The whole family will love this easy, flavorful slow-cooker moroccan chicken for dinner! Full of spices, apricots and carrots, this it’s delicious served over quinoa for a  weeknight meal. 

Want more slow-cooker favorites? Try these Slow-Cooker Pinto Beans or this Slow-Cooker Pot Roast.

shot of moroccan chicken over quinoa on white plate

I love healthy, gluten/dairy-free slow-cooker recipes that I know my family will be excited about when dinner time rolls around. This Slow-Cooker Moroccan Apricot Chicken and Carrots is just that. Easy, healthy and so delicious!

This recipe and this slow-cooker island pork tenderloin are probably my 2 all-time favorite slow-cooker recipes!

The chicken gets fall-apart tender (but not dry thanks to chicken thighs!) and the carrots are soft and flavorful from all the spices.

step by step instructions for how to make moroccan chicken

How to Make Slow-Cooker Moroccan Chicken

  1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper on each side.
  2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. When hot, add 1/2 the chicken thighs and cook on each side for 3-4 minutes. The chicken doesn’t need to be cooked through, just browned on the outside for flavor. Repeat with the rest of the chicken.
  3. Add the sliced onions to the now-empty skillet. Cook, scraping up the brown bits off the bottom of the pan until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  4. Pour in the chicken stock and scrape the bottom of the pan. Whisk in the almond butter and salt, sugar and spices.
  5. Add everything to the slow-cooker along with a bag of carrots. Cook for 4 hours.
  6. Add in the apricots and cherries and cook for another 1-2 hours.

close up shot of slow cooker moroccan chicken over quinoa

Tips for Delicious Moroccan Chicken

  • Use Chicken thighs. Chicken thighs are great to use in the slow-cooker recipes because they won’t dry out. If you’re skeptical give it a try! The thighs turn out juicy and fall-apart tender. Chicken breasts will also work if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Add the apricots/cherries 1 hour before serving. The dried apricots and cherries taste so delicious cooked in the juice of the chicken! Be sure to add the dried fruit no more than 1-2 hours before you plan on serving this meal or they will be very soft.
  • Don’t overcook. This is a slow-cooker recipe that’s done in 4-6 hours rather than 6-8. The chicken doesn’t need as long of a cook time as other meats in the slow-cooker.

You also might like this Slow cooker chicken curry. 

close up shot of moroccan chicken on white plate

What to Serve with This

I love this recipe because the carrots cook right along with the chicken so the vegetable side is ready to go. I like to serve this with some fluffy, hot quinoa (try this instant pot quinoa!)and a fresh side like this cucumber tomato salad. It’s also delicious with gluten-free flatbread!

Can I freeze this?

This recipe also makes a great freezer/take-in meal because it reheats so well. You can follow up to step 4 in the recipe (stopping before you add everything to the slow-cooker) and let everything cool before transferring to a freezer bag.

To cook from the freezer you can add everything to the slow-cooker and cook on low for 6-7 hours (add the apricots/cherries an hour before you want to serve the meal).

More Chicken Recipes:

Sticky Chicken this recipe is from a family friend and won a newspaper recipe contest 20+ years ago. It’s been a favorite ever since!

Instant Pot Southwest Chicken and Rice our favorite all-in-one instant pot recipe

Easy Chicken Fajitas the best chicken fajita marinade around!

I hope your family loves this recipe as much as we do! If you love this recipe be sure to leave me a comment/review below.

moroccan chicken over quinoa in white bowl
5 from 7 votes

Slow-Cooker Moroccan Chicken

Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 30 minutes
Servings 8 servings
The whole family will love this easy, flavorful Slow-Cooker Moroccan Chicken for dinner! Full of spices, apricots and carrots, this moroccan chicken is delicious served over quinoa for a delicious weeknight meal. 

Video

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
  • 2-3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • salt & pepper
  • 1 onion thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 3 tablespoons almond butter
  • 3/4 cup chicken stock
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Everything Else:

  • 1 teapoon brown sugar or coconut sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon coriander
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • pinch of cayenne pepper
  • 1 pound baby carrots
  • 1/2 cup dried apricots
  • 1/4 cup dried cherries

Instructions 

  • Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. When hot, add 1/2 the chicken thighs and cook on each side for 3-4 minutes. The chicken doesn't need to be cooked through, just browned on the outside for flavor. Transfer the chicken to the slow-cooker then repeat with the remaining chicken thighs.
  • Over medium heat, add the sliced onions to the now-empty skillet. Cook, scraping up the brown bits off the bottom of the pan until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  • Add the chicken stock and scrape the bottom of the pan. Whisk in the almond butter and salt, sugar and spices.
  • Add the onion/stock mixture to the slow-cooker. Stir to combine then place the carrots on top. Cook for 4 hours on low.
  • After 4 hours, add the apricots and cherries and cook for another 1-2 hours.
  • Shred the meat slightly and serve over cooked quinoa. Enjoy!

Notes

MAKE IT NUT-FREE: Omit the almond butter.
Use Chicken thighs. Chicken thighs are great to use in the slow-cooker recipes because they won't dry out. If you're skeptical give it a try! The thighs turn out juicy and fall-apart tender. Chicken breasts will also work if that's what you have on hand. 
Add the apricots/cherries 1 hour before serving. The dried apricots and cherries taste so delicious cooked in the juice of the chicken! Be sure to add the dried fruit no more than 1-2 hours before you plan on serving this meal or they will be very soft. 
Don't overcook. This is a slow-cooker recipe that's done in 4-6 hours rather than 6-8. The chicken doesn't need as long of a cook time as other meats in the slow-cooker. 
How to Freeze: Follow up to step 4 in the recipe (stopping before you add everything to the slow-cooker) and let everything cool before transferring to a freezer bag. To cook from the freezer you can add everything to the slow-cooker and cook on low for 6-7 hours.  Add the apricots/cherries an hour before you want to serve the meal. 

Nutrition

Calories: 233.6kcal | Carbohydrates: 16.23g | Protein: 27.06g | Fat: 6.7g | Saturated Fat: 0.99g | Cholesterol: 73.25mg | Sodium: 356.11mg | Potassium: 741.45mg | Fiber: 3.48g | Sugar: 10.22g | Vitamin A: 8280.11IU | Vitamin C: 4.2mg | Calcium: 57.71mg | Iron: 1.57mg

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Hi, I’m Erin!

BS Food Science,

MS Nutrition

I believe you can make amazing, gluten-free food with everyday ingredients that everyone will enjoy. I’m here to share my tried-and-true recipes with you!

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Comments

  1. I would love to make this, but don’t have a slow cooker. Is there and easy conversion for baking in the oven instead?

    1. You can add an additional 1 cup chicken stock and cook in the oven on 300F for 2-3 hours. I hope this helps!

  2. 5 stars
    Delicious!
    Even my kids ate it, and loved it.
    I’m not a fan of chicken thighs used breast still came out great!

  3. I have an Instant Pot. Do you know what setting I’d need to use and how I’d adjust the time? Thanks so much.

    1. Hi Deb! Good question – you can totally make this in the instant pot! I would brown the chicken and soften the vegetables in the instant pot – then add the rest of the ingredients and cook for 10 minutes on HIGH or MANUAL then naturally release the pressure for 10 minutes.

  4. Ok I just made this tonight and it was AMAZING!!! Seriously best, most moist and flavorful chicken ever. Definitely gonna have it on repeat. Thanks so much for the recipe!

  5. Now this is my kind of meal! I love slower cooker chicken and how it becomes so tender and juicy. Also loving the moroccan spices in this dish! This is a winner winner chicken dinner!

  6. I have had a similar dish at a local restaurant and I can’t wait to make this for my husband at home! He’s going to be so surprised!

  7. This looks so delicious! I might try it in my pressure cooker to see how it turns out. Love the flavors you included!

  8. We love slow cooker meals, and this one looks really good! Do you have any suggestions for brands/stores for dried fruit? A lot of the dried fruit we find at Costco is processed in a facility with wheat, so we’re looking around. 🙂

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