Imagine coming home to a kitchen filled with the most mouthwatering aroma of tender, juicy chicken infused with bright lemon notes and perfectly steamed broccoli - all prepared with minimal effort! This Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken with Broccoli is the ultimate weeknight dinner solution that will make your taste buds dance and your family beg for seconds. With just 15 minutes of prep time and a hands-off cooking approach, you'll create a restaurant-quality meal that's both healthy and incredibly delicious.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 4 hrs
Total Time: 4 hrs 15 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup chicken broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken breasts by patting them dry with paper towels and seasoning generously with salt, pepper, and garlic powder on both sides.
- Place the seasoned chicken breasts into the slow cooker in a single layer, ensuring they are not overlapping.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice evenly over the chicken breasts, distributing the citrus flavor across the meat.
- Pour chicken broth around the chicken, being careful not to wash off the seasoning from the meat.
- Add broccoli florets around and between the chicken breasts, ensuring they are partially submerged in the liquid.
- Cover the slow cooker with the lid and set to cook on low heat for 4 hours, which will allow the chicken to become tender and the broccoli to steam gently.
- After 4 hours, check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer - it should read 165°F (74°C) to ensure it is fully cooked.
- Carefully remove the chicken and broccoli from the slow cooker, arranging on a serving platter.
- Optional: Spoon some of the remaining cooking liquid over the chicken for extra moisture and flavor before serving.
Tips
- Pat the chicken breasts completely dry before seasoning to ensure the spices adhere better and create a more flavorful crust.
- Use fresh lemon juice for the brightest, most vibrant citrus flavor - bottled lemon juice can taste flat and artificial.
- Don't overcrowd the slow cooker. Keeping chicken breasts in a single layer helps them cook evenly and prevents steaming.
- For extra flavor, consider adding herbs like thyme or rosemary to complement the lemon and garlic.
- Always use a meat thermometer to check that chicken reaches the safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can mix a tablespoon of cornstarch with the cooking liquid after removing the chicken and broccoli, then briefly heat to create a quick gravy.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 325kcal
Carbohydrates: g
Protein: g
Fat: 6g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 180mg
