When it comes to easy weeknight dinners with big flavor and minimal work, Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs are hard to beat. This recipe creates deeply savory and vibrant chicken with a rich buttery sauce that practically cooks itself. It’s the kind of dish that feels restaurant-worthy but requires almost no effort — exactly the reason slow cookers became household staples in the first place.

In today’s fast-paced kitchen routines, home cooks are craving meals that taste slow-simmered without requiring them to babysit a pot. This dish is the perfect answer: dump, simmer, serve. The chicken turns fork-tender, the lemon-garlic butter caramelizes into the most luxurious sauce, and your home smells like you’ve been cooking for hours.

Whether you’re feeding your family, meal-prepping for the week, or looking for a comforting but bright dinner, this recipe is about to become a favorite. Below, we dive into everything you need to know — ingredients, instructions, expert tips, variations, serving ideas, storage, and more.

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken

There are endless chicken recipes online, but this one stands out for a few beautiful reasons:

1. Maximum Flavor, Minimal Work

The slow cooker does all the work. Your only job is to sauté the garlic briefly and assemble the ingredients.

2. Incredibly Tender Chicken

Chicken thighs thrive in slow cookers — they stay juicy, tender, and flavorful.

3. A Sauce You Want to Drink with a Spoon

The lemon, garlic, broth, and butter combine into a velvety sauce that tastes bright yet savory.

4. Pantry-Friendly Ingredients

Nothing fancy — everything is easy to find and affordable.

5. Crowd-Pleaser for All Ages

Kids love the buttery flavor. Adults love the garlic and lemon. Everyone wins.

6. Works for Meal Prep

The leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors deepen.

Ingredients You Need

This recipe uses simple, everyday ingredients — but each one plays a role in building the depth of flavor.

Ingredients

• 6–8 bone-in or boneless chicken thighs
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chicken broth
• Juice of 2 lemons
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon honey (optional, balances acidity)
• Fresh parsley for garnish
• Lemon slices for serving

Instructions

1. Season the chicken.

Pat chicken thighs dry. Season with salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning.

2. Sear lightly (optional but recommended).

Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a skillet. Brown the thighs for 2–3 minutes per side. This step adds flavor but is optional if you’re short on time.

3. Sauté the garlic.

Add another tablespoon of butter to the pan and sauté the garlic for 30–45 seconds until fragrant.

4. Prepare the slow cooker.

Place the chicken thighs in the slow cooker. Pour the sautéed garlic over them.

5. Make the sauce.

In a bowl, whisk together chicken broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, remaining melted butter, and honey. Pour over the chicken.

6. Cook.

• Low: 6–7 hours
• High: 3–4 hours

Chicken should be tender and pull apart easily.

7. Finish.

Garnish with fresh parsley and lemon slices. Spoon extra sauce over the top.

Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs

Tender, juicy chicken thighs slow-cooked in a rich lemon garlic butter sauce for a bright, savory, effortless dinner.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 6 hours hrs

Total Time 6 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Course: Dinner, Main

Cuisine: American, Comfort Food

Calories: 340

Ingredients

  

Chicken

• 6-8 chicken thighs bone-in or boneless
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Sauce

• 6 tbsp unsalted butter
• 6 cloves garlic minced
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 lemons juiced
• 1 lemon zest from 1 lemon
• 1 tbsp honey optional
• fresh parsley for garnish
• lemon slices for serving

Equipment

• Slow cooker
• Skillet
• Cutting board
• Knife

Method

 

1. Season chicken thighs with salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian seasoning.
2. Optional: Sear chicken in 2 tablespoons butter for 2–3 minutes per side.
3. Sauté garlic in remaining butter for 30–45 seconds.
4. Place chicken thighs in the slow cooker and pour sautéed garlic over them.
5. Whisk together chicken broth, lemon juice, lemon zest, melted butter, and honey. Pour over chicken.
6. Cook on low for 6–7 hours or high for 3–4 hours.
7. Garnish with parsley and lemon slices before serving.

Notes

Thicken sauce with cornstarch slurry if desired.

Expert Tips for the Best Result

1. Use chicken thighs instead of breasts.

They’re juicier and don’t dry out in the slow cooker.

2. Adjust the lemon to taste.

If you want stronger lemon flavor, add an extra teaspoon of lemon zest.
If you want a milder flavor, use only one lemon.

3. Thicken the sauce (optional).

If you want a thicker gravy-like consistency:

• Remove the chicken.
• Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons water.
• Stir into the sauce and cook on high for 10 minutes.

4. Add veggies.

Carrots, potatoes, green beans, or mushrooms can cook right alongside the chicken.

5. Make it creamy.

Stir in ¼ cup heavy cream during the last 10 minutes of cooking.

Serving Suggestions

This dish pairs beautifully with:

• Mashed potatoes
• Rice or lemon rice
• Pasta (the sauce makes an amazing coating!)
• Roasted vegetables
• Steamed green beans
• Garlic bread
• Couscous or quinoa

For a Mediterranean touch, serve with a side of roasted asparagus and a simple arugula salad.

Variations

Lemon Herb Version

Add thyme, rosemary, or oregano for extra herby aroma.

Spicy Garlic Lemon Chicken

Include red pepper flakes or cayenne.

Honey Lemon Garlic Chicken

Increase honey to 2 tablespoons for a sweet, sticky finish.

Creamy Lemon Chicken

Add a splash of heavy cream.

Keto-Friendly

Skip the honey, serve with cauliflower mash.

Storage + Reheat

Store:

Up to 4 days in the fridge.

Freeze:

Up to 2 months in an airtight container.

Reheat:

Stovetop on low with extra broth OR microwave.