Zesty Slow Cooker Lemon Herb Chicken
This Zesty Slow Cooker Lemon Herb Chicken recipe delivers tender, flavorful chicken with minimal effort. Perfect for a busy weeknight, it's packed with bright lemon and aromatic herbs.
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
- Paper towels
- Large skillet
- Medium bowl
- Whisk
- Small bowl
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.5-2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 2 medium lemons zest and juice
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil optional, for searing
- 1 tbsp cornstarch optional, for thickening
- 2 tbsp cold water optional, for thickening
- Fresh parsley optional, for garnish, chopped
Instructions
Cooking Steps
- Pat the chicken dry and season it with salt and pepper.
- If searing, heat olive oil in a skillet, sear chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown, then transfer to the slow cooker.
- Whisk together chicken broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, oregano, thyme, and salt and pepper in a bowl.
- Pour the lemon herb sauce over the chicken in the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 2-3 hours until the chicken is tender.
- For a thicker sauce, remove the chicken, whisk cornstarch and cold water to make a slurry, then stir it into the slow cooker liquid and cook for 10-15 minutes until thickened.
- Return the chicken to the thickened sauce, garnish with parsley, and serve hot.
Notes
For extra flavor, you can marinate the chicken in the lemon herb mixture for 30 minutes before cooking. This recipe is also great with a mix of chicken thighs and drumsticks. Serve with rice, quinoa, or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.