Description
A flavorful and juicy slow cooker recipe featuring bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs cooked with a tangy honey lemon sauce, fresh thyme, and onions. Perfect for an easy weeknight meal with minimal prep, resulting in tender chicken with crispy, golden skin after a quick broil.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Aromatics
- 1 yellow onion, roughly chopped
- 2 lb bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 4 or 5 pieces)
- 3-4 sprigs fresh thyme
Sauce
- 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
Instructions
- Prepare Onions and Chicken: Spread the roughly chopped yellow onion in an even layer at the bottom of the slow cooker insert. Arrange the bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs evenly on top of the onions to create a flavorful base.
- Make the Honey Lemon Sauce: In a small bowl or jar, combine 2 tablespoons honey, lemon zest and juice from 1 lemon, 2 cloves crushed or grated garlic, 3/4 cup chicken stock, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper. Stir or shake well until fully incorporated.
- Cook the Chicken: Pour the prepared honey lemon sauce evenly over the chicken and onions. Nestle 3 to 4 sprigs of fresh thyme into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Crisp the Chicken Skin: Carefully remove the chicken thighs from the slow cooker and place them on a baking dish or sheet pan. Broil in the oven for 3-4 minutes until the skin is golden brown and crispy, watching closely to avoid burning.
- Serve: Remove thyme sprigs from the slow cooker. Use a spoon or gravy separator to skim fat from the top of the sauce. Serve the crispy chicken thighs topped with the cooked onions and spoon the sauce over for an extra burst of flavor.
Notes
- This slow cooker honey lemon chicken is juicy, tangy, and makes a perfect effortless weeknight meal.
- Broiling at the end adds a delicious crispy skin texture that balances the tender meat.
- Using bone-in, skin-on thighs enhances flavor and moisture retention during slow cooking.
- Leftovers keep well and the sauce can be used as a flavorful drizzle over rice or vegetables.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with sauce and onions
- Calories: 360 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg
