Slow Cooker Creamy Lemon Chicken with butter, garlic and lemon coating tender chicken breasts in a creamy sauce. Even great as a pasta topping!
Slow Cooker Creamy Lemon Chicken
Slow Cooker Creamy Lemon Chicken bucks the general rule of thumb I live by with slow cooker chicken recipes. I almost NEVER add chicken breast to a slow cooker. My Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken is one of the only exceptions on the site along with Slow Cooker Indian Butter Chicken.
This recipe uses chicken breast meat but it would be completely amazing and delicious with chicken thighs. The reason I avoided chicken thighs in this dish was I didn’t want all the extra fat to render because the sauce would’ve been too greasy.
I also wanted to note that even though you see the lemon wedges in the slow cooker before pic, you only use the zest and the juice in the recipe. I just loved how pretty it looked.
Don’t worry, I’ve lowered the cook time to account for the use of breast meat. And if you want to make this Creamy Lemon Parmesan Chicken instead, add in ½ cup shaved Parmesan cheese. Note: shaved Parmesan cheese is different than shredded or grated.
Some ways to use this Slow Cooker Creamy Lemon Chicken in other recipes:
- Cut it up and add cooked pasta to the slow cooker to make a creamy lemon pasta.
- Chop the chicken and add to the top of a baked potato with some of the sauce spooned over it.
- If you have leftovers you can use the chicken in salads, it is full of flavor.
Looking for more slow cooker chicken recipes?
- Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
- Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken
- Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Garlic Chicken
- Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken
Tools used in the making of this Slow Cooker Creamy Lemon Chicken recipe:
Cast Iron Skillet: If you don’t have a slow cooker with a stovetop friendly insert, this is my most used pan in my kitchen, heavy, keeps heat well and gives the BEST sear ever.
Slow Cooker: This recipe was made in this slow cooker. For larger roasts I also brown the meat in the insert and not lose a bunch of the flavor by transferring the meat and leaving the browned bits behind. If you’re thinking of a new slow cooker, consider it if your budget is open.
Pig Tail Flipper: I use this to flip the chicken breasts easily. I use this tool EVERY time I cook something that requires flipping, it is amazing.
Chicken Base: I almost never buy boxes of broth because I keep the beef, chicken and vegetable version of this Better Than Bouillon.
Ingredients
- 5 chicken breasts boneless and skinless
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 lemons juiced and zested
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup half and half
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon chicken base optional, but delicious!
Instructions
- In a large cast iron skillet add 1 tablespoon of butter to melt on medium high heat.
- Add the kosher salt, black pepper and Italian seasoning to the chicken and add it to the pan.
- Cook on each side for 4-6 minutes.
- Add the chicken to your slow cooker.
- Cover with lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic and the rest of the butter in pieces (I added the lemons in the before picture just for reference. Don't cook the lemons in the slow cooker).
- Cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours.
- In a large measuring cup add the half and half, cornstarch and chicken base and whisk well.
- Add the liquid, mix, and cook an additional hour on high.
What if I just go ahead and dump everything in a crockpot? I’m no cook and want to just try that. Don’t mind if it’s not as good.
That will work as Crockpots and Slow Cookers are the same.
Does the cook time change if you put the chicken in the crockpot raw?
The recipe calls for raw chicken :). Let us know how you like the recipe!
Can you use lemon juice and zest? If so, would you know how much? Thank you! It looks amazing and I plan on making it tomorrow:
You only use the zest and the juice in the recipe. I just loved how pretty it looked.
Thank you. I meant to say the lemon juice you buy from the store and not fresh lemons. However, I went and bought fresh lemons. This recipe was amazing! I served over garlic angel hair pasta!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
A winner, especially when someone is doing Keto, but really for everyone.
Appreciate your feedback Ginger and thank you for the 5 stars 🙂
I made this last night and it was delicious, my picky eater loved it. I added chopped asparagus when I added the half & half mix and served it with shell pasta. The shells held the sauce perfectly, it was the only pasta I had in the house lol. Definitely added to the monthly meal list. I might try adding some capers next time also.
Omg.. so yummy. I added in half cut white potatoes for the cooking duration, and threw some green beans in at the end.
It turned out as one of the best dishes I’ve ever cooked hehe.. thank you!
Hi!
Could this work with skin on bone in drumsticks?
Yes. Haven’t tried it with drumsticks so let us know how it turns out.
I don’t see chicken broth in this recipie
Chicken Base: I almost never buy boxes of broth because I keep the beef, chicken and vegetable version of this Better Than Bouillon.
made this and used a can of cream of cauliflower soup to make it a little healthier and omit the 1/2 n 1/2.
My 6 year old said “this is incredible! Your best dinner!” Followed by a thumbs up 🙂
Love it! So glad the your little one enjoyed the chicken!
Do you have to cook the chicken first or can you put it in raw?
Raw! Did you try the recipe and if so, what did you think?
Where can I find the nutritional content for this dish?
serving_size 1 calories 465 carbohydrates 8 protein 50 fat 25 saturated_fat 13 cholesterol 198 sodium 756 potassium 958 fiber 1 sugar 1 vitamin_a 660 vitamin_c 26.4 calcium 86 iron 1.2
I made this yesterday and it was delicious!!! What changes do I need to make (if any) if I want to make it with salmon instead of chicken?
I don’t have a recipe for slow cooker salmon. You might enjoy some of these salmon recipes from our collection on the site! https://dinnerthendessert.com/?s=salmon
Very tasty. I browned my chicken the night before to save that step. I would double the sauce amount next time.
Are you adding the chicken base to water or just the base
In a large measuring cup add the half and half, cornstarch and chicken base and whisk well.
I think this might be my new favorite crockpot meal! And I have made a ton of different meals! Omg it’s so delicious!!
Can I use heavy cream instead of half and half?
That would be delicious!
Can you cook this the day before a big party? (Will be on steam table next day) or will the cream chuck up
I don’t think it would. Let us know how you’re turned out!
This looks so yummy. Could you halve the recipe and would it be the same cook times in the slow cooker?
Yes, you can and same cook times!
All I can say is Thank you! You are truly gifted.
Aww, you made my day! Thanks Don and thank you for the 5 star rating!
I am making this now with chicken thighs, added chicken broth with the cream. I will be adding peas for some added color served over angel hair pasta. The house smells delicious hoping it taste as good as it smells?
This was so easy and so delicious! I did double the fresh lemon juice, as we love the lemony flavor. And I also used it to quickly deglaze the pan I used to sear the chicken breasts, get all those yummy chicken bits. The sauce was still plenty creamy for us. We served with homemade mashed potatoes and artichokes. So easy and super tasty! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Thank you! Love this! I am addicted to lemon. I added sumac to the rub and capers to the sauce! Perfect crock pot chicken recipe!
Me too Liz! Love Lemon! Thanks so much for the 5 star rating and if you try other Slow Cooker recipes on the site, please let me know what you think! We have sooo many Slow Cooker recipes because they are such a time saver!!
Can this recipe be made in an insta pot? I love it in the slow cooker but my son doesn’t have one- just wondering about cooking time and when to add the sauce!
I haven’t tested this recipe using an Instant Pot.
Some Insta Pots have a crockpot setting. If your son’s does not, he can google a similar recipe of “slow cooker chicken breasts in creamy sauce” (choose one with good star ratings) and go by their cooking instructions.
Tatiana, I know this has been a while but as for the Instant Pot, I am using my instant pot today to make this on the slow cooker mode. You can sauté and do it all in the pot itself. I love the versatility of the instant pot! I use it both ways for slow cook and for pressure cooking. It’s great to be able to use the pressure cooker part but it has the option of the slow cooker and works great! Just let it vent the whole cook time. You can adjust your settings for low or high- look up how for the pot you have. My low is called “normal”- mine is a bit older. It may be a little different on a newer one. Add the sauce as you would to a slow cooker. It may seal slightly but not much if you keep it vented and you can take the lid right off.
So freaking good! I am not a great cook, this was easy to follow and my entire family liked it!