Turn plain chicken in to this slow cooked flavour sensation. This melt in your mouth Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken is bursting with wonderful North African flavour. Lemon, turmeric, apricots, cinnamon and cumin. All brought together in a really simple slow cooker dish that is warming, comforting, but still nutrient dense. Great for feeding a hungry crowd.
This is one of our favourite chicken dishes, as it just has so much going for it. Shredded tender chicken, a perfect balance of sweet and salty flavours, chunky vegetables and aromatic Moroccan flavours. The best part about it is it only takes a couple of minutes to prepare.
We eat a lot of chicken, as it's easy and everyone in the family likes it, but it can get a bit boring. This one pot wonder is a great way to liven up a chicken dinner a bit, and get plenty of veg too.
Why should you try it?
✔ Just 385 calories per portion
✔ Low in fat
✔ Only a couple of minutes prep
✔ Packed with vegetables
✔ A new way to jazz up chicken
✔ Family friendly
✔ Freezes well
How to make Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken - step by step:
One: Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker pot and add the ras-el-hanout.
Two: Add all the other ingredients. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
Three: About 15 minutes before time is up, make the couscous according to the packet instructions.
Four: Shred the chicken with two forks and stir in the couscous. Serve in bowl with fresh coriander (cilantro).
Moroccan Flavours
If you aren't used to Moroccan flavours, then you are in for a treat. This is fresh, vibrant and bursting with the flavours of the Mediterranean. You will get some sweetness from the tomato and apricot, saltiness from the olives, a little tangy zest from the lemon and then the beautiful mix of herbs and spices.
Cumin, coriander, paprika and turmeric pair together perfectly with some ras-el-hanout, which might just be my favourite spice blend.
What Chicken Do You Use?
We used chicken breasts as they are nice and lean and then we pulled them apart a little so they were chunks of shredded chicken. It is a nice balance between pulled chicken and chunks of chicken breast.
You don't have to use chicken breast though, you can use thighs or legs instead. Cooking times may vary though - bone in chicken tends to take a bit longer to cook. If you are going to use thighs, sear them in a pan a little first, as it will really lock in the flavours.
What Vegetables Can You Add?
We wanted to keep this as traditional as possible, so we used shallots, bell pepper, butternut squash, carrot and aubergine. But there is no reason why you can't add other vegetables you might have laying around. We have also used parsnip, leek, courgette and mushroom in the past.
What Other Ways Can You Adapt It?
This is a pretty protein packed meal, however if you want to add some extra protein, or use half the chicken and have some veggie protein instead, then why not try adding some chickpeas. Chickpeas add lots of extra texture to the dish and they are used a lot in Moroccan cuisine too.
What To Serve Moroccan Chicken With
We love serving it with light and fluffy couscous. Not only does it keep it traditionally Moroccan, but it's really easy to cook too, with is in-keeping with a slow cooker dish. You could serve it with Lebanese rice or quinoa instead.
You could add some large chunks of sweet potato to the slow cooker with everything else, and then there wouldn't be any need to serve it with anything else. We have served leftovers on mashed potato and even a crispy baked potato, or we just use a big homemade flatbread to dip in it.
How To Store and Reheat
You can store this in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for 2-3 days. You can also store it in the fridge for up to 4 months. To reheat, make sure it is thoroughly defrosted and then heat it through in a pan. You may need to add a little bit of water to it when reheating.
Extra Tips:
- Add a more intense lemon flavour to this dish by using preserved lemons.
- If you want to add even more fruity flavour to this dish, add some raisins with the dried apricots.
- Finish this dish off with a sprinkling of flaked almonds.
- You may need to add a little bit of water to it when reheating.
Want to try some other chicken recipes? How about these:
Cajun Chicken Burger
BBQ Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Crispy Baked Chicken Burger
Honey and Lime Chicken
Moroccan Chicken Flatbreads
Sweet and Sour Chicken Meatballs
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DON’T FORGET TO RATE THE RECIPE ↓

Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken

Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts
- 400 g white beans (canned)
- 1 lemon (juice and zest only)
- 4 shallots diced
- 1 aubergine eggplant, diced
- 1 small butternut squash peeled and diced
- 1 red pepper diced
- 3 tbsp ras el hanout
- 3 garlic cloves crushed
- 8 dried apricots diced
- 150 ml chicken stock
- 400 g chopped tomatoes (canned)
- 1 pinch sea salt and black pepper
- 80 g giant cous cous
Instructions
- Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker pot and add the ras-el-hanout.
- Add all the other ingredients. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.
- About 15 minutes before time is up, make the couscous according to the packet instructions.
- Shred the chicken with two forks and stir in the couscous. Serve in bowls with fresh coriander (cilantro).
Notes
- Add a more intense lemon flavour to this dish by using preserved lemons.
- If you want to add even more fruity flavour to this dish, add some raisins with the dried apricots.
- Finish this dish off with a sprinkling of flaked almonds.
- You may need to add a little bit of water to it when reheating.
Nutritional Information
Sue
This dish is perfect in the slow cooker! All that time cooking really brings out the flavors! So delish!
Dannii
So glad you enjoyed it!
Eraj Siddiqui
i loved this recipe ! gonna try it soon
Orsdia blogger
Thanks for the well organised recipe, I will apply it at my home.
Erica Schwarz
Made this to have for lunches during the week, and it is divine! Lovely flavors and just delicious. Thanks for the recipe!
Dannii
So glad you enjoyed it. Great idea to batch cook it!
Kelly Anthony
Sweet and salty is my favorite flavor combination so I can't wait to make this slow cooker Moroccan chicken.
Veena Azmanov
Thanks for your detailed recipe. A dish full of flavors infused. The slow cooker option makes it interesting and yum.
Adrianne
Slow Cooker recipes are my fav!! Yum, this chicken looks delicious and so fill of flavour. The couscous seems the perfect way to serve it. Cheers for a great recipe!
Erica Schwarz
This is a perfect weeknight dinner for my family. Can't wait to try it soon!
Heidy
I loved this recipe! I definitely love using my slow cooker but was amazed at how awesome this Moroccan Chicken turned out.
Elaine
I've been loving all Moroccan dishes that I've tried to date. I am sure this slow cooker chicken will not be an exception!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
This looks like such a fragrant and delicious dish! Definitely perfect for these cold days.