Slow-Cooker Lemony Chicken Noodle Soup

Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high. Sprinkle the chicken with the pepper and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Add the chicken to the skillet; cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a 6-quart slow cooker. Stir the stock, onions, carrots, celery, garlic, thyme sprigs and remaining 1 1/4 teaspoons salt into the slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW until the vegetables are tender, about 3 hours and 30 minutes. Add the noodles; cover and cook on LOW until the noodles are al dente and the chicken is done, 30 minutes to 1 hour. Discard the thyme sprigs.

Remove the chicken from the slow cooker; cool slightly. Remove and discard the bones from the chicken. Shred the chicken using 2 forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker; stir in the lemon zest, juice and parsley. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve hot.