Lemon Herb Chicken With Rice (Printable)
Tender lemon herb chicken slow-cooked to perfection, served over fluffy rice for a comforting meal.
# What You Need:
→ For the Chicken
01 - 4 bone-in, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 1 teaspoon salt
03 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
05 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
06 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
07 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
11 - 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
12 - 1 tablespoon honey (optional, for balance)
13 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
→ For the Fluffy Rice
14 - 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
15 - 1 ¾ cups water or chicken broth
16 - ½ teaspoon salt
17 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
# Steps:
01 - Rub chicken thighs thoroughly with salt, pepper, oregano, thyme, and basil, ensuring even coating on all sides.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken thighs for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown.
03 - Transfer browned chicken to the slow cooker. Distribute minced garlic, chopped onion, lemon zest, and lemon juice evenly over the top.
04 - Pour chicken broth and honey over the chicken, ensuring the meat is partially submerged in the liquid.
05 - Cover and cook on high setting for 4 hours or on low setting for 7 hours until chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F and is tender.
06 - Thirty minutes before chicken finishes, combine rinsed rice, water or broth, salt, and butter in a saucepan. Bring to boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes before fluffing with fork.
07 - Plate fluffy rice and arrange chicken on top. Ladle cooking juices from slow cooker over chicken and garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The chicken becomes impossibly tender almost falling apart when you look at it
- That lemon herb sauce makes everything taste bright and comforting at the same time
02 -
- Skip the browning step if you are rushing but you will lose some of that deep rich flavor
- Letting the rice stand covered is the secret step most people rush but it makes all the difference
03 -
- Pat the chicken really dry before seasoning to get the best browning
- Use a microplane for the lemon zest to avoid any bitter white pith