Description
This 5-Star Slow Cooker Lemon Herb Chicken and Rice is a flavorful, one-pot meal that combines tender chicken thighs with fragrant herbs, zesty lemon, and fluffy rice. Easy to prepare and perfect for a comforting dinner, it uses a slow cooker to meld the flavors beautifully, resulting in juicy chicken and perfectly cooked rice with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Rice
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup long-grain white rice (uncooked)
- 2 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Garnish
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and quickly sear the chicken thighs for 2–3 minutes per side until lightly browned. This step is optional but adds depth of flavor to the dish.
- Combine ingredients in slow cooker: In the slow cooker, add uncooked rice, chicken broth, diced onion, minced garlic, dried thyme, dried oregano, dried rosemary, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine all the ingredients evenly.
- Add chicken to slow cooker: Place the seared chicken thighs on top of the rice mixture in the slow cooker, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 3 to 4 hours, or until the rice is tender and the chicken is fully cooked and juicy.
- Finish and serve: Before serving, fluff the rice gently with a fork to separate the grains. Garnish the dish with chopped fresh parsley for a burst of color and fresh flavor.
Notes
- For extra lemon flavor, add lemon slices on top of the chicken before cooking in the slow cooker.
- Chicken breasts can be substituted for thighs, but thighs remain juicier and more tender in slow cooking.
- Add frozen peas or chopped spinach during the last 30 minutes of cooking to incorporate vegetables for added nutrition.
