Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe
This Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken is a simple, flavorful, and tender dish that combines zesty lemon, fresh garlic, and aromatic herbs. Perfect for a hands-off meal, the chicken braises slowly to absorb the vibrant citrus and herb flavors, resulting in juicy, succulent chicken breasts ideal for pairing with rice or a fresh salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours 30 minutes (low) or 3 hours 30 minutes (high)
- Total Time: 6 hours 40 minutes (low) or 3 hours 40 minutes (high)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Marinade
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice and zest of 2 lemons
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
- Optional: Lemon slices for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: In a bowl, whisk together the olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, dried oregano, dried thyme, salt, and pepper until well combined to create a flavorful marinade.
- Place chicken in slow cooker: Arrange the boneless, skinless chicken breasts evenly in the slow cooker, making sure they are in a single layer to cook evenly.
- Add marinade over chicken: Pour the lemon-garlic marinade over the chicken breasts, ensuring each piece is coated with the mixture to infuse flavor during cooking.
- Cook the chicken: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on low heat for 6-7 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is thoroughly cooked, tender, and easy to shred or slice.
- Serve: Once cooked, transfer the chicken to plates, garnish generously with fresh parsley and optional lemon slices, and serve alongside your choice of rice or a light salad for a complete meal.
Notes
- For more intense lemon flavor, add extra lemon zest to the marinade.
- Ensure the chicken is fully submerged in the marinade for even flavor distribution.
- Do not overcook the chicken to prevent drying; keep an eye on the time when using the high setting.
- This dish pairs excellently with steamed rice, quinoa, or mixed green salad.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Keywords: slow cooker chicken, lemon garlic chicken, easy slow cooker recipe, tender chicken breasts, lemon herb chicken
