Need a new take on slow cooker chicken? Chicken thighs served with a creamy lemon sauce will absolutely raise the bar. The lemon sauce absolutely makes the recipe, and this dish is bound to be devoured at dinnertime!

Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs With A Creamy Lemon Sauce cooked and served on dish with lemon for garnish tongs picking up recipe

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What’s To Love About This Recipe

This isn’t your standard chicken thigh recipe! This includes a zesty twist on chicken with the most delicious creamy lemony sauce.
I’m willing to bet this is one of those recipes that you won’t tire of anytime soon! It’s one of our family favorites because it tastes luxurious but is really pretty simple to prepare.
The combination of creamy lemon sauce and chicken thighs packs so much flavor. It’s a dish that is filling but also not too heavy.
One of the nice things about the slow cooker is that the thighs won’t dry out like they might with other cooking methods. Since the thighs are slow-cooked in liquid, they stay juicy during cooking, and browning them beforehand also seals in lots of flavor.
The homemade sauce sure beats a premade jar of sauce with chicken! You’ll be able to taste the difference and will also enjoy it with sides like veggies, rice, or potatoes.

Ingredients Needed

Boneless skinless chicken thighs – Chicken thighs are more fatty than breasts, and the darker meat is very flavorful. Be sure to use boneless thighs since bone-in may cause the meat to overcook and become more shredded – not what we want for this dish. This recipe calls for 2 pounds of thighs, which is typically 3-4 thighs per pound.
Olive oil and butter – Melt some olive oil and butter together in the skillet to lightly brown the chicken and seal in flavor.
Onion and garlic – Dice half a yellow onion for extra flavor and mince 3 garlic cloves. This combination enhances the chicken and adds complexity to the broth base.
Seasonings – Grab a few things from your spice cabinet for a light seasoning. Combine Italian seasoning with just a bit of salt and pepper.
Chicken broth – Broth will create the base for the creamy sauce and also keep the thighs juicy in the slow cooker.
Grainy mustard – I like using stone ground mustard to add a little texture to the sauce and for a rustic element.
Heavy cream – Heavy cream makes the sauce! Don’t make any swaps here – trust me, the richness is so worth it!
Lemon juice – Surprisingly, just a bit of lemon juice is enough to give the sauce a tasty, zesty flavor.
Cornstarch – Add a little cornstarch to the sauce at the end to thicken it. This ensures it will really stick to the chicken and anything else you want to serve with it.

: Ingredients for a recipe arranged on a kitchen counter, including 2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken thighs, a bottle of olive oil, a stick of butter, a diced yellow onion in a bowl, minced garlic in a small dish, Italian seasoning in a jar, salt, pepper, chicken broth in a measuring cup, a jar of grainy mustard, heavy cream in a carton, a lemon, and a small bowl of cornstarch.

How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

Sprinkle each side of the chicken thighs with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.

Raw chicken thighs seasoned with spices, arranged neatly on a parchment paper-lined aluminum tray, ready for cooking.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter with olive oil.
Add diced onion and garlic and sauté for about 2 minutes.

Diced onions sizzling in a skillet with a small amount of oil, being sautéed until softened and slightly translucent.

Move onions and garlic to the side of the pan and add seasoned chicken thighs.
Sauté for about 2-3 minutes on each side until they are nicely browned.

Chicken thighs and diced onions being seared in skillet

Transfer the contents of the pan to the slow cooker.
Add the chicken broth.
Cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

Seasoned Chicken Thighs before being cooked in slow cooker

Remove the chicken thighs and cover to keep warm.
Add cream, mustard, and lemon juice to the slow cooker and whisk until combined.
To thicken the sauce, pour it into a small saucepan and whisk in 1 tablespoon of cornstarch.

Creamy Lemon Sauce being whisked and prepared in skillet

Bring the sauce to a boil for 2-3 minutes until thickened to desired consistency.
Add additional salt and pepper to taste.
Pour sauce over the chicken and serve.

Top view of Slow Cooker with Chicken Thighs With A Creamy Lemon Sauce cooked inside

pro Tips

I rarely recommend browning chicken before slow cooking, but definitely brown the thighs in this recipe for added flavor, texture, and overall appearance.
Check for doneness with a meat thermometer (165 ℉).
Simmering the sauce is another worthwhile step! It becomes even more rich and thick when it simmers – you won’t get quite the same results by leaving it in the slow cooker.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

I don’t recommend swapping chicken breasts for boneless thighs in this recipe. Chicken breasts won’t deliver the same flavor and texture at the end. However, you could always recreate the sauce and serve it with other cuts of chicken.
If you want to try this recipe with another method, I’ve already tested it for you in the Instant Pot! Instant Pot Chicken Thighs with Lemon Sauce will deliver the tastiest results – but faster than the slow cooker!
If you don’t have cornstarch on hand, you could always whisk in a bit of all-purpose flour or tapioca flour instead.

Close up of tongs holding a juice piece of Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs With A Creamy Lemon Sauce

What To Serve With Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

Enjoy a simple, family-friendly meal by serving slow cooker chicken thighs with your favorite veggies and a carb like rice or potatoes. Some of my favorites are roasted broccoli, asparagus, or Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic.

This would also be a delicious choice to serve over buttered penne or egg noodles. If you want to get a bit fancier with your meal, add Slow Cooker Gratin Potatoes and a fresh Caesar salad.

Whatever you serve, you’ll want something to really soak up every bit of the lemon sauce. I recommend including breadsticks or garlic bread just for that reason!

Close up of Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs With A Creamy Lemon Sauce garnished and ready to eat

Storing and Reheating

Leftover chicken thighs can be sliced and turned into a delicious lunch over rice and with a side salad. You can also reheat extra sauce to serve over noodles or other veggies.

Store leftover thighs and sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or a skillet on the stove.