Crock-Pot Lemon Chicken with Tomatoes & Kalamata Olives

4.5

(4)

3 Reviews

Let your slow cooker do the bulk of the work and end up with a meal that fulfills all your Mediterranean-food cravings. The mix of onions, tomatoes, kalamata olives, oregano and parsley adds pleasing acidity to the browned chicken, while toasted pine nuts lend interest to the orzo.

EatingWell Test Kitchen

Updated on September 19, 2023

Tested by

EatingWell Test Kitchen

Prep Time:

20 mins

Additional Time:

4 hrs

Total Time:

4 hrs 20 mins

Servings:

Yield:

6 servings

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Ingredients

2 teaspoons lemon zest, plus 3 tablespoons fresh juice (from 1 lemon)
1 ¾ cups roughly chopped yellow onions (from 2 medium onions)
1 (14.5 ounce) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, drained
¼ cup pitted kalamata olives, halved (about 12 olives)
3 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
3 pounds bone-in, skinless chicken breasts (about 4 large breasts)
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 ¼ cups uncooked whole-wheat orzo pasta
¼ cup pine nuts, toasted

Directions

Place the lemon zest in a bowl; cover and refrigerate. Stir together the lemon juice, onions, tomatoes, olives, and 2 tablespoons each oregano and parsley in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker.
Sprinkle the chicken with the pepper and 3/4 teaspoon of the salt. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Add the oil to the skillet; swirl to coat. Add the chicken to the skillet; cook, turning once, until browned, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW until the chicken is cooked through, about 4 hours.
Meanwhile, prepare the orzo according to the package directions, omitting the salt and fat; drain. Stir the pine nuts and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt into the orzo.
Remove the chicken from the slow cooker, reserving the cooking liquid in the slow cooker. Shred the chicken, discarding the bones. Stir the chicken and lemon zest into the cooking liquid. Divide the orzo among 6 bowls. Serve the chicken mixture over the orzo, and sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon each oregano and parsley.

Originally appeared: Everyday Slow Cooker

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

480	Calories
16g	Fat
35g	Carbs
47g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Serving Size 1/2 cup orzo, 1 cup shredded chicken mixture
Calories 480
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 35g	13%
Dietary Fiber 8g	29%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 47g	94%
Total Fat 16g	21%
Saturated Fat 2g	10%
Sodium 534mg	23%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Crock-Pot Lemon Chicken with Tomatoes & Kalamata Olives

Ingredients

Directions

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

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