Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs with Herby Lemon Gravy

Mum's slow cook chicken thighs, but better! Fall-off-the-bone tender in a herby lemon gravy. A proper 'set it & forget it' meal. Get the recipe!

May 31, 2025
By Zelia Thorne.

Jump to Recipe print

0 Out of 5 Based on: 0 Ratings.

Alright, let's dive into something proper tasty. ever come home after a long day and just crave a proper, hearty meal? this slow cook chicken thighs recipe is exactly what you need.

It's proper simple, incredibly flavourful, and basically cooks itself. what's not to love?

Fall-Off-The-Bone Goodness: A Proper Chicken Thigh Recipe

This ain't your average chicken dinner. originating from classic home-style cooking, chicken thighs potatoes crockpot is a proper british staple (with a slight modern twist, of course).

This is about as easy as it gets – a simple chicken thigh crockpot recipes guaranteed to impress. expect about 15 minutes of prep, then 6- 8 hours on low (or 3-4 on high) in the slow cooker.

This will serve 4-6 hungry souls. you could use it as fridge to oven meals or try something different with animal based crockpot meals .

Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs with Herby Lemon Gravy Recipe Card

0.0 / 5 (0 Review)

Preparation time:15 Mins

Cooking time:360 Mins

Servings:4-6 servings

Ingredients:

• 2.5 lbs (1.1 kg) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
• 1 tsp salt (5 ml)
• ½ tsp black pepper (2.5 ml)
• 1 tsp smoked paprika (5 ml)
• 1 large onion, chopped (approximately 1 cup, 150g)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (approximately 2 tsp, 10g)
• 2 carrots, chopped (approximately 1 cup, 120g)
• 2 celery stalks, chopped (approximately 1 cup, 100g)
• 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
• ½ cup (120 ml) dry white wine (optional – can substitute with more broth)
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) cornstarch
• ¼ cup (60 ml) cold water
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) chopped fresh chives
• 1 tbsp (14 g) butter (optional, for extra richness)

Instructions:

• Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken thighs, skin-side down, until golden brown (about 3-4 minutes per side). This step adds depth of flavour but can be skipped for a faster cook.
• Place chopped onion, garlic, carrots, and celery in the bottom of the slow cooker.
• Arrange the seared (or un-seared) chicken thighs on top of the vegetables.
• Pour chicken broth and white wine (if using) over the chicken. Add rosemary, thyme, and bay leaf.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and the meat is falling off the bone (internal temperature of 165°F/74°C).
• Remove the chicken thighs from the slow cooker and set aside. Strain the cooking liquid into a saucepan.
• In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and cold water until smooth. Whisk the cornstarch slurry into the simmering gravy. Cook, stirring constantly, until the gravy thickens (about 1-2 minutes).
• Remove the gravy from the heat and stir in lemon juice, parsley, chives, and butter (if using).
• Spoon the gravy over the chicken thighs and serve immediately.

Why You'll Obsess Over These Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

Boneless skinless chicken thighs recipes crockpot is fantastic for a few reasons. firstly, it's packed with protein. a chick thighs recipes crockpot are also a real money saver, and it's a great way to get a home-cooked meal on the table even when you're knackered.

It's old fashioned home cooked meals meets modern convenience, that's what makes this recipe is so special. i'm thinking summer chicken thigh recipes , which are the perfect way to introduce something lighter as summer rolls in.

Did you know that slow cooking can actually increase the bioavailability of certain nutrients in your food?

Now, let's get to the heart of it: the ingredients. you'll need about 2.5 lbs (1.1 kg) of bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs.

Why skin-on, you ask? because crispy skin after searing (optional, mind) is what you'll want! oh, and have a decent onion, a couple of garlic cloves, carrots, and celery stalks ready.

Alright, let's get this show on the road! we're diving into slow cook chicken thighs , the ultimate comfort food recipe.

Seriously, who doesn't love a good crock pot dinner ? this isn't some fancy-pants michelin-star meal. it's the kind of food that warms your soul, reminds you of old fashioned home cooked meals , and is ridiculously easy to make.

Trust me, if i can do it, anyone can.

Ingredients & Equipment: Get Ready to Rumble!

Time to gather the troops, ingredient-wise. This ain't rocket science, but it's worth paying attention to quality.

Main Ingredients: The A-Team

• 2.5 lbs (1.1 kg) bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs.
  • Quality Check: Look for plump, juicy thighs with a good amount of skin. The skin is where a lot of flavour comes from. Fresh is always best. If you got some boneless skinless chicken thighs , that's totally fine too, it works with any Chicken Thighs Recipes Crockpot , the cooking time will just need to be adjusted.
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil
• 1 tsp (5 ml) salt
• ½ tsp (2.5 ml) black pepper
• 1 tsp (5 ml) smoked paprika
• 1 large onion, chopped (about 1 cup, 150g)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tsp, 10g)
• 2 carrots, chopped (about 1 cup, 120g)
• 2 celery stalks, chopped (about 1 cup, 100g)
• 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth (low sodium, yeah?)
• ½ cup (120 ml) dry white wine (optional, more broth if needed)
• 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
• 3 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• For the Gravy:
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) cornstarch
• ¼ cup (60 ml) cold water
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp (15 ml) chopped fresh chives
• 1 tbsp (14 g) butter (optional, adds richness)

Seasoning Notes: Spice Up Your Life

Alright, here's where we get to play around a bit. these are the basics. smoked paprika, salt, and pepper are your base, but you can get fancy.

Throw in a pinch of red pepper flakes for a kick, or some dried oregano for a mediterranean vibe.

For flavor enhancers, a splash of Worcestershire sauce can do wonders. Don't be afraid to experiment. And by the way, this also works well as Animal Based Crockpot Meals .

Running low on fresh herbs? don't panic! dried herbs will do the trick. just use about 1 teaspoon of dried for every sprig of fresh.

Easy peasy. this will work in practically any of the 7qt crockpot recipes you may find.

Equipment Needed: Keep It Simple, Stupid!

• A slow cooker (a 6-quart or larger is ideal. A 7qt even better. But you can easily make this work in most sizes, just adjust quantities or divide and conquer)
• Large skillet (optional, for searing the chicken)
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Cutting board
• Knife

Honestly, that's it. no need for fancy gadgets. you could even chop the veggies with a spoon if you're feeling particularly rustic! remember, you can make the change from fridge to oven meals easily too.

So there you have it, all of the ingredients you need for a Simple Chicken Thigh Crockpot Recipes . Now, let's get cooking! Get your Chicken Thighs Potatoes Crockpot ready!

Alright, let's get this slow cook chicken thighs recipe going! it's gonna be proper easy, like something your nan would whip up, but with a little modern twist, you know? we're talking fall-off-the-bone chicken with a herby lemon gravy.

Perfect for a cosy sunday dinner or a busy weeknight. think of this as one of those old fashioned home cooked meals that just warms the soul.

Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs : Prep Like a Pro

First things first, the mise en place . essential, innit? get everything chopped and measured. 2.5 lbs of bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs is our starting point.

You'll need an onion, garlic, carrots, and celery all chopped up. have your herbs ready – rosemary and thyme. also, that all-important lemon! this prep time will take about 15 minutes.

It's all about that time-saving organization.

For a bit of safety, remember to wash your hands after handling raw chicken. Nobody wants the dreaded lurgy!

Step-by-Step: Chick Thighs Recipes Crockpot Magic

1. Pat those chicken thighs dry. Season them up good with 1 tsp of salt, 1/2 tsp of pepper, and 1 tsp of smoked paprika.

2. (optional, but trust me) heat up 1 tbsp of olive oil in a pan. brown the chicken, skin-side down, for about 3- 4 minutes per side.

   Searing gives it that deep flavour , like animal based crockpot meals .

3. Chuck the chopped onion, garlic, carrots, and celery into the bottom of your slow cooker (a 7qt Crockpot is perfect for this).

4. Nestle the chicken thighs on top of the veg.

5. Pour 1 cup of chicken broth (low sodium is best) and 1/2 cup of dry white wine (optional, but adds a zing ) over the chicken.

   If you're skipping the wine, just add more broth. add your rosemary, thyme, and a bay leaf.

6. Cover and cook on low for 6- 8 hours or on high for 3- 4 hours . you want the chicken to be fall-off-the-bone tender and reach an internal temperature of 165° f/ 74° c.

7. Remove the chicken and strain the cooking liquid into a saucepan.

8. Whisk 2 tbsp of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of cold water. Stir this into the simmering gravy. Cook until it thickens, about 1- 2 minutes.

9. Take the gravy off the heat. Stir in 2 tbsp of lemon juice, 2 tbsp of parsley, 1 tbsp of chives, and a knob of butter (optional, but so good).

10. Spoon the gravy over the chicken. Serve it up piping hot!

Pro Tips for Cracking Crock Pot Dinners

Want to really nail this? Try these tips:

• Don't overcrowd the slow cooker . If you do, the chicken won't brown properly.
• Sear the chicken . It adds a load of extra flavour. Trust me on this one.
• Avoid overcooking. Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs Recipes Crockpot often dry out faster. Always check the internal temperature.

Common mistake? opening the lid too often. resist! each time you lift the lid, you add like, 15- 20 minutes to the cooking time.

I know it's tempting, but patience is key. if you want to prep ahead, you can chop all the veggies the night before and store them in the fridge to oven meals container.

That makes the prep super quick the next day. these tips also work great with summer chicken thigh recipes ! give these simple chicken thigh crockpot recipes a go! it's going to be a proper delight!

Alright, let's dive into making these slow cook chicken thighs truly shine. We've got a cracking recipe, but the magic is in the details, yeah?

Recipe Notes to Level Up Your Slow Cook Chicken Thighs

Think of this as your secret sauce – the insider tips that elevate this dish from "good" to "oh my gosh, this is amazing!".

We're talking real, honest tweaks and tricks. i remember one time i completely forgot the garlic. disaster averted only because i chucked in some garlic granules at the last minute! let's avoid those rookie mistakes, shall we?

Serving Suggestions: Plate It Like a Pro!

Presentation matters, even for crock pot dinners . don’t just plonk the slow cook chicken thighs on a plate, right? spoon that gorgeous herby gravy generously over the chicken.

A sprinkle of fresh parsley or chives adds a pop of colour. for sides, how about creamy mashed potatoes to soak up all that flavour, or a vibrant green salad for a bit of freshness? if you want to go real fancy, serve it over polenta! and don't forget a nice crisp glass of white wine to complement the lemon.

Storage Tips: Keep It Fresh!

Got leftovers? lucky you! store your cooked slow cook chicken thighs in an airtight container in the fridge. they'll keep for about 3-4 days.

For longer storage, freezing is your friend. let them cool completely before freezing in portion-sized containers. when reheating, defrost overnight in the fridge and then gently warm on the hob or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth if needed to keep them moist.

Fridge to oven meals aren't really a thing with leftovers, you can put the thawed chicken thighs into the oven.

Variations: Tweak It to Your Taste!

Feeling adventurous? let's riff on this classic. for a summer chicken thigh recipes twist, add some chopped bell peppers and zucchini to the 7qt crockpot recipes .

If you're watching your carbs, ditch the mashed potatoes and serve with cauliflower rice. or, for a spicier kick, throw in a pinch of red pepper flakes.

These simple chicken thigh crockpot recipes are totally customizable.

Nutrition Basics: Goodness in Every Bite!

Okay, let's talk about the good stuff. slow cook chicken thighs are packed with protein and essential nutrients. you get a good dose of vitamins from the vegetables.

We can also talk about the animal based crockpot meals . it's a balanced meal that's both satisfying and nourishing. remember that while chicken thighs potatoes crockpot are great together, that will significantly add to the carbs and change the meal balance.

Honestly, this recipe is a game-changer. It's proper Old Fashioned Home Cooked Meals comfort food at its finest. So, grab your boneless skinless chicken thighs recipes crockpot ingredients and get cooking! You got this!