Need a flavorful recipe for your new Instant Pot or an old and trusty slow cooker? This tender garlic lemon chicken thighs and creamy potatoes Italian recipe suits both cooking methods quickly.
It is simmered to perfection in rich, aromatic jus that your whole family will absolutely love.
My slow cooker mostly collects dust and is only being put to use during holidays to keep food warm. The last thing I made in my slow cooker is this Irish beer-braised pot roast for St. Patrick's Day last year.
Slow Cooker to Instant Pot
I don't trust leaving it on when I'm not in the house (my husband is a fire investigator and I hear horror stories about things that can start a fire all the time).
I don't have the patience to cook in it during the day, and I don't want my house smelling like food while I'm sleeping. Shortly, I barely use it.
After I bought an Instant Pot for my daughter's birthday and she told me that her solid frozen, rock-hard chicken was done in 20 minutes, I just had to have one too.
The first recipe I made was pork ragu I found on Pinterest and I should've trusted my guts (and experience) to adjust the recipe. It asked for no salt and for too much liquid with no thickener. My step-daughter asked what kind of soup that was, lol.
Instant Pot Help:
How to use an Instant Pot is definitely a learning curve. It takes time for the pot to build up pressure (sometimes up to 30 minutes) but once it does, your meal is done in no time.
There are different sizes and functionalities to choose from. For the two of us, a 6 Qt is plenty big.
If you're resisting the trend (like I was), I got you covered. I'm listing the steps to make this delicious garlic lemon chicken in a slow cooker too.
Can you make it on the stovetop? Absolutely! Use a dutch oven or a heavy non-stick pot and just make sure to simmer on low for about an hour after you've browned the chicken for a bit. Now you have no excuse - go ahead and make it!
Recipe adapted from Cooking Light magazine.
How to Make Instant Pot and Slow Cooker Garlic Lemon Chicken:
Instant Pot
- Select "Sauté" to pre-heat the Instant Pot. When the word "Hot" appears on the display add olive oil and brown the chicken thighs on all sides for about 5 minutes and set aside (work in batches if necessary).
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine the stock, cornflower, butter, and lemon juice. Whisk until combined and there are no clumps.
- Deglaze the inner pot with the wine. Press "Cancel" to turn the cooker off.
- Add the chicken pieces back in the inner pot, skin side down. Pour the liquid mixture over the chicken. Sprinkle evenly with salt, pepper, and thyme. Arrange potatoes and garlic over chicken. Close and lock the lid of the Instant Pot. Select "Meat/Stew", "Pressure Cook" or "Manual" and set the timer (+/- button) to 12 minutes.
- When time is up, open the lid using Quick Release (press "Cancel" and then turn the steam release handle on the lid to the "Venting" position.)
- Take the chicken pieces, potatoes, and garlic out of the inner pot with a slotted spoon and place on a serving dish. Sprinkle with parsley.
- Strain cooking liquid through a sieve into a small bowl. Let stand for 3 minutes. Discard any fat that rises to the top of the liquid. Serve jus with chicken, potatoes, and garlic cloves.
Slow Cooker
- Coat the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker with olive oil. Place thighs in the slow cooker, skin side down.
- In a small bowl combine the stock, wine, cornstarch, butter, and lemon juice. Whisk until combined and there are no clumps. Pour the liquid mixture over the chicken. Sprinkle evenly with salt, pepper, and thyme. Arrange potatoes and garlic over chicken. Cover the slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 hours.
- Take the chicken pieces, potatoes, and garlic out of the slow cooker with a slotted spoon and place on a serving dish. Sprinkle with parsley.
- Strain cooking liquid through a sieve into a small bowl. Let stand for 3 minutes. Discard any fat that rises to the top of the liquid. Serve jus with chicken, potatoes, and garlic cloves.
Instant Pot and Slow Cooker Garlic Lemon Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 bone-in, skin-on large chicken thighs (about 2-3 pounds)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch, cornflour
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground thyme
- 1 ½ pounds small red potatoes, scrubbed
- 1 whole garlic head, peeled
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley, optional
Instructions
Instant Pot
- Select "Sauté" to pre-heat the Instant Pot. When the word "Hot" appears on the display add olive oil and brown the chicken thighs on all sides for about 5 minutes and set aside (work in batches if necessary).
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine the stock, cornflower, butter, and lemon juice. Whisk until combined and there are no clumps.
- Deglaze the inner pot with wine. Press "Cancel" to turn the cooker off.
- Add the chicken pieces back in the inner pot, skin side down. Pour the liquid mixture over the chicken. Sprinkle evenly with salt, pepper, and thyme. Arrange potatoes and garlic over chicken. Close and lock the lid of the Instant Pot. Select "Meat/Stew", "Pressure Cook" or "Manual" and set the timer (+/- button) to 12 minutes.
- When time is up, open the lid using Quick Release (press "Cancel" and then turn steam release handle on the lid to "Venting" position.)
- Take the chicken pieces, potatoes, and garlic out of the inner pot with a slotted spoon and place on a serving dish. Sprinkle with parsley.
- Strain cooking liquid through a sieve into a small bowl. Let stand 3 minutes. Discard any fat that rises to the top of the liquid. Serve jus with chicken, potatoes, and garlic cloves.
Slow Cooker
- Coat the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker with olive oil. Place thighs in the slow cooker, skin side down.
- In a small bowl combine the stock, wine, cornstarch, butter, and lemon juice. Whisk until combined and there are no clumps. Pour the liquid mixture over the chicken. Sprinkle evenly with salt, pepper, and thyme. Arrange potatoes and garlic over chicken. Cover the slow cooker. Cook on low for 8 hours.
- Take the chicken pieces, potatoes, and garlic out of the slow cooker with a slotted spoon and place on a serving dish. Sprinkle with parsley.
- Strain cooking liquid through a sieve into a small bowl. Let stand 3 minutes. Discard any fat that rises to the top of the liquid. Serve jus with chicken, potatoes, and garlic cloves.
Notes
- To quickly peel a whole garlic head, separate the cloves, place in a small (Tupperware) container with a lid and vigorously shake until the skin is off. (I only had two cloves left unpeeled)
- Use fresh thyme sprigs instead of ground but discard before serving.
- Substitute cornstarch with 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour.
- Sprinkle chicken with more fresh lemon juice right before serving if desired.
Jenni M. says
It looks and sounds great, but I am concerned about the Nutrition Facts. Are they accurate, or can you correct them, please? Sodium at 146%, Fat at 208%, Cholesterol at 236%, and Calories per serving is 2736? Those numbers seem pretty high! Thanks for sharing your recipe, and I look forward to trying it soon, especially if I can make a healthier version. Thanks again!
Jas says
Oh, my! Definitely a mistake! Thank you so much for pointing it out. It's been fixed. Hope you enjoy! 🙂
Matt says
Great chicken recipe!
I'm now gonna try to make it before my GF gets home (I'm in the dog house for forgetting our anniversary!!!)
Hopefully this recipe will do the trick.
Keep up the great work!
Jas says
Thanks, Matt!
Michelle Leslie says
Whoop, whoop Jas, I just had to come back and share the good news. I MADE IT!!!!!! And nothing burnt down, there were no explosions of any kind plus, everyone loved it!!!! I have a nasty suspicion that I might just be making this garlic lemon chicken every single day for the next month. Okay maybe every second day. It was so awesome. Thank you
Jas says
YASSSSSSSSS! So happy to hear that you liked it and really impressed that you cooked, lol. 😛 You made my day, Michelle! Thank you, thank you, thank you! XO
Susan says
Thank you for sharing at the Happiness is Homemade Link Party. This looks great, I love my Instant Pot.
Susan @craftingafamily.com
Theresa says
I don't have an instant pot, just a crockpot. Your recipe looks really good. Thanks for sharing your recipe at the InspirationSpotlight party @DearCreatives Pinned & sharing.
Jas says
Thanks, Theresa! That's why I gave instructions for both. Instant Pot is not yet in every household. 🙂
Sheri says
Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing in our link party!
Jas says
Thank you, Sheri!
Megan says
Looks delicious! I love using my slow cooker, and I’ve been wanting an instant pot ever since my friend got one.
Jas says
You'd love it even more, Megan! Food is done in no time and it's an easy clean-up too. 🙂
Miz Helen says
Your Garlic Lemon Chicken looks fabulous, I just love the lemon flavor with chicken! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon
Miz Helen
Jas says
I am, Miz Helen! Thank you and wishing you the same. x
Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food says
I love everything about this recipe! First, that it's so versatile: I don't have an Instant Pot, so my slow-cooker does a lot of the work. But on the other hand, sometimes I like cooking dinner in my favorite Dutch oven on the stovetop, too! Second, chicken thighs are the protein of choice. YAAAAAAASSSS! Thighs are the best part of the chicken, IMHO. Third, I love that you use cornstarch as the thickener: it makes the jus clear and silky. This recipe has such great flavors working together—and it's all done in one pot!
Jas says
Thank you, Michelle! The best part is that is really so super flavorful and tender. I hope you give it a try!
Jhuls | The Not So Creative Cook says
I was just about to ask if I can do this on stovetop. Thanks for telling me before I could ask. So I don’t have an excuse, then - I should try this soon. This looks absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing, Jas. x
Jas says
Beat you to it, ha! 😉 Thanks, Jhuls!
Jann Olson says
Looks very yummy! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
angie says
oh this sounds like some wonderful flavored chicken. My favorite part is that it can become a well deserved meal after a busy day as it is slow cooked. Thanks for sharing
Jas says
Exactly how I feel about it. Thank you, Angie! 🙂
Elise Cohen Ho says
This looks perfect for a weeknight dinner. I love the idea of giving this a try.
Jas says
Thank you, Elise! You will love it!
Joanne Viola says
Printed this as I have had lemon chicken cooked in the oven but never had a recipe for it. Chicken & potatoes makes a wonderful dinner. The juice can also be served over white rice instead (which was how it was served when I had it). Thanks for the recipe!
Jas says
This is great over rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes. In that case, I would omit potatoes as an ingredient. 🙂
Amber Ferguson says
Okay I was already hungry! This sent me over the edge! Looks like a wonderful recipe!
Jas says
Haha, sorry (#notsosorry) Amber! It's super flavorful and I hope you try it. 😀 Thanks for stopping in!
Jess says
Pinned!! YUMMY!
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks.
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Jas says
Shared! Thank you 🙂
Sheila says
This is timely as I just got myself a new slow cooker. I would love to try this recipe soon. Thinking about the garlic, lemon and chicken combination surely excites me. Can’t wait to grab some ingredients and thank you for sharing this recipe.
Jas says
Yay, so happy you're going to try this recipe. Let me know how it turned out. Thanks, Sheila!
Michelle says
I can't even tell you how delicious this looks! I've yet to break open my instant pot because for some reason it seems daunting, but after printing off this recipe I am ready to try! Thanks for being so detailed and the pictures are great!
Jas says
I totally know where you're coming from. It just seems more complicated than it is (especially if you read the manual, ha). Make sure to go through the initial process to get familiar with it and it'll be easy sailing from there on. Thanks for the 5-star review! Much appreciated. 😀
Ann says
Chicken and potatoes are my favourite combo! Slow cooker though...I have no space to store that in my kitchen.
Jas says
I don't store mine in the kitchen either. That's probably why I forget to use it. Out of sight...