Slow-cooked Local Malawian Chicken (Nkhuku ya Lokolo)

Name: Slow-cooked Local Malawian Chicken (Nkhuku ya Lokolo)
Total time: 14400 s
Yield: 6-8 servings
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 1 whole free-range chicken; Water, enough to partially cover the chicken; Salt, to taste; 2 chicken bouillon cubes

Bianca Mwale @bianca_eatsy

Zomba, Malawi

If you know nkhuku ya lokolo, you know it’s not the chicken you rush. It is naturally firmer than broiler chicken, but give it time and it rewards you with deep flavour and beautifully tender meat.

This recipe is as simple as it gets, one whole chicken, water, salt and beef bouillon cubes, then let the slow cooker do its thing. It takes a few hours, but trust me, it’s worth the wait! 🤤 #CookpadApron2026

I served mine with potatoes, which cooked right in all those delicious chicken juices. Nkhuku ya lokolo + slow cooking = patience well rewarded.

If you know nkhuku ya lokolo, you know it’s not the chicken you rush. It is naturally firmer than broiler chicken, but give it time and it rewards you with deep flavour and beautifully tender meat.

I served mine with potatoes, which cooked right in all those delicious chicken juices. Nkhuku ya lokolo + slow cooking = patience well rewarded.

Bianca Mwale @bianca_eatsy

Zomba, Malawi

If you know nkhuku ya lokolo, you know it’s not the chicken you rush. It is naturally firmer than broiler chicken, but give it time and it rewards you with deep flavour and beautifully tender meat.

I served mine with potatoes, which cooked right in all those delicious chicken juices. Nkhuku ya lokolo + slow cooking = patience well rewarded.

If you know nkhuku ya lokolo, you know it’s not the chicken you rush. It is naturally firmer than broiler chicken, but give it time and it rewards you with deep flavour and beautifully tender meat.

I served mine with potatoes, which cooked right in all those delicious chicken juices. Nkhuku ya lokolo + slow cooking = patience well rewarded.

Saved

Ingredients

4 hours

6-8 servings

1whole free-range chicken
Water, enough to partially cover the chicken
Salt, to taste
2chicken bouillon cubes

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Steps

4 hours

1

Cut chicken into pieces
2

Optional step: Lightly fry the chicken pieces in a little oil until lightly browned. This adds extra flavour to the finished dish and a richer golden color
3

Transfer into a slow cooker pot. Add enough water to partially cover the chicken
4

Season with salt and add the bouillon cubes
5

Cover and cook on high heat until the chicken is very tender and the meat easily pulls away from the bone. Free-range chicken can take longer to cook, so allow it plenty of time (3-4 hours)
6

Bonus step: Add potatoes during the later part of cooking and continue simmering until they are tender and have absorbed some of the flavourful broth
7

If there is too much liquid, remove the lid towards the end and allow the broth to reduce into a light gravy or transfer liquid into a pot and cook down over medium-high heat
8

Serve and enjoy 😉