Lemon Chicken, cooked low and slow in the Crock Pot, is succulent, juicy, and fall-off-the-bone tender. Flavored with garlic, lemon, and thyme, this recipe makes an impressive dish when entertaining, yet it’s simple enough for a weeknight meal!
I love serving this beautifully cooked chicken with Garlic Rice and tender Green Beans whenever I want to turn an ordinary meal into something extra special.
One thing’s for sure, after all my years in the kitchen, this principle still holds true for me – simple food cooked with love and shared with family and friends is a total joy.
Crock Pot Lemon Chicken, cooked low and slow, is a recipe that’s all that and more. It’s easy to make with rich deep flavors from garlic and chicken stock, yet light and packed with flavor from lemons and thyme. Simple, yes. Over the top delicious? Without a doubt.
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Crock Pot Lemon Chicken Ingredients
- Chicken – I use a whole chicken cut-up, including chicken breasts, chicken thighs, and wings. You can use only white or dark meat if you want.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Lemons
- Garlic Bulbs
- Chicken Stock – chicken broth can also be used.
- Dried Thyme – dried rosemary, Italian seasoning, or lemon pepper seasoning can be substituted.
- Kosher Salt
- Fresh Cracked Black Pepper
Creamy Lemon Sauce (Gravy)
- Pan Drippings – from the strained cooking juices in the crock pot.
- Flour – corn starch can also be used.
- Butter
Scroll Down For Measurements
How Long Does It Take To Cook Crock Pot Chicken With Lemons?
With all the ingredients in the Crock Pot, it’s time to set the temperature and cooking time. Cover the Crock Pot with the lid and set it to cook on LOW HEAT for about 6 hours, or on HIGH HEAT for 4 hours.
How To Make Slow Cooker Creamy Lemon Chicken
- Heat oil in a large skillet. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and brown over medium-high heat, working in batches.
- Place all but 3 to 4 lemon slices on the bottom of the crockpot with garlic bulbs.
- Layer chicken on top of lemon and garlic. Gently pour over the stock. Place the remaining lemon slices on top of the chicken and sprinkle on thyme.
- Set the slow cooker to LOW and cook for 6 hours.
- When done, remove the chicken from the pot and strain the broth.
- To make the lemon sauce or gravy, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a pan.
- Whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour and cook until golden brown.
- Slowly pour in flavored broth and continue to whisk until smooth. Cook on medium heat until gravy is thickened, stirring constantly.
Frequently Asked Questions And Answers
Sure! This recipe is very forgiving. You can use boneless skinless chicken breasts, boneless skinless chicken thighs or a combination of the two if you like.
Absolutely. You can experiment with limes, oranges, or even a combination of citrus fruits for a bright twist on this recipe.
The USDA recommends thawing meat in the refrigerator before using it in a crock pot recipe. Otherwise, frozen chicken in the slow cooker might take too long to cook at a safe temperature (above 165°F), allowing bacteria to grow. I think it’s always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to cooking meat.
What To Serve With The Best Lemon Chicken
I like to serve Crock Pot Lemon Chicken hot, garnished with fresh herbs like thyme, basil, or fresh parsley, a few lemon slices, and a drizzle of gravy. It pares perfectly with white rice, baked potatoes, buttered egg noodles, or Parmesan noodles.
This recipe is terrific to serve at a dinner party with scalloped potatoes, roasted broccoli, and garlic skillet rolls.
Storage Tips
Leftover Crock Pot Lemon Chicken can be refrigerated for 3-4 days stored in an airtight container. To reheat, put the leftovers in a baking dish and place in the oven set to 350 degrees until heated through.
You can also freeze this chicken recipe. Place the chicken and any sauce in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to three months. To serve, thaw in the fridge, then reheat.
More CrockPot Chicken Recipes You’ll Love
Crockpots are the unsung heroes of the kitchen! I am a huge fan of the gentle and slow cooking process that allows all the flavors to meld together, resulting in tender, well-seasoned dishes.
- Crock Pot Chicken Thighs
- Crock Pot Creamy Salsa Chicken
- Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan
- Crock Pot Mississippi Chicken Sliders
- 5-Ingredient Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken – cut up
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 lemons cut into thick slices
- 3 garlic bulbs – tops cut off to expose cloves
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper and brown in a hot pan, working in batches.
- Place all but 3 to 4 lemon slices on the bottom of the crockpot along with garlic bulbs.
- Layer chicken on top of lemon and garlic. Gently pour over the stock. Place the remaining lemon slices on top of the chicken and sprinkle on thyme.
- Set the slow cooker to low and cook for 6 hours.
- When done, remove chicken from pot and strain broth.
- Serve chicken and gravy over rice, noodles, or creamy grits.
Gravy
- Melt 2 tablespoon of butter in a pan.
- Whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour and cook until golden brown.
- Slowly pour in flavored broth and continue to whisk until smooth. Cook on medium heat until gravy is thickened, stirring constantly.
Video
Notes
- Leftover Crock Pot Lemon Chicken can be refrigerated for 3-4 days if stored in an airtight container. To reheat, put the leftovers in a baking dish and place in the oven set to 350 degrees until heated through.
- You can also freeze this chicken recipe. Place the chicken and any sauce in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to three months. To serve, thaw in the fridge then reheat.
Nutrition
Want To Know More About Slow Cooking?
If you are new to cooking with a Crock Pot or just don’t know where to start, I’ve got something to help. I’ve put together a helpful guide with tips and recipes to get you using a slow cooker like a pro!
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Thank you, Donya! This lemon chicken is the BOMB! So easy to follow this recipe! Delicious and filling! Perfect for a family meal!
You are so welcome! Thanks for the great rating.
~Donya
Can you use the Instant Pot slow cooking function to get the same results (I’ll be cooking the 4 chicken breasts only
Hey there. Yes, I think the slow cooking function will work great. Let me know how things turn out.
Enjoy!
~Donya
This is the best and the easiest lemon chicken I have made. Fabulous. I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts that were sooooo tender. Used more garlic and made the gravy only taking out the lemon. WOW
Thanks, Ann! I so appreciate your kind words and the terrific rating.
Have a wonderful day,
~Donya
I made this with breasts only. And I wasn’t sure how to do the garlic, but I used one bulb, and separated the cloves. I smashed them, but I did use ALL of them! This is one of the few recipes for lemon chicken that actually tastes LEMONY! Very good! I also made the ‘gravy’ and served it with rice. This is a very simple and tasty meal! I LOVE IT! My family loved it, also. I have extra gravy that will go on more rice for something else!
Hey there Diane!
Once again you are just warming my heart with your sweet comments. I am overjoyed to hear you and your family enjoyed this, it’s a great, quick, and easy meal. Thank you for all your overwhelming support!
~Donya
I eat only the breasts of the chicken. How many should I use to equal one whole chicken?
Hey Debbie! I would use 3 to 4, bone in with skin on. You should be good to go. Enjoy!
Have a great day,
~Donya
Donya, I tried this recipe one day last week for dinner, and it was delish! My husband, Mr. Picky, gave it a big “thumbs-up”, which made me happy. I served it with Basmati Rice and a salad. I’ve already passed it along to two other people, one of which has already tried it and loved it, too. So, thank you very much for this easy and flavorful recipe. We love chicken dishes, so I will have to try a few of your other recipes for chicken, too. Have a nice day!
Hey Valerie! You have made my day. I am so happy you tried it that your family liked it. Thank you so much for passing my recipe along. That means the world to me. Let me know what you’re cooking next!
Have a wonderful day, friend!
~Donya
Donya- This looks so yummy!! We love the bright flavors of lemon chicken with the tenderness of slow cooking. Thanks so much for stopping by Whatcha Crockin' Wednesday!
This looks delicious! I will have to try this.