Slow Cooker Lemon Herb Chicken and Rice

This easy slow cooker recipe creates a comforting dish with tender chicken, fluffy rice, and bright, zesty lemon and herb flavors. It’s a beginner-friendly, mostly hands-off meal perfect for a busy day.

Table of Contents

• Ingredients for Slow Cooker Lemon Herb Chicken and Rice
• Simple Step-by-Step Instructions
• Notes and Serving Suggestions
• FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions – Based on previously available data)
• Conclusion

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Lemon Herb Chicken and Rice

This comforting slow cooker recipe yields 4 servings:

Chicken & Base

• Chicken breasts: 2 pounds
• Olive oil: 1 tbsp (For sautéing aromatics)
• Onion, diced: 1 medium
• Garlic, minced: 3 cloves

Rice & Liquid

• Long-grain white rice: 1 cup (Uncooked)
• Chicken broth: 4 cups (Ensure rice is submerged)

Seasoning

• Dried thyme, Dried rosemary, Lemon zest, Salt: 1 tsp each
• Fresh lemon juice: 2 tbsp
• Black pepper: 1/2 tsp

Finishing

• Frozen peas: 1 cup
• Fresh parsley, chopped: 2 tbsp (For garnish)

Simple Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sauté Aromatics

1. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Add the diced onion and sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened and translucent.
3. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
4. Transfer the cooked onion and garlic mixture to the bottom of the slow cooker.

Step 2: Assemble the Slow Cooker

1. Place the chicken breasts on top of the onion and garlic mixture.
2. Sprinkle the dried thyme, dried rosemary, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper evenly over the chicken breasts.
3. Add the uncooked rice around the chicken in the slow cooker.
4. Pour the chicken broth over the rice and chicken, ensuring the rice is submerged in the liquid.
5. Drizzle the fresh lemon juice over everything.

Step 3: Cook

1. Cover the slow cooker with the lid.
2. Set it to cook on LOW for 3–4 hours or HIGH for 1.5–2 hours.
3. Cook until the chicken is fully cooked (165°F or 74°C) and the rice is tender and has absorbed the broth.

Step 4: Finish and Serve

1. Remove the cooked chicken breasts from the slow cooker and set them aside.
2. Stir the frozen peas into the rice and broth mixture, allowing them to warm through.
3. Shred or slice the chicken breasts and return them to the slow cooker, gently stirring to combine the chicken, rice, and peas.
4. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed.
5. Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the top just before serving.

Notes and Serving Suggestions

• Creamy Texture: For an extra creamy dish, stir in a splash of heavy cream or a dollop of sour cream before serving.
• Serving Suggestions: Pair with a crisp green salad or a side of roasted vegetables (like asparagus or broccoli).
• Freezing: Leftovers can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Reheat gently with a splash of broth to maintain moisture.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions – Based on previously available data)

• CAN I USE BROWN RICE INSTEAD OF WHITE RICE?Yes, but brown rice requires more liquid and a longer cooking time (likely 6–8 hours on LOW).
• CAN I MAKE THIS RECIPE IN THE INSTANT POT INSTEAD OF A SLOW COOKER?Yes, but you would need to adjust the liquid ratio and cooking time significantly for high-pressure cooking (usually 10–15 minutes).

Davis Janet

Lemon Herb Chicken and Rice

This easy slow cooker recipe creates a comforting dish with tender chicken, fluffy rice, and bright, zesty lemon and herb flavors. It’s a beginner-friendly, mostly hands-off meal perfect for a busy day.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dinner, Main Dish

Cuisine: American, Comfort Food

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 2 pounds Chicken breasts (Chicken & Base)
• 1 tbsp Olive oil (For sautéing aromatics) (Chicken & Base)
• 1 medium Onion, diced (Chicken & Base)
• 3 cloves Garlic, minced (Chicken & Base)
• 1 cup Long-grain white rice (Uncooked) (Rice & Liquid)
• 4 cups Chicken broth (Ensure rice is submerged) (Rice & Liquid)
• 1 tsp Dried thyme (Seasoning)
• 1 tsp Dried rosemary (Seasoning)
• 1 tsp Lemon zest (Seasoning)
• 1 tsp Salt (Seasoning)
• 2 tbsp Fresh lemon juice (Seasoning)
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper (Seasoning)
• 1 cup Frozen peas (Finishing)
• 2 tbsp Fresh parsley, chopped (For garnish) (Finishing)

Equipment

• slow cooker (or Crockpot)
• skillet for sautéing aromatics

Method

 

1. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for $3text{–}4text{ minutes}$ until softened and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another $1text{–}2text{ minutes}$ until fragrant. Transfer the cooked onion and garlic mixture to the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Place the chicken breasts on top of the onion and garlic mixture. Sprinkle the dried thyme, dried rosemary, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper evenly over the chicken breasts. Add the uncooked rice around the chicken in the slow cooker. Pour the chicken broth over the rice and chicken, ensuring the rice is submerged in the liquid. Drizzle the fresh lemon juice over everything.
3. Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Set it to cook on **LOW for $3text{–}4text{ hours}$** or **HIGH for $1.5text{–}2text{ hours}$**. Cook until the chicken is fully cooked ($165^{circ}text{F}$ or $74^{circ}text{C}$) and the rice is tender and has absorbed the broth.
4. Remove the cooked chicken breasts from the slow cooker and set them aside. Stir the frozen peas into the rice and broth mixture, allowing them to warm through. Shred or slice the chicken breasts and return them to the slow cooker, gently stirring to combine the chicken, rice, and peas. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt or pepper if needed. Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the top just before serving.

Notes

For an extra creamy dish, stir in a splash of heavy cream or a dollop of sour cream before serving. Leftovers can be frozen in an airtight container for up to $3text{ months}$; reheat gently with a splash of broth to maintain moisture. Pairing with a crisp green salad or roasted vegetables is highly recommended.

Conclusion

This Slow Cooker Lemon Herb Chicken and Rice is a flavorful and effortless dish that is guaranteed to become a family favorite!