Crock Pot Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs Recipe

There’s nothing quite as comforting and flavorful as Crock Pot Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs. Tender chicken thighs cooked slowly in a rich lemon-garlic butter sauce will leave your taste buds craving more. The beauty of using a Crock Pot is that you can set it and forget it, making this dish ideal for busy days when you want a comforting, home-cooked meal without spending hours in the kitchen.

Instructions for Crock Pot Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

1. Trim the Chicken Thighs: Begin by trimming any excess fat from the chicken thighs. This step ensures that the skinless thighs cook evenly and prevents the sauce from becoming too greasy. You can leave the bone in for more flavor, or opt for boneless thighs for quicker cooking and easier eating.

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2. Season the Chicken: Season the chicken thighs generously with salt and pepper on both sides. The seasoning will enhance the flavors of the chicken as it cooks in the Crock Pot.

3. Sear the Chicken (Optional): While optional, searing the chicken thighs before adding them to the Crock Pot adds depth of flavor and a beautiful golden color. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken thighs and sear them for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. This step is optional but highly recommended for extra flavor. Once seared, transfer the chicken thighs to the Crock Pot.

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Step 2: Prepare the Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

1. Cook the Garlic: In the same skillet used for searing the chicken, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic as it can become bitter. The garlic should turn a golden color and release a delicious aroma.

2. Make the Sauce: Once the garlic is cooked, add the melted butter to the skillet along with the lemon juice, lemon zest, thyme, rosemary (if using), paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, Dijon mustard, and chicken broth. Stir everything together and let it simmer for about 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.

3. Taste and Adjust the Sauce: Taste the sauce and adjust the seasonings if needed. You can add more salt, pepper, or lemon juice if you want more tang, or more Dijon mustard for an extra bite. If you like a spicier sauce, feel free to increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes.

Step 3: Add the Sauce to the Crock Pot

1. Pour the Sauce Over the Chicken: Once the sauce is ready, pour it evenly over the chicken thighs in the Crock Pot. Make sure that each chicken thigh is coated in the delicious lemon garlic butter sauce. The sauce will slowly cook into the chicken, infusing it with flavor.

2. Cover and Cook: Cover the Crock Pot with its lid. Set the Crock Pot to low and cook for 4-6 hours. If you’re in a rush, you can cook on high for about 2-3 hours, but low and slow cooking will yield the most tender chicken.

Step 4: Shred or Serve the Chicken

1. Check for Tenderness: After the cooking time is complete, check the chicken. It should be fork-tender and easy to shred. If you’re using bone-in chicken thighs, the meat should be easily pulled from the bone.

2. Shred the Chicken (Optional): If you prefer shredded chicken, use two forks to shred the chicken thighs directly in the Crock Pot. Stir the shredded chicken in the sauce so that every bite is coated in the rich, flavorful butter sauce.

3. Serve the Chicken: If you prefer whole thighs, simply serve the chicken thighs with the sauce spooned over the top. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley, lemon slices, and sprigs of thyme or rosemary for a beautiful presentation.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

1. Pair with Sides: Serve the lemon garlic butter chicken thighs with your favorite side dishes. Some great options include steamed rice, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a fresh salad. The sauce is rich and flavorful, so it pairs wonderfully with starchy sides that will soak up the extra goodness.

2. Garnish and Serve: Finish off the dish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for added brightness. The lemony touch at the end will enhance the flavor of the chicken and provide a fresh contrast to the rich butter sauce.

Tips for Perfect Crock Pot Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs

• Use Bone-In Thighs for More Flavor: Bone-in chicken thighs provide more flavor and juiciness during slow cooking, making them ideal for this recipe. If you use boneless thighs, reduce the cooking time slightly to prevent them from drying out.

• Searing the Chicken: While optional, searing the chicken thighs adds an extra layer of flavor and helps develop a rich, golden color. Don’t skip this step if you have the time!

• Adjust the Sauce Consistency: If you find the sauce too thin at the end of cooking, you can thicken it by mixing in a small amount of cornstarch slurry (cornstarch and water). Let it simmer for a few minutes to thicken to your desired consistency.

• Adjust the Lemon Flavor: If you prefer a stronger lemon flavor, you can increase the amount of lemon juice and zest. Conversely, if you find the lemon flavor too overpowering, reduce the lemon juice slightly.

• Use Fresh Herbs: Fresh herbs such as thyme and rosemary make a significant difference in the overall flavor profile of the dish. If you can, opt for fresh herbs over dried for a more aromatic and fragrant dish.

• Add Vegetables: To make this a one-pot meal, you can add vegetables like baby potatoes, carrots, or bell peppers to the Crock Pot at the start of the cooking process. They will cook along with the chicken, absorbing all the delicious flavors.

• Make it Spicy: If you like a spicy kick, you can add more crushed red pepper flakes, or even a finely diced jalapeño or chili pepper, to the sauce.

Variations of Crock Pot Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs

While this recipe is delicious on its own, there are plenty of ways to customize it to suit your tastes or dietary preferences:

1. Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken with Veggies: Add vegetables like potatoes, carrots, or mushrooms to the Crock Pot to make this a hearty one-pot meal. These vegetables will soak up the flavor of the lemon garlic butter sauce, making them even more delicious.

2. Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken with Asparagus: For a lighter version, add asparagus spears to the Crock Pot during the last hour of cooking. The asparagus will cook through but still retain its vibrant color and texture.

3. Spicy Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken: If you enjoy a spicy kick, add some chopped jalapeños or increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes in the sauce. This will give your dish a more intense, fiery flavor.

4. Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken with Coconut Milk: For a slightly tropical twist, replace half of the chicken broth with coconut milk. The creamy coconut milk pairs beautifully with the butter, giving the dish a unique, silky texture and flavor.

5. Paleo or Keto-Friendly: To make this recipe keto or paleo-friendly, simply skip the butter and replace it with ghee or coconut oil. You can also skip the Dijon mustard for a cleaner flavor.

6. Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken with Rice: Add rice to the Crock Pot in the last 30 minutes of cooking. The rice will soak up the lemon garlic butter sauce and create a satisfying base for the chicken thighs.

Final Thoughts

Crock Pot Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs is a dish that will undoubtedly become a staple in your meal rotation. It’s easy to make, packed with flavor, and versatile enough to suit various tastes and dietary preferences. Whether you make it as a simple weeknight dinner or a more elaborate family meal, this recipe is sure to impress everyone at the table

Yield: 6

Crock Pot Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs Recipe

Print

There’s nothing quite as comforting and flavorful as Crock Pot Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs. Tender chicken thighs cooked slowly in a rich lemon-garlic butter sauce will leave your taste buds craving more. The beauty of using a Crock Pot is that you can set it and forget it, making this dish ideal for busy days when you want a comforting, home-cooked meal without spending hours in the kitchen.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 5 hours

Total Time 5 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 6 bone-in, skinless chicken thighs (you can use boneless as well)
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder (optional)
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Prepare the chicken: Place the chicken thighs in the bottom of your Crock Pot.
2. Make the sauce: In a bowl, whisk together the melted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, oregano, thyme, salt, pepper, and onion powder (if using).
3. Pour the sauce: Pour the lemon garlic butter sauce over the chicken thighs in the Crock Pot. Make sure the chicken is coated evenly.
4. Cook: Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours, or on high for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is tender and fully cooked (internal temperature should reach 165°F).
5. Optional – Thicken the sauce: If you want a thicker sauce, you can remove the chicken and set it aside. Then, simmer the sauce on high for 10-15 minutes with the lid off until it thickens slightly. Alternatively, you can mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and stir it into the sauce to thicken.
6. Serve: Once the chicken is done, garnish with fresh parsley and serve! It pairs perfectly with mashed potatoes, rice, or roasted vegetables.

Notes

Chicken Thighs: While this recipe uses bone-in, skinless chicken thighs for flavor and juiciness, you can substitute with boneless, skinless thighs or even chicken breasts, though the cook time may be slightly shorter.

Butter Substitution: If you want to lighten up the recipe, you can substitute part or all of the butter with olive oil or a low-fat butter substitute, though it may alter the richness of the dish.

Lemon Zest: Adding the zest from the lemon really boosts the lemony flavor! Don’t skip it, as it adds a fresh, aromatic layer to the dish.

Additional Flavors: For a different twist, feel free to add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for a bit of heat or a splash of white wine or chicken broth for extra moisture in the sauce.

Serving Suggestions: This chicken is versatile and can be paired with many sides like roasted veggies, mashed potatoes, rice, quinoa, or a fresh salad.