Description
This Juicy Slow Cooker Honey Lemon Chicken Thighs recipe delivers tender, flavorful chicken infused with a tangy honey lemon sauce. Prepared in just 10 minutes and slow-cooked to perfection, it’s an effortless and satisfying weeknight meal featuring bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, fresh thyme, and a hint of garlic.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 yellow onion, roughly chopped
- 2 lb bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 4 or 5 pieces)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed or grated
- 3/4 cup chicken stock
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
Instructions
- Prepare the Slow Cooker: Spread the chopped onion in an even layer in the bottom of a slow cooker insert. Arrange the chicken thighs on top of the onion to form a base layer.
- Make the Sauce: In a small bowl or jar, combine the honey, lemon zest and juice, crushed garlic, chicken stock, salt, and black pepper. Stir or shake well to fully incorporate the ingredients.
- Pour Sauce Over Chicken: Pour the combined honey lemon sauce evenly over the chicken thighs. Nestle the fresh thyme sprigs into the slow cooker among the chicken pieces for added flavor.
- Cook the Chicken: Set the slow cooker to low and cook for 6-7 hours, or choose the high setting for 3-4 hours. The chicken will become tender and soak up the citrusy honey sauce during this time.
- Crisp the Skin: Carefully remove the cooked chicken thighs from the slow cooker and arrange them in a baking dish or on a sheet pan. Broil in the oven for 3-4 minutes until the skin turns golden brown and crispy.
- Serve: Remove the thyme sprigs from the slow cooker. Use a spoon or gravy separator to skim excess fat from the surface of the sauce. Serve the crispy chicken thighs topped with the flavorful sauce and cooked onions for a delicious meal.
Notes
- This slow cooker honey lemon chicken is juicy and tangy, making it a perfect and easy weeknight dinner.
- For extra crispiness, broil the chicken skin for an additional 1-2 minutes if desired, but watch carefully to avoid burning.
- The sauce pairs well with rice, mashed potatoes, or crusty bread to soak up the delicious juices.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with sauce (approx. 200g)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
