A homemade sauce using za’atar, chicken, and zoodles cook together in this simple and healthy paleo, whole30, and low-carb slow cooker recipe.
Another trifecta (paleo, whole30, low-carb) recipe. Even though there is an additional step of adding the zoodles at the end, this is still a super easy slow cooker recipe. Za’atar is one of my favorite spice blends; I fell in love with za’atar the first time I visited the Middle East. You can find za’atar at a Middle Eastern or Mediterranean specialty grocery store, maybe even your local grocery. If not, you can always find za’atar on Amazon.

ZA’ATAR
A couple of things about this recipe. I used Pasturebird skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (my favorite at the moment) but really you can use your preferred cut of chicken. Boneless thighs, legs, or even chicken breasts. If you do however choose to use breast meat, be sure to lower the cooking time by an hour or so otherwise you run the chance of the meat drying out.

before
Also, you don’t have to necessarily turn your zucchini into zoodles. You can chop them and toss them in or substitute another vegetable like green beans or broccoli. This recipe is all about the sauce anyway.

after
Move the chicken closer together to make room for the zoodles. Don’t worry if they’re not fully submerged in the sauce, they will cook down.

add zoodles
Make sure you toss the zoodles around so they get covered in the sauce as well. How long you cook the zoodles will depend on how like you like to eat yours. If you like al dente zoodles then go with 15 minutes. Personally I like mine super soft (almost soggy…yes, I know) so I let it cook the full 30 minutes.
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Slow Cooker Za’atar Chicken & Zoodles (Paleo,Whole30,Low-Carb)
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs (approx 1 lb)
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 2 medium zucchinis, cut into spaghetti-like strands (zoodles)
Sauce:
- 2 tbsp za’atar seasoning
- 1/3 cup water
- Juice of 1 lemon (approx 2 tbsp lemon juice)
- 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tsp white vinegar
- 1 tsp dried chopped onion
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Add chicken to the bottom of the slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, mix together sauce ingredients.
- Pour sauce on top of chicken. Top with lemon slices.
- Cook HIGH 2-3, LOW 4-6.
- Add zoodles and cook an additional 15-30 minutes or until the zoodles are done to your liking.
I used a 6-quart slow cooker and the Inspiralizer to make my zoodles.
Serve this with mashed cauliflower, cauliflower rice, or just eat the chicken as-is over the zoodles.

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Zoodles & chicken looks good! Ive never heard of Zaatar before- cool