Description
Slow cooker lemon herb chicken and rice is a one-pot meal featuring tender chicken thighs and fluffy lemon-infused rice that cook together unattended.
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
2 cups chicken broth
1 lemon, zested and juiced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs mostly clear to remove excess starch.
2. Add the rinsed rice to the slow cooker along with the chicken broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, dried thyme, dried rosemary, salt, and black pepper, then stir to combine.
3. Place the chicken thighs on top of the rice mixture in a single layer.
4. Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours until the chicken is fully cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the rice is tender.
5. Fluff the rice gently with a fork.
6. Serve the chicken over the lemon herb rice.
7. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and, if desired, an extra squeeze of fresh lemon juice before serving.
Notes
Rinse the rice thoroughly to remove excess starch, which prevents the final dish from becoming mushy or gummy.
Place chicken thighs on top of the rice rather than mixing them in so they cook evenly and don’t sink to the bottom.
Don’t lift the slow cooker lid during cooking, as this releases steam and extends cooking time significantly.
Fluff the rice gently with a fork rather than stirring, which prevents breaking the grains and maintains texture.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3-4 hours on High or 6-7 hours on Low
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with rice
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg