Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken And Quinoa

This slow cooker lemon chicken recipe is bright, light, and it all comes together in the crockpot! We add quinoa at the end to absorb the garlicky-lemony chicken broth for the perfect base to this delicious and nutritious dinner. No pan-searing involved, and only a 5-minute prep!

No Cream Lemon Chicken Dinner

This recipe is SO easy you guys. There is no pan searing required, so the chicken just gets tossed into the crockpot with some lemon slices, garlic, spices, and broth. There is no cream or dairy involved!

While I love me some creamy lemon chicken, sometimes I want something a bit lighter. This recipe has fewer calories, and you don’t have to worry about picking up cream from the store.

We also don’t have to pan-sear the chicken, which is a huge bonus. When I want a crockpot chicken dinner, I don’t want to have to spend 10 minutes searing it and dirty up more dishes. I want to dump it all in a slow cooker and let it do its thing.

Tips For Success

There are a few tips and tricks that are actually super important in this recipe.

• Peel The Lemon Skin – If you leave the skin on the lemon, your broth will become bitter. I actually don’t mind the bitter flavor, but I think most people will want to peel the skin of their lemon slices to ensure that it is not bitter. Make sure to peel all of the white pith under the yellow part until you get to the flesh of the lemon, as the pith is what is super bitter.

• Allow The Quinoa Time To Absorb – You need to allow the quinoa enough time to absorb all of the broth. I would add it about 1.5 hours before serving. You will know it is done when all of the liquid is absorbed. If it absorbs quicker than expected, just turn the slow cooker to the ‘warm’ setting and let it sit until you are ready to serve.

• Use Good Quality Chicken – I don’t know about you, but I have been finding the quality of big-chain grocery store chicken to be terrible. Even if it’s organic, it comes out chewy. When I use a quality chicken breast brand from smaller farms, usually pasture-raised chicken, the quality of the meat proves to be so much better.

• Adjust Time If Using A Deeper Slow Cooker – There are typically two types of slow cookers: deep ones and shallow ones. This recipe is based on a shallow, rectangular-shaped slow cooker. The deeper slow cookers may cook slightly differently, as the chicken may be fully submerged in the liquid. So use your best reasoning and, if needed, adjust the recipe as you see fit!

How To Make Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken and Quinoa

Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and instructions!

1. Peel & Slice Lemon – First, peel the skin and white pith off of a lemon. This step is important, unless you don’t mind a slightly bitter flavor to your broth and quinoa. (I kept it on in the photos to show that it is a lemon). Slice the lemon into about 1/4 inch medallions and place in the bottom of a slow cooker. Use three slices per chicken breast (I used 6 slices for 2 chicken breasts).

2. Season Chicken Breasts – Place chicken breasts over the lemon slices. Season evenly with salt/ pepper and Italian seasoning.

3. Add Garlic, Salt, Broth – Toss 4 garlic cloves into the slow cooker, 1/2 tsp of table salt, and 2 cups of chicken broth.

4. Cook & Add Lemon Juice, Tomatoes & Quinoa – Cook on low for 5 hours. About 1.5 hours from serving, mash the garlic cloves with a fork and pour in 1 tbsp of lemon juice. Toss in the cherry tomatoes and quinoa. Stir and make sure every piece of quinoa is in the liquid. Place the lid back on and increase the heat to high.

5. Cook Until Liquid Is Absorbed – Cook until the quinoa absorbs all of the broth, which takes between 1 hour and 1.5 hours. When done, turn off the crockpot and fluff the slow cooker quinoa with a fork. Scoop into bowls and top with the chicken breasts. Sprinkle with parsley, and enjoy!

What To Serve With Crockpot Lemon Chicken And Quinoa

This recipe is amazing on its own, but you can also serve it with a side like roasted broccoli or asparagus. It would also be lovely next to a side salad.

This makes for a super easy and tasty crockpot meal for guests. Since you only need to spend about 5 minutes actually prepping the dish, you can let it cook on the counter while you enjoy your company.

How To Store Leftovers

• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you are ready to serve again, microwave for 30 seconds, flip the chicken and fluff the quinoa, and microwave again for 60-90 seconds.

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