Tender Slow Cooker Lemon Herb Chicken Recipe Easy 5-Ingredient Meal
A simple, no-fuss slow cooker chicken recipe featuring tender, juicy chicken infused with bright lemon and fresh herbs. Perfect for busy weeknights and meal prep.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours on LOW or 2-3 hours on HIGH
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes to 5 hours 10 minutes (LOW) or 2 hours 10 minutes to 3 hours 10 minutes (HIGH)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 2 fresh lemons (one for juice and zest, one sliced)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Optional: 1/4 cup chicken broth
- Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Pat the chicken breasts or thighs dry with paper towels and place in a mixing bowl.
- Add the juice and zest of one lemon, minced garlic, chopped parsley, thyme leaves, olive oil, salt, and pepper to the bowl with chicken. Toss gently to coat evenly.
- Lightly oil the bottom of the slow cooker or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Place half of the lemon slices in an even layer on the bottom.
- Arrange the marinated chicken pieces on top of the lemon slices. Pour any leftover marinade over the chicken. Top with remaining lemon slices.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours until chicken is tender and reaches 165°F (74°C) internal temperature.
- About 30 minutes before serving, check texture and flavor. Spoon cooking juices over chicken to keep moist. If sauce is thin, thicken with cornstarch slurry (1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp cold water) and cook uncovered for 10-15 minutes.
- Use tongs to transfer chicken to plates and spoon lemon herb juices on top. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
For juicier chicken, use thighs instead of breasts. Avoid lifting the slow cooker lid during cooking to maintain heat. Optional searing of chicken before slow cooking adds caramelized flavor. Fresh herbs provide brighter flavor than dried; if using dried, use one-third the amount. Sauce can be thickened with cornstarch slurry if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast or
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 14
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
Keywords: slow cooker chicken, lemon herb chicken, easy chicken recipe, healthy chicken, slow cooker meal, lemon chicken, herb chicken, simple dinner