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Home Method Slow Cooker Slow Cooker Chicken
4.85
/5
4 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs

Gluten Free Gluten Free Low Carb Low Carb Nut Free Nut Free Freezer Friendly Freezer Meal Prep Meal Prep
Jump to Recipe
By: Denise Bustard44 Comments
Posted: 7/2/21 Updated: 7/2/21

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Slow cooker lemon garlic chicken thighs are simmered in a buttery sauce that is perfect for spooning over rice and vegetables. Low carb and gluten-free. Assemble ahead and freeze as a freezer crockpot meal!

The slow cooker is such a great appliance to lean on when you're working from home, or in the middle of a busy season. Easy dinners like crockpot salsa chicken and slow cooker honey lime shredded chicken sandwiches come in so handy!

overhead view of slow cooker lemon garlic chicken in slow cooker
Jump to... show
1 Reasons you'll ♡ this recipe
2 Recipe video
3 Ingredient notes
4 Step by step directions
5 FAQ
6 Serve it with
7 Meal prep & storage
8 More slow cooker chicken recipes
9 Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs

Another of our faves are these slow cooker lemon garlic chicken thighs. I mean...is there any better flavor combo than lemon and garlic? How about if we throw a little butter in there? Am I speaking your love language yet? ♡

Because it is a 'no saute' slow cooker recipe, it takes only 10 minutes to get it on to cook, and you can even assemble your ingredients ahead and freeze as a freezer crockpot meal.

Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later!

Reasons you'll ♡ this recipe

  • the combination of butter, lemon and garlic is classic and delicious
  • it's low carb and a lighter option than many other lemon chicken recipes out there
  • no sautéeing is required and it can be assembled as a freezer crockpot meal

Recipe video

Watch the video below to see exactly how I prepped this recipe. It’s so easy! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.

Ingredient notes

ingredients required to make instant pot lemon garlic chicken thighs
  • chicken- while this recipe is written for boneless skinless chicken thighs, you could easily swap in chicken breasts. Reduce the cook time to 4 hours on low. I do recommend sticking to skinless chicken as the fat from the chicken skin would make the sauce too fatty.
  • bouillon- for this recipe, we skip the sauté step, but to make up for the extra flavor that this gives, we instead add some chicken stock concentrate- I highly recommend a concentrate (like better than bouillon) versus the powdered bouillon
  • butter- to add a creamy, luxurious texture to the sauce, we add a few tablespoons of butter. You could use salted or unsalted.
  • wine- the white wine adds depth to the sauce, but if you are worried about the alcohol content, you could omit it.
  • lemon- we cook the chicken in the zest only, adding the juice just before serving. This helps keep the lemon flavors light and bright, and prevents it from getting sour while cooking.

Step by step directions

crockpot lemon chicken in slow cooker before cooking

1. Assemble- In the insert of a 5 or 6 quart slow cooker, combine the garlic, salt, basil, lemon zest, chicken stock, chicken stock concentrate and wine. Stir until well combined, then add the chicken thighs. Turn to coat in the sauce, then scatter butter cubes evenly over.

NOTE- For a full batch, I love this 6 quart slow cooker. For a half batch, I recommend using a small 2.5 quart slow cooker.

slow cooker with 4 hours on low set

2. Cook- Set the slow cooker to cook on the lowest setting for 4 hours.

TIP- all slow cookers vary slightly, so if you know your slow cooker cooks lower/slower, you may want to increase the cook time to 5 hours.

close up view of slow cooker lemon chicken in crockpot after cooking

3. The finishing touches- Just before serving, stir in the juice of half a lemon, garnish with extra lemon slices, and fresh parsley.


FAQ

Can I thicken the sauce?

Sure, but I recommend you transfer the sauce to a pot. Stir in a slurry of 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water, and simmer until thickened.

Can I skip the bouillon?

You can, but the sauce will be lacking in flavor a little bit.

Can I add vegetables to the slow cooker?

Yes, vegetables like green beans or asparagus go well with this crockpot lemon garlic chicken. I would scatter across the top (don't stir in) 1 hour before serving.


Serve it with

  • Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic Butter
  • Crispy Grilled Potatoes
  • 7 Easy Rice Recipes
  • 7 Cauliflower Rice Recipes
  • Staple Kale Salad
lemon garlic chicken on plate with mashed potatoes and broccoli

Meal prep & storage

This recipe works great for meal prep using two different strategies:

Reheat meals

  1. Cook the chicken fully through, then portion out with rice and steamed vegetables.
  2. Cool completely, then refrigerate for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
  3. Reheat until steaming hot in the microwave.

Favorite Meal Prep Containers

Our tried and true favorite meal prep containers and jars that will keep your food fresh, help you reheat it evenly, and withstand the test of time. No more wasting your money, these are the absolute best containers out there!

Keep reading

Crockpot freezer meal

A crock pot freezer meal is assembled ahead and frozen before cooking. This way, when it’s time to cook, you simply dump the ingredients into the slow cooker and skip any measuring. This is a great recipe to prepare for someone who is expecting a baby.

Here’s how you can turn this recipe into a freezer meal:

  1. Assemble the boneless skinless chicken thighs plus all remaining ingredients (except for fresh lemon juice, lemon slices & parsley) in a gallon-sized freezer bag, reusable silicone bag, or meal prep container.
  2. Squeeze out as much air as possible.
  3. Freeze flat for up to 3 months.
  4. Thaw completely, then cook as directed in the recipe card.

Favorite Freezer Containers

Our top picks for the best freezer containers to help your food stay fresh and free from freezer burn! From bags to soup storage to meal prep containers and more.

The Best Freezer Containers

More slow cooker chicken recipes

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Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

close up shot of slow cooker lemon garlic chicken thighs

Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs

4.85 from 45 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 4 hours hrs
Total Time: 4 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Print Rate
Slow cooker lemon garlic chicken thighs are simmered in a buttery sauce that is perfect for spooning over rice and vegetables. Low carb and gluten-free. Assemble ahead and freeze as a freezer crockpot meal!
4 -6

Ingredients

Add to the Slow Cooker

  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ lemon zested; roughly 2 teaspoons
  • ½ cup chicken stock
  • 1 teaspoon chicken bouillion I recommend Better than Bouillon
  • 2 tablespoons white wine
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into small cubes
  • 1 ½ lb boneless skinless chicken thighs see note 1

30 Minutes Before Serving

  • ½ lemon juiced; around 2 tablespoons
  • parsley garnish
  • lemon slices garnish

Instructions 

  • Assemble- In the insert of a 5-6 quart slow cooker, combine the garlic, salt, basil, lemon zest, chicken stock, chicken stock concentrate and wine. Stir until well combined, then add the chicken thighs. Turn to coat in the sauce, then scatter butter cubes evenly over.
  • Cook- Put the lid on, then set the slow cooker to cook on the lowest setting for 4-5 hours.
    slow cooker with low 4 hours on the timer
  • The finishing touches- Just before serving, stir in the juice of half a lemon, garnish with extra lemon slices, and fresh parsley.
    close up shot of slow cooker lemon garlic chicken thighs

Tips:

1-  while this recipe is written for boneless skinless chicken thighs, you could easily swap in chicken breasts and adjust the cook time to 3-4 hours on low
2- You can add green beans or asparagus to the slow cooker 1 hour before serving. Scatter over the chicken (do not stir in), return the lid, and continue cooking for 1 hour.
Freezer crockpot
  1. Assemble the boneless skinless chicken thighs plus all remaining ingredients (except for fresh lemon juice, lemon slices & parsley) in a gallon-sized freezer bag, reusable silicone bag, or meal prep container.
  2. Squeeze out as much air as possible.
  3. Freeze flat for up to 3 months.
  4. Thaw completely, then cook as directed in the recipe card.
Storage & leftovers
Portion out into individual servings, or store in a large air tight container. Store in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Reheating
Heat in the microwave until steaming hot.

Video

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/6 of batch, Calories: 184kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 118mg, Sodium: 231mg, Potassium: 307mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 145IU, Vitamin C: 1.9mg, Calcium: 18mg, Iron: 1.1mg
Author: Annie Holmes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian

© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

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6 Quart Slow Cooker
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Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

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Reader Interactions

4.85 from 45 votes (36 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




  1. Anna says

    Posted on 8/24/24 at Posted on 8/24/24

    4 stars
    Made it in the slow cooker today, so easy to make and delicious!! I made some roasted carrots, stuffing balls and some bread sauce to go with it. Absolutely fantastic:)

    Reply
  2. Anni says

    Posted on 7/25/24 at Posted on 7/25/24

    4 stars
    Yummy!! I used this as a freezer meal as I’m 6 weeks post partum and had it last night. Delicious! The only thing that is would make it better if there was more sauce, there didn’t seem to be enough to go around for a family of 4 so I’d prob figure out how to make more sauce, maybe double it, I’m thinking. But still loved it, so much that I’d seriously make this recipe when entertaining! It’s that good!

    Reply
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Hi, I'm Annie

Meal prep took me from feeling constantly stressed out about meals to cool, collected and in control. I want to share this amazing and transformational habit with you, so you can feel in control, too! Read more ...

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