Slow Cooker Lemon Herb Chicken and Rice Recipe You’ll Love
This slow cooker lemon herb chicken and rice recipe is a hearty, wholesome, and delicious one-pot meal packed with zesty lemon, fragrant herbs, and tender chicken. Perfect for busy weekdays or cozy dinner parties.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-7 hours (low heat) or 3-4 hours (high heat)
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes (low heat) or 3 hours 15 minutes (high heat)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (or jasmine/basmati rice)
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Fresh thyme sprigs
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: A pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Pat chicken thighs dry with a paper towel and season generously with salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add a drizzle of olive oil. Sear the chicken thighs for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Prepare the slow cooker by adding rice, chicken broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, diced onion, and sliced carrots. Stir to combine.
- Transfer the seared chicken thighs to the slow cooker, nestling them into the rice mixture.
- Top with fresh thyme and rosemary sprigs. Add a few dollops of butter over the chicken.
- Cover the slow cooker with the lid and set it to low heat for 6-7 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours. Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C.
- Once cooked, fluff the rice with a fork.
- Serve warm and garnish with extra fresh herbs or a lemon wedge.
Notes
[‘Searing the chicken adds flavor and ensures it stays juicy during cooking.’, ‘Avoid lifting the lid while the slow cooker is working to maintain heat.’, ‘Use fresh herbs for the best aroma and flavor.’, ‘Accurate rice-to-liquid ratio is key to perfectly cooked rice.’, ‘Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.’]
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 25
Keywords: slow cooker, lemon herb chicken, chicken and rice, one-pot meal, comfort food, easy dinner, healthy recipe