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Slow Cooker Garlic Citrus Chicken

A simple garlic citrus sauce based on Cuban mojo marinade cooks with chicken (or pork) in this healthy (paleo,whole30) slow cooker recipe. Serve this succulent chicken with your favorite side dishes for an easy yet flavorful meal.

A simple garlic citrus sauce based on Cuban mojo marinade cooks with chicken (or pork) in this healthy (paleo,whole30) slow cooker recipe. Serve this succulent chicken with your favorite side dishes for an easy yet flavorful meal.

The sauce in this recipe is a play on Cuban mojo (garlic-citrus) sauce. You can use chicken or pork. If you decide to use chicken, you can use pretty much any cut: thighs, legs, boneless breasts, etc. I used skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs & legs. In general I think dark meat does better in slow cookers because it’s less likely to dry out. If you use pork then I suggest a tenderloin or chops.

A simple garlic citrus sauce based on Cuban mojo marinade cooks with chicken (or pork) in this healthy (paleo,whole30) slow cooker recipe. Serve this succulent chicken with your favorite side dishes for an easy yet flavorful meal.

I love Cuban food. Versailles on Venice Blvd. is one of my favorite restaurants that I don’t visit enough in Los Angeles. They serve there a signature pollo Versailles dish that is a roasted half chicken marinated in their garlic sauce with sliced onion. I’m not sure how Versailles cooks the chicken but sure does taste slow cooked (that’s how succulent it is). I’m not calling this a replica of their dish but rather an ode to.

A simple garlic citrus sauce based on Cuban mojo marinade cooks with chicken (or pork) in this healthy (paleo,whole30) slow cooker recipe. Serve this succulent chicken with your favorite side dishes for an easy yet flavorful meal.

I used a combination of chicken legs and thighs. As with most slow cooker recipes, I prefer to use dark meat because it’s less likely to dry out. You can of course use white meat; if you do, I suggest you lower the cook time by an hour or so. Going in, it might not look like enough sauce because the liquid won’t fully cover the chicken. Don’t worry, it’s enough.

A simple garlic citrus sauce based on Cuban mojo marinade cooks with chicken (or pork) in this healthy (paleo,whole30) slow cooker recipe. Serve this succulent chicken with your favorite side dishes for an easy yet flavorful meal.

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A simple garlic citrus sauce based on Cuban mojo marinade cooks with chicken (or pork) in this healthy (paleo,whole30) slow cooker recipe. Serve this succulent chicken with your favorite side dishes for an easy yet flavorful meal.

Slow Cooker Garlic Citrus Chicken (Paleo/Whole30)

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  • Total Time: 3 hours 5 mins
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 lbs chicken
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 1 lemon, sliced

Sauce:

  • 7 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 2 tbsp evoo
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1/4 tsp cumin

Instructions

  1. Add sliced onion to bottom of slow cooker. Add chicken on top.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together sauce ingredients.
  3. Pour sauce on top of all the ingredients in the slow cooker.
  4. Top with sliced lemon.
  5. Cook HIGH 2-3 hours or LOW 4-6 hours or until chicken is done.
  • Author: Fit SlowCooker Queen
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 3 hours

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 185
  • Sugar: 4.9 g
  • Sodium: 368.7 mg
  • Fat: 9.7 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 12.9 g
  • Fiber: 1.3 g
  • Protein: 13.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 57.9 mg

Reserve the liquid! I pour some on top of my rice, cauliflower rice, couscous, whatever I’m serving the chicken with. Sometimes I add some jalapeño to spice things up!

A simple garlic citrus sauce based on Cuban mojo marinade cooks with chicken (or pork) in this healthy (paleo,whole30) slow cooker recipe. Serve this succulent chicken with your favorite side dishes for an easy yet flavorful meal.

I served this with mashed cauliflower. What will you serve this with?

A simple garlic citrus sauce based on Cuban mojo marinade cooks with chicken (or pork) in this healthy (paleo,whole30) slow cooker recipe. Serve this succulent chicken with your favorite side dishes for an easy yet flavorful meal.

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A simple garlic citrus sauce based on Cuban mojo marinade cooks with chicken (or pork) in this healthy (paleo,whole30) slow cooker recipe. Serve this succulent chicken with your favorite side dishes for an easy yet flavorful meal.

Slow Cooker Garlic Citrus Chicken
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Olivia Shea

Thursday 4th of March 2021

Is there a way to convert this to make it in the Instant Pot instead of the slow cooker? Wondering if anyone has done it? Thanks!

Arijana Lukic

Tuesday 13th of December 2022

I am wondering the same!!

Cat Ramus

Thursday 30th of April 2020

I am a huge fan of Versailles. Have been to most of them many times. My reason to go LA! I’m going to try the recipe tonight. I am sooo hoping it takes or even a little tastes like Versailles. I’ve attempted to copy it but I’ve failed in the past. To get a little crispy skin on outside would you suggest a quick high heat seat? Then drop in pot?

Fit SlowCooker Queen

Thursday 30th of April 2020

Now I'm craving them! Yes, I would remove the chicken and place it under the broiler for 5 minutes or so.

Loretta

Tuesday 19th of November 2019

Hi ,a question,,I have a 6oz package of Fontera 3 Citrus Garlic Marinade with fresh Cilanro and i need to use this , could I use this in the crockpot ,its sounds like it is almost like your ingrediants in your recipe Thanks

Fit SlowCooker Queen

Tuesday 19th of November 2019

Absolutely! Yes, it's very similar that would be a great substitution.

Margaret

Thursday 30th of August 2018

This was really good. I didn't have all of the ingredients so used what I had. I used meyer lemon and a shot of triple sec instead of orange juice and less garlic .I also used thighs and they were done in 2 1/2 hours on high and had more than enough juice. I will make it again and buy all the ingredients I need before next time!

mermade

Sunday 3rd of June 2018

Was I supposed to put the minced garlic on the bottom with the onion slices? I hadn’t added it yet so after the lemon slices on top, I just sprinkled the minced garlic. Probably just magically blends together no matter. Trying it today on low heat. Thanks for such a simple delicious recipe for my family with multiple work schedules.

Fit SlowCooker Queen

Sunday 3rd of June 2018

That will be just fine. I updated the recipe so it's more clear. You’re very welcome I hope you enjoy the recipe!