Healthy Savory Slow Cooker Chicken (Printable Version)

Tender chicken with vegetables in a savory sauce, slow-cooked to perfection for an easy, satisfying meal.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 3.3 lbs skinless, bone-in chicken thighs or breasts

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 large carrots, peeled and sliced
03 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
04 - 1 large onion, diced
05 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 9 oz baby potatoes, halved

→ Liquids

07 - 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Herbs & Seasonings

09 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
10 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
13 - 1 teaspoon salt
14 - 2 bay leaves
15 - Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish

→ Optional

16 - Juice of 1/2 lemon

# Directions:

01 - Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Rub evenly with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, dried thyme, and dried oregano, coating all pieces thoroughly.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear seasoned chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. This step enhances flavor but can be skipped for convenience.
03 - Layer carrots, celery, diced onion, minced garlic, and halved baby potatoes in the bottom of the slow cooker insert, distributing evenly.
04 - Arrange seared chicken pieces on top of the vegetable bed. Pour chicken broth evenly over all ingredients. Tuck bay leaves into the liquid.
05 - Cover slow cooker with lid. Cook on LOW setting for 6 hours until chicken is tender, reaches internal temperature of 165°F, and vegetables are fork-tender.
06 - Discard bay leaves. Taste cooking liquid and adjust seasoning if desired. For brightness, squeeze fresh lemon juice over the chicken. Garnish generously with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

# Top Tips:

01 -
  • The house smells incredible all day long
  • Almost zero active cooking time required
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day
02 -
  • Searing takes just minutes but transforms the final flavor
  • The sauce might look thin but it concentrates beautifully
  • Lemon juice wakes everything up right before serving
03 -
  • Pat chicken completely dry before seasoning for better browning
  • Let the seared chicken rest on vegetables while the skillet cools slightly
  • Sauce reduction is worth the extra twenty minutes if you have time

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