This slow cooker lemon chicken recipe is loosely based on chicken piccata, a classic Italian recipe made with sauteed chicken in a rich lemon sauce. I love the pop of flavor the salty capers add, but swap them for olive or leave them out entirely if you prefer.
Have you heard the news? I wrote another cookbook!
My newest book, Healthy Meal Prep Slow Cooker Cookbook, is coming out in a few weeks and I couldn’t be more excited.
I definitely was NOT planning to write another book so soon. They’re so much work and I already have plenty on my plate trying to juggle this blog with my day job and also trying to have a life. But when my publisher approached me with the topic, I just couldn’t say no. I NEEDED to write this book, because I needed this book in my life. And I have a feeling that a lot of you do, too.
This book is packed with easy, healthy recipes that can be prepped ahead for super easy dinners (and breakfasts and lunches) all week long. Just like my first book, they have minimal prep and most of them use less than 10 ingredients.
And there’s so much more than just soups and stews. I really put my slow cooker to work, turning out everything from frittatas to tacos to banana bread.
I can’t pick a single favorite recipe, but this healthy meal prep lemon chicken is definitely near the top of my list. It’s so simple, but full of flavor.
Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken
This slow cooker lemon chicken was inspired by chicken piccata. The chicken cooks in lemon juice with garlic, capers and artichoke hearts. It won’t look like much at first but it completely transforms after 6 hours in your crock pot.
Just before serving, you’ll add the rice and let it steam right in the slow cooker. This is one of my favorite tricks for rounding out a meal – it’s like magic every time!
Then you can eat it right away or pack it up for later. The book has a whole section on how to meal prep safely, and every recipe includes specific meal prep instructions to steer you in the right direction.
Crock Pot Lemon Chicken Step by Step
Making this healthy meal prep lemon chicken is so easy! You only need a few ingredients and the slow cooker does most of the work for you.
Step 1: Gather your ingredients. In this case, you’ll need chicken breasts, olive oil, garlic, capers, lemon juice, and instant brown rice. Step 2: Add the lemon juice, oil, garlic, and capers to your slow cooker.
Step 3: Top with the chicken breasts and artichoke hearts. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 2 hours. Step 4: Stir in the rice. Cover the slow cooker and let everything sit for 10-15 minutes until the rice is soft and fluffy. Enjoy!
If you love this recipe as much as I do, be sure to check out the book. It’s available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, and at tons of independent bookstores across the country – and you can pre-order it now!
Be sure to follow me on facebook and Instagram and subscribe to my email list for more sneak peeks inside, too.
Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken
This lemon chicken recipe is loosely based on chicken piccata, a classic Italian recipe made with sauteed chicken in a rich lemon sauce. I love the pop of flavor the salty capers add, but swap them for olive or leave them out entirely if you prefer. If you omit the capers, season the sauce to taste with kosher or sea salt before serving.
Ingredients
- Juice of 2 lemons
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed
- 3 cups instant brown rice
Instructions
- In your slow cooker, combine the lemon juice, oil, garlic, and capers. Add the chicken and artichoke hearts.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on Low heat for 6 hours, or on High heat for 2 hours. If you'll be away for more than 6 hours, be sure to set your slow cooker to switch to "keep warm" once it's finished cooking.
- Stir in the brown rice. Re-cover the cooker and let sit for 10-15 minutes, until soft and fluffy.
- Refrigerate individual portions in airtight containers for up to 4 days, or freeze up to 4 months.
Notes
Prep Ahead: Combine the lemon juice, oil, garlic, capers, artichoke hearts, and chicken in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 1 day or freeze for up to 3 months If you want to prep this recipe up to 4 days in advance and keep it in the refrigerator, keep the chicken breasts in their original packaging and consume before the best by date (refrigerating them in the acidic marinade for more than a day can make them tough.) If frozen, thaw the ingredients in the refrigerator overnight before adding to your slow cooker.
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Nutrition Information
Yield 6 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 328Total Fat 8gTrans Fat 0gSodium 435mgCarbohydrates 39gNet Carbohydrates 35gFiber 4gProtein 28g