• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Good For You Gluten Free

Information about living with celiac disease, gluten sensitivities, and the gluten-free diet

  • View GoodForYouGlutenFree’s profile on Facebook
  • View g4uglutenfree’s profile on Twitter
  • View goodforyouglutenfree’s profile on Instagram
  • View goodforyouGF’s profile on Pinterest
  • View goodforyouglutenfree’s profile on YouTube
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • About Good For You Gluten Free
    • FAQs
    • Events
  • SERVICES
    • My SIGNATURE Course
    • 1:1 Coaching
  • RECIPES
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Bread
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Pasta
  • ARTICLES
    • Celiac Disease
    • Nima Tested
    • Eating Out
    • Health & Beauty
    • Products & Ingredients
  • SHOP
  • RESOURCES
    • My Book
    • Coaching Services
    • Giveaways
    • Safe Dining Card
    • Quick Start Guide
    • Ultimate Guide to Eating Out Gluten Free
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • CONTACT
Home » Main Dishes » Fall-Off-the-Bone Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs (Slow Cooker Recipe)

Fall-Off-the-Bone Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs (Slow Cooker Recipe)

Last Updated May 27, 2020. Published May 27, 2020 Good For You Gluten Free

Sharing is caring!

44 shares
  • Share
  • Email
Fall-Off-the-Bone Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs (Slow Cooker Recipe)
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This recipe for fall-off-the-bone lemon pepper chicken thighs (slow cooker recipe) may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosures.

Like you, I can’t get enough chicken recipes.

So today, I’m helping you out with a brand new chicken recipe that is 100 percent free from gluten, dairy, soy and full of only whole, fresh, all-natural ingredients.

Fall off the bone lemon pepper chicken thighs in the slow cooker 1

What You Need to Make Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

To make my fall-off-the-bone lemon pepper chicken thighs, you’ll need a trusty slow cooker and a few simple ingredients.

First let’s talk about that slow cooker. I got mine as a wedding gift 20 years ago and it still works like the day I got it. (When the times comes to replace it, I have my eye on this stainless steel slow cooker.)

As for ingredients, you’ll only need the following few items:

  • Chicken thighs (with bone and skin on)
  • Cooking oil (I always use this avocado oil for high heat cooking)
  • Lemon pepper seasoning (I like this one from Spice Hunter, but also use Sprouts’ Lemon Pepper seasoning)
  • Kosher salt
  • Large onion
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • Chicken broth (check labels to ensure it’s gluten free)
  • 6 ounces of manzanilla green olives
  • Lemon

Once you gather up all your ingredients, you’re ready to get cooking!

How to Make Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

First, sprinkle the lemon pepper seasoning and Kosher salt on the chicken thighs, then add the chicken thighs to a heated pan (with oil), to sear for two minutes on each side.

Chicken thighs coated in lemon pepper seasoning and sizzling in a pan to sear it.

Remove the semi-cooked chicken thighs from the pan and place them into your slow cooker.

Lemon pepper chicken thighs added to slow cooker.

In the same cooking pan, add the onions and saute until they are slightly browning. You don’t need to add any new oil because you’ll be using the fat from the chicken to cook them.

Next, add garlic to the onion mixture and continue to cook for another minute until fragrant, then pour mixture over the chicken thighs inside of your slow cooker.

Onions added atop chicken thighs inside slow cooker

On top of the mixture, add chicken broth, green olives and slices of the lemon. Be sure to remove the pits from the lemons first.

Olives and lemon slices added to the top of the lemon pepper chicken thighs inside the slow cooker

Cover and set your slow cooker to cook for six hours. While you wait, enjoy the delicious smells wafting through your house all day long!

Here’s what the lemon pepper chicken thighs look like after six hours in my slow cooker:

Finished cooking. Here is what the lemon pepper chicken thighs looks like after six hours in the slow cooker.

The chicken literally falls off the bone and is as tender and juicy as can be. You don’t need a knife. Just your fork. Dig in!

You can serve the chicken alongside a baked potato, mashed potatoes or rice. It goes well with a side that can soak up the flavorful juices.

A single lemon pepper chicken thigh on a plate with olives and kale

You won’t be disappointed because this chicken recipes delivers flavor, texture and so much goodness, and it took very little effort to make.

Plus, if you serve it straight from the slow cooker, it looks pretty elegant too, so don’t be scared to serve it to guests as the main course.

Plated lemon pepper chicken thighs with slow cooker in the background

Can You Use Chicken Breasts

I’m often asked if you can use other types of chicken to make this lemon pepper chicken recipe. Let’s talk about your options:

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Yes, you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Do everything as instructed except do not sear the chicken first.

Drumsticks. Yes, drumsticks work well. Follow recipe as directed.

Bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts. Yes, you can use bone-in chicken breasts but I suggest cooking the chicken for only four hours in the slow cooker so it doesn’t get mealy. Sear the chicken only if it has the skin intact. Dark meat is always best, when possible.

Boneless chicken breasts. Do not sear the chicken and cook for only four hours. You won’t get the same texture but if you want to try it, go for it (and let me know how it turns out in the comments below). I personally recommend dark meat chicken for this recipe.

I hope this recipe inspires you to dust off the old slow cooker and get cooking. Enjoy!

Lemon Pepper Chicken thighs header

Fall-Off-the-Bone Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

Dust off your slow cooker to make this wonderfully fragrant and delicious lemon pepper chicken thigh recipe. It looks as amazing as it tastes!
No ratings yet
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chicken thighs recipes, lemon pepper chicken recipe, slow cooker recipes
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours hours
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 502kcal
Author: Jenny Levine Finke

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp avocado oil or other high heat vegetable oil
  • 3 lbs chicken thighs (bone and skin on) about 8 small thighs
  • 1 Tbsp lemon pepper seasoning more if needed
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 6 ounces manzanilla pitted green olives or green olives of choice
  • 1 lemon sliced into round slices and seeds removed

Instructions

  • Heat oil over medium high heat in a large non-stick cooking pan.
  • Sprinkle lemon pepper seasoning and kosher salt on chicken thighs, rubbing in mixture to evenly coat both sides, then add chicken to pan. Cook chicken for about two minutes on each side, then add thighs to slow cooker.
    Chicken thighs inside slow cooker
  • Add onions to the pan and cook until onions are soft and begin browning. No need to add more oil as the onions will cook in the chicken fat left behind from the thighs. Add garlic cloves and cook until fragrant (about one minute). Pour onion mixture over chicken.
  • Add chicken broth, olives, and lemon slices to slow cooker. Do not mix, rather place the olives and lemon slices on top of the chicken-onion mixture.
    Lemon Pepper chicken thighs prior to cooking
  • Set your slow cooker to cook for 6 hours. Serve chicken over rice, baked potatoes or mashed potatoes to help soak in the delicious juices.

Notes

Chicken thighs hold up well in the slow cooker. I typically don’t cook them longer than 6 hours, but they can withstand up to 8 hours. I highly recommend using dark meat chicken when slow cooking.
If substituting chicken thighs for breasts, do not slow cook them longer than 4 hours or they’ll become mealy. And there’s no need to sear chicken breasts first either; just add the breasts to the slow cooker. Please see my full blog post for recommendations on how to cook other types of chicken.
You can use any green olives of choice. 
Do not mix your lemon slices and olives into the slow cooker. All the flavors will come together, and the olives and lemon slices on top make this dish look beautiful before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 502kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 189mg | Sodium: 1015mg | Potassium: 488mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 262IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @GoodForYouGlutenFree or tag #goodforyouglutenfree!

Filed Under: Main Dishes Leave a Comment

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Good For You Gluten Free

Hi, I'm Jenny Levine Finke and am passionate about the gluten-free lifestyle. I'm a certified integrative nutrition coach and self-taught expert on [most] gluten-free things. I have celiac disease and know the struggles you're going through first-hand. This is why I've dedicated this blog to serving the celiac and gluten sensitive communities with important information, product and restaurant reviews, and simple recipes I hope you'll love. Read More…

Read My Book!

Dear Gluten Book Cover

Download My Safe Dining Card

Free download - gluten-free safe dining card
Logos of publications that Good For You Gluten Free has been featured in

My Trending Blog Posts

  • List of Gluten-Free Cereals - Tested for Hidden Gluten
    List of Gluten-Free Cereals - Tested for Hidden Gluten
  • Crap, I Was Glutened! How Long Does It Take Gluten to Get Out of Your System?
    Crap, I Was Glutened! How Long Does It Take Gluten to Get Out of Your System?
  • Eating Gluten Free at Sonic Drive-In
    Eating Gluten Free at Sonic Drive-In
  • 75+ of the Best Gluten-Free Snacks
    75+ of the Best Gluten-Free Snacks
  • Using Caputo Gluten-Free Flour to Make Pizza (Recipe Included)
    Using Caputo Gluten-Free Flour to Make Pizza (Recipe Included)
  • How to Make Gluten-Free Pasta With Two Ingredients!
    How to Make Gluten-Free Pasta With Two Ingredients!
  • Can You Use Almond Flour in Place of Regular Flour?
    Can You Use Almond Flour in Place of Regular Flour?
  • 5-Ingredient Gluten-Free Bagel Recipe
    5-Ingredient Gluten-Free Bagel Recipe
  • Are Doritos Gluten-Free? 10 Chips Brands Tested for Hidden Gluten
    Are Doritos Gluten-Free? 10 Chips Brands Tested for Hidden Gluten
  • 17+ Classic Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Flour Recipes
    17+ Classic Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Flour Recipes

Graduate of the:

Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Badge

Before Footer

You may not reproduce or publish any content on Good For You Gluten Free without written consent.

Copyright © 2023 Good For You Gluten Free. All Rights Reserved.

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • About Good For You Gluten Free
    • FAQs
    • Events
  • SERVICES
    • My SIGNATURE Course
    • 1:1 Coaching
  • RECIPES
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Bread
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Pasta
  • ARTICLES
    • Celiac Disease
    • Nima Tested
    • Eating Out
    • Health & Beauty
    • Products & Ingredients
  • SHOP
  • RESOURCES
    • My Book
    • Coaching Services
    • Giveaways
    • Safe Dining Card
    • Quick Start Guide
    • Ultimate Guide to Eating Out Gluten Free
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • CONTACT
  • Blog
  • Disclosures & Disclaimers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us