Lemon Herb Chicken with Fluffy Rice (Printable)

Juicy lemon herb chicken slow-cooked to perfection over fluffy rice for an easy comforting meal.

# What You'll 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

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine salt, black pepper, dried oregano, dried thyme, and dried basil. Rub seasoning blend evenly over all chicken thighs.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer browned chicken to the slow cooker.
03 - Scatter minced garlic, chopped onion, lemon zest, and lemon juice over the browned chicken in the slow cooker.
04 - Pour chicken broth over the chicken. Add honey if using for balanced sweetness.
05 - Cover and cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 7 hours until chicken is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
06 - Thirty minutes before chicken finishes, combine rinsed rice, water or broth, salt, and butter in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
07 - Place chicken over fluffy rice. Spoon slow cooker juices over the top and garnish with chopped fresh parsley.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The chicken literally falls apart with just a gentle nudge from your fork
  • Your entire home will smell like an Italian grandmother has been cooking all day
  • The cleanup is almost non-existent since everything happens in one vessel
02 -
  • Browning the chicken first is not absolutely necessary but it adds a depth of flavor that makes a noticeable difference
  • The rice timing is deliberate so it finishes just when the chicken is done
  • Spooning the cooking liquid over the chicken at serving time is essential because that is where all the flavor lives
03 -
  • Boneless chicken thighs or breasts work too but reduce the cooking time by about an hour
  • Let the rice stand for the full 5 minutes before fluffing or the grains will not separate properly

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