Crockpot Chinese Lemon Chicken Recipe
This Crockpot Chinese Lemon Chicken recipe offers a deliciously tender and flavorful chicken dish cooked slowly in a sweet and tangy lemon sauce. Perfect for an easy weeknight meal, the chicken is infused with bright lemon juice, honey, and traditional soy sauce, then thickened to a luscious glaze that pairs beautifully with steamed rice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Chinese
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cubed
- 1/2 cup lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- Zest of 1 lemon
Thickening Agent
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken and Sauce: Place the cubed chicken thighs, lemon juice, honey, soy sauce, and lemon zest into the crockpot. Mix gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Cook on Low: Set the crockpot to low heat and cook for 4 hours, allowing the chicken to become tender and absorb the bright, citrusy flavors.
- Thicken the Sauce: About 30 minutes before serving, mix the cornstarch with 1/4 cup water to create a slurry. Stir this slurry into the crockpot to thicken the sauce and cook for the remaining 30 minutes.
- Serve: Once the sauce has thickened and chicken is fully cooked, serve hot over steamed rice for a complete meal.
Notes
- Using chicken thighs ensures the meat stays juicy and tender during slow cooking.
- Fresh lemon juice and zest provide a bright, authentic lemon flavor.
- Adjust sweetness by varying the honey amount to taste.
- Serve with steamed jasmine or basmati rice to complement the lemon sauce.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can add an extra 1/2 tbsp cornstarch slurry as needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 cup of chicken with sauce)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
Keywords: Chinese lemon chicken, crockpot lemon chicken, slow cooker chicken, easy lemon chicken, honey lemon chicken
