Slow Cooker Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs are tender and tangy, I love these over rice.
Lemon lovers this is your recipe! Make this chicken along with my Slow Cooker Lemon Spoon Cake!
I’ve made these Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs three times this last week. They are amazing! In the past when I have made chicken thighs either on the barbecue or in the oven, they don’t get as tender as I want them before they start browning. So I created this slow cooker lemon pepper chicken thigh recipe.
I start with making a homemade sauce, the sauce is similar to a homemade salad dressing. I do the mixing of the sauce right at the bottom of my slow cooker.
Then I place the chicken thighs into the sauce and swished them around to coat them in the sauce.
Cook for 4 hours on HIGH in the slow cooker and then placed on a cookie sheet and placed under the broiler in the oven for about 10 minutes or until browned.
More chicken recipes to make ASAP!
- Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
- Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowls
- Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs (recipe from A Southern Soul)
- Slow Cooker Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas
- Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken Spaghetti
- Slow Cooker Chicken and Stuffing
- Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Chicken
Perfectly tender and crispy! And the sauce is perfectly tangy to boot..
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Slow Cooker Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup lemon juice about 1 very large lemon (Do not use bottled lemon juice)
- 3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
- 1/4 tsp. pepper
- 2 1/2 lbs. chicken thighs bone-in, skin left on- just enough thighs to cover the bottom of the slow cooker.
Instructions:
- Add the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper to a 5-quart or larger slow cooker and stir. Add the chicken thighs into the sauce one at a time skin down and swish around in the sauce, then flip the thigh skin up, do this with all the thighs. (There will be just enough sauce to coat the chicken)
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours.
- After cooking time is done, preheat the oven to broil (500 degrees).
- Cover a baking sheet with foil. Using tongs remove the chicken thighs from the slow cooker onto the baking sheet.
- Place the chicken into the oven on top rack (My top rack was 2 levels down). Broil the chicken thighs for about 10 minutes, or until golden brown. Keep an eye on them, so they won’t burn.
- If you want to use the sauce from the slow cooker (it’s fantastic!) Blot the sauce with a paper towel to remove the grease.
- Serve and enjoy!
How to Video:
Sarah’s Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
This was delicious! I would highly recommend it and will cook it again!!
May I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?
Yes, that will work fine.
Wonderful recipe! So moist and tender. I work third shift as a nurse and am looking for easy meals’ Love cooking in my crock pot. This was so easy and tastes great. I am on low carb so I threw in radishes too as a “potato”
THE. BEST. EVER!!!
why do you put it back in the crock pot..after you broil it just like to know thanks
To keep it warm and for it to be with the juices I serve it with.
Nope. Just nope. Bland.
After 4 hours, dry, even for thighs.
So glad I didn’t waste my time and money. Thanks for heads up!
It’s a $3.00 meal for two…maybe $4.00…maybe $5.00 with a side…for two people.
Can I use drumsticks instead of thighs?
yes, that will work great.
Could you use a jar of minced garlic instead? How much to use?
I usually do I tsp. per garlic clove.
Can you use canola oil instead of olive oil if that is what you have??
Yes, that should work fine.
I’m thinking of making this tomorrow, but, shock horror… I hate garlic! Is there anything you can suggest that I use instead? I’m thinking it will be too bland with just the lemon and oregano?
You could try a little onion powder for more flavor instead of the garlic.
I’ve been making this for years. Its an old Greek recipe. I double the sauce, use chicken breast and add quartered potatoes. Serve with a crusty bread. Wonderful. Also use a tablespoon of oregano and more lemon juice.
Do I have to broil it after cooking in crock pot?
No, but you may want to remove the skin before serving.