Soft Spice Slow Cooker Chicken

Featured in: Zesty Weeknight Plate Ideas

This slow-cooked dish features tender chicken thighs and sweet potatoes gently simmered with a warm blend of cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and other spices. The mixture includes onions, garlic, carrots, diced tomatoes, and dried apricots for a subtle sweetness. Cooked for hours on low heat, the meal develops deep, comforting flavors. Finished with fresh herbs and optionally toasted almonds, it pairs well with couscous or rice for an easy weeknight dinner full of aromatic richness and satisfying texture.

Updated on Tue, 09 Dec 2025 12:03:00 GMT
Golden slow-cooker Soft Spice Chicken and Sweet Potato Tagine, a flavorful and aromatic one-pot meal. Save on Pinterest
Golden slow-cooker Soft Spice Chicken and Sweet Potato Tagine, a flavorful and aromatic one-pot meal. | lemoncairn.com

A comforting, aromatic tagine featuring tender chicken, sweet potatoes, and a gentle blend of warm spices, all simmered together in a slow cooker for an easy, flavorful weeknight meal.

I first served this dish on a chilly evening and loved how the spices filled my home with warmth and comfort.

Ingredients

  • Boneless chicken thighs: 1.5 lbs (700 g), cut into large chunks
  • Sweet potatoes: 2 medium, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • Large onion: 1, finely chopped
  • Carrots: 2, peeled and sliced
  • Garlic: 3 cloves, minced
  • Diced tomatoes: 1 (14 oz / 400 g) can, drained
  • Dried apricots: 1/2 cup, halved
  • Ground cumin: 1 1/2 tsp
  • Ground coriander: 1 tsp
  • Ground cinnamon: 1 tsp
  • Ground turmeric: 1/2 tsp
  • Ground ginger: 1/2 tsp
  • Sweet paprika: 1/2 tsp
  • Ground allspice: 1/4 tsp
  • Ground black pepper: 1/4 tsp
  • Salt: 1/2 tsp, adjust to taste
  • Cayenne pepper: Pinch, optional for mild heat
  • Low-sodium chicken broth: 1 1/2 cups (360 ml)
  • Honey: 1 tbsp
  • Lemon juice: 1 tbsp
  • Chopped fresh cilantro or flat-leaf parsley: 1/4 cup
  • Toasted slivered almonds: Optional for serving

Instructions

Sear:
In a large skillet over medium heat, add a drizzle of olive oil. Sear the chicken pieces for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly browned. Optional for deeper flavor.
Combine:
Add the chicken sweet potatoes onion carrots garlic diced tomatoes and apricots to the slow cooker.
Spice mix:
In a small bowl combine cumin coriander cinnamon turmeric ginger paprika allspice black pepper salt and cayenne. Sprinkle the spice mix over the ingredients in the slow cooker.
Add liquids:
Pour in the chicken broth then drizzle the honey and lemon juice over the top.
Cook:
Gently stir to combine cover and cook on LOW for 5 hours or until the chicken is very tender and sweet potatoes are cooked through.
Adjust seasoning:
Taste and adjust salt or spices as needed.
Serve:
Sprinkle with fresh cilantro or parsley and toasted almonds if desired. Serve hot over couscous rice or quinoa.
Enjoy a steaming bowl of Soft Spice Slow-Cooker Chicken and Sweet Potato Tagine over fluffy couscous or rice. Save on Pinterest
Enjoy a steaming bowl of Soft Spice Slow-Cooker Chicken and Sweet Potato Tagine over fluffy couscous or rice. | lemoncairn.com

This recipe always brings my family together around the table especially on cold nights.

Required Tools

Slow cooker (4-6 quart) chefs knife cutting board skillet optional for searing measuring cups and spoons

Allergen Information

Contains tree nuts if using almonds naturally gluten-free and dairy-free double-check chicken broth and spice blends for hidden allergens

Nutritional Information

Calories 410 total fat 8 g carbohydrates 51 g protein 32 g per serving

Garnish a hearty Soft Spice Chicken and Sweet Potato Tagine with fresh cilantro and toasted almonds. Save on Pinterest
Garnish a hearty Soft Spice Chicken and Sweet Potato Tagine with fresh cilantro and toasted almonds. | lemoncairn.com

This tagine is perfect for meal prep and tastes even better the next day.

Recipe Questions & Answers

Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs?

Yes, chicken breasts can be used, but they may be less tender after slow cooking. Consider reducing cooking time slightly to avoid dryness.

How can I add more heat to this dish?

Include additional cayenne pepper or add chopped fresh chili peppers according to your preferred spice level.

What can I serve this with?

This slow-cooked mix pairs wonderfully with couscous, rice, or quinoa, complementing the rich and aromatic flavors.

Can this dish be made vegetarian?

Yes, substitute chicken with canned chickpeas or firm tofu. Add chickpeas at the start or tofu in the last hour of cooking.

Are toasted almonds necessary?

They add a pleasant crunch and nutty flavor but are optional. Simply omit if avoiding nuts or allergies.

Soft Spice Slow Cooker Chicken

Tender chicken and sweet potatoes simmered with warm spices in a slow cooker for a cozy dinner.

Prep Time
20 min
Time to Cook
300 min
Overall Time
320 min


Skill Level Easy

Cuisine Moroccan-Inspired

Makes 4 Portions

Dietary details Milk-Free, No Gluten

What You Need

Meats

01 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into large chunks

Vegetables

01 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
02 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
04 3 cloves garlic, minced
05 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
06 1/2 cup dried apricots, halved

Spices & Aromatics

01 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
02 1 tsp ground coriander
03 1 tsp ground cinnamon
04 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
05 1/2 tsp ground ginger
06 1/2 tsp sweet paprika
07 1/4 tsp ground allspice
08 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
09 1/2 tsp salt, adjust to taste
10 Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

Liquids

01 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
02 1 tbsp honey
03 1 tbsp lemon juice

Finishing Touches

01 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro or flat-leaf parsley
02 Toasted slivered almonds (optional)

How to Make It

Step 01

Sear the Chicken: Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sear chicken pieces for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly browned, for enhanced flavor. This step is optional.

Step 02

Combine Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Transfer the chicken, sweet potatoes, onion, carrots, garlic, diced tomatoes, and apricots to the slow cooker.

Step 03

Add Spice Blend: In a small bowl, mix cumin, coriander, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, paprika, allspice, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper. Sprinkle evenly over the slow cooker contents.

Step 04

Add Liquids: Pour chicken broth into the slow cooker and drizzle honey and lemon juice over the top.

Step 05

Cook Slowly: Gently stir to combine, cover, and cook on low for 5 hours until chicken is tender and sweet potatoes are cooked through.

Step 06

Season to Taste: Adjust salt and spices as necessary according to your preference.

Step 07

Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with chopped fresh cilantro or parsley and toasted slivered almonds if desired. Serve hot over couscous, rice, or quinoa.

Equipment Needed

  • Slow cooker (4-6 quart capacity)
  • Chef’s knife
  • Cutting board
  • Skillet (optional for searing)
  • Measuring cups and spoons

Allergy Alerts

Review ingredients for allergens and contact your healthcare provider for guidance.
  • Contains tree nuts if almonds are used for garnish
  • Naturally gluten-free and dairy-free
  • Check chicken broth and spice blends for hidden allergens

Nutrition Info (per serving)

Nutritional content is for informational use and is not a substitute for healthcare advice.
  • Calorie Count: 410
  • Total Fat: 8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 51 g
  • Proteins: 32 g