Crock Pot Lemonade Chicken Recipe

This Crock Pot Lemonade Chicken is a sweet and tangy dish that’s perfect for an easy and flavorful weeknight dinner! Imagine tender chicken breasts slow-cooked in a vibrant lemonade-based sauce, served over fluffy rice. This recipe is incredibly simple to prepare, requiring just a few minutes of hands-on time and a handful of pantry staples. Your slow cooker does the rest of the work, resulting in a delicious and satisfying meal that’s perfect for the whole family.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Effortless Cooking: Let your slow cooker do the work! Simply combine the ingredients and let them simmer to perfection while you go about your day.
• Flavorful and Tangy: The lemonade-based sauce creates a unique and delicious flavor profile that’s both sweet and tangy. The slow cooking method ensures that the chicken stays tender and juicy.
• One-Pot Wonder: Minimal cleanup! Everything cooks together in the slow cooker, saving you time and effort.
• Versatile: Serve this Lemonade Chicken with your favorite sides, such as rice, mashed potatoes, or vegetables. It’s also great for meal prepping or using the shredded chicken in sandwiches and salads.

this Recipe

Ingredients

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: A lean and healthy protein source.
• Lemonade concentrate: Thawed and adds a sweet and tangy flavor to the sauce.
• Brown sugar: Adds sweetness and enhances the glaze.
• Ketchup: Contributes to the sweetness and tanginess of the sauce.
• White vinegar or rice wine vinegar: Adds acidity and balances the sweetness.
• Water: Thins the sauce to the desired consistency.
• Flour: Used to thicken the sauce.
• Lemon slices or wedges: Adds a fresh and zesty garnish.

Note: For exact measurements, see the recipe card below!

How to Make Crock Pot Lemonade Chicken

Step 1: Prepare the Slow Cooker

Spray the inside of your slow cooker with cooking oil. This will prevent the chicken from sticking and make cleanup easier.

Step 2: Combine Ingredients

Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker. In a medium bowl, whisk together the thawed lemonade concentrate, brown sugar, ketchup, and vinegar until well combined. Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken breasts.

Step 3: Slow Cook

Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours, or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and easily shreds.

Step 4: Thicken the Sauce

About 30 minutes before the chicken is done cooking, whisk together the flour and water in a small bowl to make a slurry. Remove the chicken breasts from the slow cooker and set aside. Turn the slow cooker to HIGH, pour in the slurry, and whisk it into the sauce until smooth. Return the chicken to the slow cooker and continue cooking for the remaining 30 minutes.

Step 5: Serve

Serve the Lemonade Chicken over cooked rice with a side of steamed vegetables, such as broccoli. Spoon some of the sauce over the chicken and garnish with lemon slices or wedges.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

• Adjust the sauce consistency: You can add an extra 2 tablespoons of water to the sauce if you prefer a thinner consistency.
• Gluten-free option: Use gluten-free flour or an alternative thickener, such as arrowroot flour or tapioca starch, to make this recipe gluten-free.
• Paleo/refined sugar-free option: Use coconut sugar in place of brown sugar and a sugar-free ketchup to make this recipe Paleo and refined sugar-free.
• Shred the chicken: For easier serving, you can shred the chicken before serving.
• Add other vegetables: Feel free to add other vegetables to the slow cooker along with the chicken, such as diced carrots, sliced mushrooms, or chopped onions.

How to Serve

This Crock Pot Lemonade Chicken is delicious with a variety of sides:

• Rice: Serve it over a bed of fluffy white or brown rice.
• Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes complement the sweet and tangy flavors of the chicken beautifully.
• Vegetables: Steamed or roasted vegetables, such as broccoli, green beans, or asparagus, are a healthy and colorful addition to the meal.

Make Ahead and Storage

This Crock Pot Lemonade Chicken is great for making ahead of time or storing leftovers.

Storing Leftovers

Store leftover chicken and sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheating

Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave, stirring occasionally.

FAQs

1. Can I use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?

Yes, you can! Chicken thighs are more flavorful and forgiving than chicken breasts, so they’re a great option for this recipe.

2. Can I use fresh lemon juice instead of lemonade concentrate?

Yes, you can! You can substitute the lemonade concentrate with an equal amount of fresh lemon juice, but you may need to adjust the amount of sugar to achieve your desired level of sweetness.

3. Can I make this recipe without the flour slurry?

Yes, you can! The flour slurry is used to thicken the sauce, but you can omit it if you prefer a thinner sauce.

4. Can I add other seasonings to the sauce?

Definitely! Feel free to experiment with your favorite seasonings, such as garlic powder, onion powder, or dried herbs.

This Crock Pot Lemonade Chicken Recipe is a simple, flavorful, and convenient way to enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal. With its easy preparation, versatile ingredients, and sweet and tangy sauce, it’s a recipe you’ll want to make again and again!

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