Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken and Veggies

There are some slow cooker dinners that feel a little bit like a consultation prize. One ingredient (or all!) turns out a little mushy, the meat gets overcooked, the pasta is way past al dente… you know what I mean. But not this one. With this Slow Cooker Lemon Chicken and Veggies, every ingredient tastes like it was cooked right and not just like you dumped everything in together for the sake of convenience. It IS convenient though, and yet you get juicy chicken, fork-tender carrots and potatoes, and asparagus that hasn’t lost its crisp. It’s an entire dinner made easy, but it’s also done incredibly well.

The key here is really that you’re choosing your ingredients carefully so they stand up to the cooking time, but also that you’re adding the quicker cooking one (looking at you, asparagus) in later on. It’s pretty simple. Potatoes and carrots are great for slow cooker meals because they can take a long braising time without turning to mush and waxy red potatoes in particular really hold their shape. Just chop them up (not too small!) and arrange them in the bottom of the slow cooker.

INGREDIENTS
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Olive oil, as needed
  • 5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 lb baby potatoes, halved
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut in half
  • 4-6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 1/2 cup white wine
  • Juice and zest of 2 small lemons (or 1 large)
  • 1 lb asparagus, trimmed
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
PREPARATION
  1. In a small bowl, mix together thyme, oregano, garlic powder, and about 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.
  2. Add potatoes and carrots to the bottom of a slow cooker. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with half of the seasoning mixture as well as half of the minced garlic.
  3. Place chicken on top, drizzle with more oil, and sprinkle with remaining seasoning mixture and minced garlic.
  4. Stir together lemon juice, lemon zest, and white wine and pour over chicken and vegetables.
  5. Cover and cook on high for 2 1/2 hours, or low for 4 1/2 hours.
  6. Add asparagus and cook until tender, about 20 minutes more on high.
  7. If desired, broil chicken until skin is crispy.
  8. Adjust seasoning as needed, serve, and enjoy!