Get ready to meet your new favorite weeknight dinner. This Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken is the answer to your busiest days, delivering an incredibly tender, flavorful meal with almost zero effort. We combine juicy chicken breasts with a vibrant, zesty sauce made from fresh lemon and garlic, letting the crockpot do all the work. It’s a true set-it-and-forget-it meal that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen.
Whether you need a healthy dinner, a simple meal prep solution, or a dish that’s guaranteed to please the whole family, this recipe checks every box. The chicken becomes so tender it practically shreds itself, soaking up every drop of that delicious, savory sauce.
Why This Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe is a Must-Try
In a world of complicated recipes, this one stands out for its beautiful simplicity and outstanding results. It’s designed for the modern home cook who craves homemade meals without the fuss.
Minimal Prep, Maximum Flavor: You only need about 10 minutes to get everything into the slow cooker. The low and slow cooking process melds the lemon, garlic, and herbs into a truly unforgettable sauce.
Incredibly Tender Chicken: Cooking chicken in the crockpot is the secret to the most succulent, juicy results. It’s impossible to get it wrong!
Versatile and Family-Friendly: This chicken is a perfect canvas. Serve it over rice, pasta, or with roasted veggies. It’s a healthy, satisfying meal that even picky eaters will love. For another easy meal, check out our slow cooker chicken and rice.
The Simple Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this dish lies in using simple, fresh ingredients to create a symphony of flavor. You likely have most of these on hand already.
All the flavor, ready for the slow cooker to work its magic.
Chicken Breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are perfect here. They soak up the flavor and shred beautifully.
Chicken Broth: Use low-sodium chicken broth to control the saltiness of the final dish.
Lemon: We use both the juice and zest for a bright, multi-layered citrus flavor. Fresh is always best!
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic provides a pungent, aromatic depth that you can’t get from powder.
Italian Seasoning: A simple blend of dried herbs that complements the lemon and garlic perfectly.
Butter: Adds a touch of richness and silkiness to the sauce.
Salt and Pepper: To taste, to enhance all the other flavors.
Fresh Parsley: For a fresh, green garnish that brightens everything up at the end.
How to Make Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken (Step-by-Step)
This recipe is as easy as 1-2-3. Just a few simple steps stand between you and a delicious, home-cooked meal.
Step 1: Create the Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning. This mixture is the flavor powerhouse of the dish.
Step 2: Assemble in the Slow Cooker
Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker in a single layer. Pour the prepared lemon garlic sauce over the chicken. Place the small pieces of butter on top of the chicken and season generously with salt and pepper.
So tender it practically shreds itself!
Step 3: Cook Low and Slow
Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. The chicken is done when it is cooked through and easily shreds with a fork. Cooking it low and slow is highly recommended for the most tender result.
Step 4: Shred and Serve
Once cooked, remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and toss it with the sauce. Let it sit for a few minutes to absorb all the juices. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Expert Tips for the Perfect Crockpot Chicken
Don’t Peek: Avoid lifting the lid while the chicken is cooking. Each time you do, heat escapes and increases the cooking time.
For a Thicker Sauce: If you prefer a thicker sauce, make a cornstarch slurry. Remove 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid, whisk it with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth, then pour it back into the slow cooker. Let it cook for another 15-20 minutes on high to thicken.
Use Fresh Ingredients: For the most vibrant flavor, always use fresh lemon juice and minced garlic. It makes a world of difference compared to the bottled varieties.
What to Serve with Lemon Garlic Chicken
This versatile chicken pairs beautifully with a wide variety of sides. Here are a few of our favorites:
This recipe is perfect for meal prep! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To reheat, simply microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed through, or gently heat in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add a splash of chicken broth if needed to keep it moist.
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work wonderfully in this recipe. They may require slightly less cooking time, so start checking for doneness around the 3-4 hour mark on low.
For food safety reasons, it is not recommended to cook chicken from frozen in a slow cooker. The cooker heats too slowly, which can allow bacteria to grow. Always thaw your chicken completely before cooking.
To thicken the sauce, create a slurry by mixing 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water until smooth. Once the chicken is cooked and removed, whisk the slurry into the sauce in the slow cooker. Turn the heat to high and let it cook for 15-20 minutes, or until thickened.
The best way to ensure your chicken is cooked is to use a meat thermometer. It should register an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). The chicken should also be opaque and shred easily with a fork.
Yes, this is a great recipe for adding vegetables. Hearty vegetables like baby potatoes, carrots, or onions can be added to the bottom of the slow cooker at the beginning. More delicate vegetables like broccoli or asparagus can be added in the last 30-45 minutes of cooking.
We Hope You Love This Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken!
This recipe is a testament to the fact that simple, fresh ingredients can create the most delicious meals. It’s a lifesaver on busy weeks and a joy to share with family and friends. If you make it, we’d love for you to leave a comment below and share your creation on Pinterest!
The easiest and most flavorful Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken you'll ever make!
Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken
FL Recipes
Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken: The Easiest, Juiciest Recipe
This Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken is the ultimate easy weeknight meal! Tender, juicy chicken breasts cooked in a vibrant, zesty sauce made with fresh lemon, garlic, and herbs. A true set-it-and-forget-it dinner.
2lbsboneless, skinless chicken breastsabout 4 medium breasts
1/2cuplow-sodium chicken broth
1/4cupfresh lemon juicefrom 1-2 lemons
1tbsplemon zest
4clovesgarlicminced
1tbspItalian seasoning
2tbspunsalted buttercut into small pieces
1tspsaltor to taste
1/2tspblack pepperor to taste
2tbspfresh parsleychopped, for garnish
Equipment
1 Slow Cooker (6-quart)
1 Small mixing bowl
Method
In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning.
Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Top with pieces of butter and season with salt and pepper.
Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the sauce in the crockpot and toss to combine. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 310kcalProtein: 45gFat: 12gFiber: 1g
Notes
For a thicker sauce: Make a cornstarch slurry by mixing 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water. Remove the chicken, stir the slurry into the slow cooker, and cook on high for 15 minutes until thickened. Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
