deglaze the pan, 3/4 cup for the sauce)
• 1/4 cup butter (to saute the chicken)
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 1/4 red pepper flakes
• salt
• pepper

Instructions

1. Chicken -- Bring your chicken to room temp - just not right out of the refrigerator (you don't want the chicken ice cold). Rub the chicken pieces well with salt and pepper. Then, in a large saute pan, add the butter and bring to medium high heat and sear the chicken. Don't over crowd the pan, do it in two batches so you can a nice sear on both sides on the chicken.

2. Crock Pot -- Remove the chicken to a plate. But before you get rid of those good bits of the bottom of the pan, deglaze with 1/4 cup of the white wine, scrape all the bits up and pour the wine and bits and any leftover butter in the pan into the bottom of the crock pot. Then add the chicken to the crock pot along with the sausage, onions, and peppers.

3. Mix the seasoning, red pepper flakes, garlic, tomato sauce and the remaining wine together and pour over the top of the vegetables and chicken. Don't season with extra salt and pepper right away. You can taste to see if it needs anymore when you add the shrimp in later.

4. Cook -- 5-7 hours on low until the juices run clear. My larger pot takes about 6 hours as I like the chicken very tender. I have never cooked this on high so I can't give you an accurate time for this, and remember - different crock pot sizes as well as older vs newer models seem to really vary in cooking times. I would start with 6 hours and check, I would think that should accurately cook the chicken.

5. Shrimp -- The last 30 minutes before serving, stir in the shrimp. Don't just add them on top, stir them in a bit so they get down in all that good sauce.Also, now is the time to check for salt and pepper seasoning. Adjust the seasoning accordingly. Cook the shrimp them until they turn pink and just begin to curl. They will take between 20-30 minutes, again depending on the size of your crock pot.

6. Serve -- Whether you use polenta or rice, the sauce is great! Don't let that go to waste. ENJOY!