Slow Cooker Lemon Herb Chicken (Printable)
Tender lemon-herb chicken and fluffy rice slow-cooked together for an easy, comforting one-pot meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 bone-in, skinless chicken thighs (about 1.2 lbs)
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Vegetables & Rice
04 - 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed and drained
05 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 cup carrots, thinly sliced into rounds
08 - 1 cup frozen peas
→ Liquids
09 - 2¼ cups low-sodium chicken broth
10 - Juice and zest of 1 large lemon
→ Herbs & Seasonings
11 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
12 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
13 - ½ teaspoon dried oregano
14 - ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
→ Finishing
15 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
16 - Lemon wedges for serving
# How to Make It:
01 - Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season both sides evenly with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
02 - Add the rinsed rice, diced onion, minced garlic, sliced carrots, dried thyme, dried basil, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes to the slow cooker insert. Stir to distribute the seasonings throughout.
03 - Pour the chicken broth over the rice mixture, then add the lemon juice and lemon zest. Stir gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
04 - Place the seasoned chicken thighs on top of the rice mixture in a single layer, pressing them down slightly so the bottoms are submerged in the broth.
05 - Cover with the lid and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or on LOW for 7 hours, until the chicken is fork-tender and the rice has fully absorbed the liquid.
06 - About 15 minutes before the cooking time is complete, scatter the frozen peas over the top. Re-cover and let the residual heat warm them through.
07 - Remove the lid and taste the rice for seasoning, adjusting with additional salt or lemon juice as needed. Shred or serve the chicken thighs whole, garnish with fresh parsley, and accompany with lemon wedges.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It practically cooks itself while you go about your day, and the lemon herb aroma will make your whole home feel like a country kitchen.
- The rice absorbs every drop of flavor from the broth and chicken juices, becoming almost risotto like without any stirring.
02 -
- Do not skip rinsing the rice or you will end up with a sticky, starchy mess instead of fluffy separate grains.
- If you use chicken breasts instead of thighs, check them at the three hour mark on high because they dry out much faster than dark meat.
03 -
- Resist the urge to lift the lid and peek during cooking because each lift adds roughly fifteen minutes to the total time and lets precious steam escape.
- Bone in chicken thighs are the secret to deeply flavorful broth, so do not swap them out unless you are in a real pinch.