Crockpot Lemon Chicken Soup (Printable)

Comforting slow-cooked soup with tender chicken, vegetables, and bright lemon flavor.

# What You 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)

# How-To:

01 - Place chicken breasts or thighs at the bottom of the crockpot.
02 - Layer sliced carrots, celery, diced onion, and minced garlic over the chicken.
03 - Add chicken broth, lemon juice, and lemon zest to the crockpot. Stir in dried thyme, oregano, bay leaf, sea salt, and black pepper.
04 - If using rice or orzo, add it to the mixture now and stir to combine.
05 - Cover and cook on low heat for 6-7 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours, until chicken is fully cooked through and vegetables are tender.
06 - Remove cooked chicken from the crockpot and shred using two forks. Return shredded chicken to the soup.
07 - Taste the soup and add more salt or pepper if needed.
08 - Ladle hot soup into bowls and garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The lemon brightens everything without being overwhelming, creating that perfect balance between comforting and refreshing
  • Set it and forget it cooking means you come home to dinner ready and waiting
02 -
  • The soup will thicken as it sits, especially if you added rice or orzo, so add extra broth when reheating leftovers
  • Remove the bay leaf before serving, nobody wants an unpleasant surprise in their bowl
03 -
  • Zest your lemon before squeezing the juice, it is so much easier that way
  • Use fresh squeezed lemon juice only, the bottled version lacks brightness

Return