Description
This Slow Cooker Honey Lemon Chicken recipe offers a delightful combination of sweet and tangy flavors, perfect for a comforting and easy meal. Tender chicken breasts are lightly browned before being slow-cooked in a luscious honey-lemon sauce, making it an ideal dish to enjoy over rice or noodles. With minimal prep and the convenience of a slow cooker, it’s perfect for busy days and families seeking flavorful home-cooked meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3)
- 3 tablespoons corn starch
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
Sauce
- ½ cup liquid honey
- ⅓ cup low sodium chicken broth
- ¼ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 1 lemon – zest before juicing!)
- 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- Zest of 1 lemon (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cut chicken breasts into ½ to ¾ inch cubes. Place the chicken pieces in a large zip-top bag and add 3 tablespoons of corn starch. Shake the bag gently to coat the chicken evenly with the corn starch.
- Brown the Chicken: Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of canola oil and wait until it’s hot. Add the coated chicken pieces to the pan, ensuring they have space between each piece. Cook until the chicken is lightly browned on all sides; this may require doing it in two batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Transfer to Slow Cooker: Place the browned chicken pieces into a 2.5 to 4-quart slow cooker, spreading them evenly.
- Make the Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together honey, low sodium chicken broth, fresh lemon juice, low sodium soy sauce, salt, black pepper, and 2 tablespoons corn starch until fully combined. This mixture will create a flavorful, slightly thickened sauce.
- Cook the Chicken: Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 3 hours, or on high for 1½ to 2 hours until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Final Touches: Taste the sauce and adjust seasonings and sweetness as desired. For an extra punch of lemon flavor, add the lemon zest and stir gently before serving.
Notes
- This dish balances sweet and tangy flavors that work perfectly over rice or noodles.
- Ideal for busy days as it requires minimal hands-on cooking time thanks to the slow cooker.
- The lemon zest adds a fresh and vibrant flavor but is optional.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the skillet while browning the chicken to ensure even cooking and browning.
- This recipe includes a step-by-step video for easy following.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 367 kcal
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 564 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 73 mg
