Description
This Slow Cooker Lemon Herb Chicken and Rice is a comforting, flavorful dish featuring tender, juicy chicken slow-cooked with herbs, lemon, and perfectly seasoned rice. With minimal prep and a hands-off cooking process, this meal is perfect for busy weeknights, offering a delicious and wholesome dinner with vibrant citrus and herb flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon butter, cut into small pieces
For the Rice:
- 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
For Garnish:
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- Extra lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
1. Prepare the Chicken:
- Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, thyme, and paprika.
- Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly golden. (This step is optional but adds extra flavor.)
2. Assemble in the Slow Cooker:
- Place the seared chicken in the slow cooker.
- Add minced garlic, lemon juice, chicken broth, and butter pieces over the chicken.
3. Cook the Chicken:
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is tender and fully cooked (internal temperature reaches 165°F).
4. Add the Rice:
- After the chicken has cooked, remove it from the slow cooker and set it aside.
- Stir the uncooked rice, chicken broth, lemon zest, salt, parsley, and oregano into the slow cooker.
- Return the chicken on top of the rice.
5. Finish Cooking:
- Cover and cook on LOW for an additional 45-60 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed the broth.
- If needed, add extra broth during cooking to prevent dryness.
6. Serve:
- Fluff the rice with a fork, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve with extra lemon wedges. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use Brown Rice: If substituting with brown rice, increase the cooking time by 30-40 minutes.
- Add Veggies: Stir in peas, carrots, or spinach in the last 20 minutes for extra nutrients.
- Make it Creamy: Add a splash of heavy cream or Parmesan cheese at the end for a richer flavor.
- Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5-6 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Comfort Food, Slow Cooker, Mediterranean-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 servings
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 42g
Keywords: Slow Cooker Chicken, Lemon Herb Chicken, Crockpot Chicken and Rice, Easy Dinner Recipe