Slow Cooker Lemon Herb Chicken (Printable)
Tender lemon-and-herb chicken with carrots, peas and fluffy rice slow-cooked for an easy, comforting one-pot dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 4 bone-in, skinless chicken thighs
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
05 - 1 cup frozen peas
→ Grains
06 - 1½ cups long grain white rice, rinsed
→ Liquids
07 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
08 - Zest and juice of 1 large lemon
→ Herbs & Spices
09 - 2 teaspoons dried Italian herbs (thyme, oregano, and rosemary blend)
10 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
11 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
12 - ½ teaspoon paprika
→ Other
13 - 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
14 - Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
# How To Make It:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken thighs lightly, then sear for 2 to 3 minutes per side until a light golden crust forms. This step is optional but builds a deeper flavor base.
02 - Spread the rinsed rice in an even layer across the bottom of the slow cooker insert. Scatter diced onion, minced garlic, and diced carrots over the rice.
03 - Place the seared chicken thighs on top of the vegetable and rice layer, spacing them evenly.
04 - Sprinkle dried Italian herbs, salt, black pepper, and paprika evenly over the chicken thighs.
05 - Pour the chicken broth over the chicken and vegetables. Drizzle the lemon juice and scatter the lemon zest evenly across the top.
06 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on High for 4 hours or on Low for 7 hours, until the chicken registers 165°F internally and the rice is fully tender.
07 - Stir the frozen peas into the rice during the last 20 minutes of cooking so they warm through without turning mushy.
08 - Gently fluff the rice with a fork, transfer the chicken thighs to plates, and spoon the rice and vegetables alongside. Garnish generously with chopped fresh parsley.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything cooks in one pot so cleanup is almost nonexistent, which is a small miracle on busy days.
- The lemon brightness cuts through the richness of the chicken thighs in a way that feels lighter than most slow cooker meals.
02 -
- If you lift the slow cooker lid repeatedly the rice will not cook evenly because you keep releasing the trapped steam.
- Rinsing the rice under cold water until it runs clear is the single step that transforms this from stodgy to fluffy.
03 -
- Searing the chicken is technically optional but skipping it means sacrificing a layer of flavor that you cannot get back later.
- Taste the broth before pouring it in and adjust the salt because some brands of chicken broth are significantly saltier than others.