Bulgarian Cast Iron Chicken with Bacon and Sauerkraut - Cooking by the Book

Ingredients

• ½ pound slab bacon, diced
• 1 whole (3—4 pound) chicken, quartered
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 large or 2 small onions, chopped
• vegetable oil, if necessary
• 2 small sprigs thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
• 1 pound sauerkraut
• ½ cup chicken stock or water