Crockpot Lemon Chicken Soup (Printable)

A comforting slow-simmered soup featuring tender chicken, vegetables, and bright lemon flavor perfect for any season.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

→ Vegetables

02 - 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
03 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Broth & Liquid

06 - 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
07 - 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
08 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Grains (optional)

09 - 1/2 cup uncooked white rice or orzo (optional)

→ Herbs & Seasoning

10 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1 bay leaf
13 - 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt, or to taste
14 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
15 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

# Directions:

01 - Place chicken breasts or thighs in the bottom of the slow cooker.
02 - Arrange carrots, celery, onion, and garlic evenly over the chicken.
03 - Pour in chicken broth and lemon juice, then sprinkle with lemon zest.
04 - Stir in thyme, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper.
05 - If using rice or orzo, add it to the mixture now.
06 - Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until chicken is fully cooked and vegetables are tender.
07 - Remove chicken from the crockpot, shred using two forks, then return meat to the soup.
08 - Taste the soup and add more salt or pepper if needed.
09 - Ladle hot soup into bowls and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The lemon brightens everything without making it taste like a cleaning product
  • Your slow cooker does absolutely all the heavy lifting while you go about your day
  • It freezes beautifully so you can always have homemade comfort food ready
02 -
  • The rice will continue absorbing liquid as it sits so the soup will thicken in the fridge
  • Adding the lemon at the beginning lets the acid mellow and marry with the other flavors
  • Resist the urge to lift the lid too often or you will lose precious cooking time
03 -
  • Double the lemon juice and zest if you really love that bright, tangy flavor
  • Cook the soup without the rice if you plan to freeze it then add freshly cooked rice when reheating

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