Slow Cooker Peanut Chicken (Print Version)
Tender chicken in creamy peanut sauce with vegetables, slow-cooked to perfection.
# Recipe Ingredients:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs (approximately 1.3 pounds)
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ Vegetables
04 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
05 - 1 yellow onion, sliced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
08 - 1 medium carrot, sliced
→ Peanut Sauce
09 - 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
10 - 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
11 - 1/4 cup chicken broth
12 - 2 tablespoons honey
13 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
14 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
15 - 1 tablespoon sriracha or chili garlic sauce (optional)
16 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil
→ Garnishes
17 - 2 tablespoons chopped roasted peanuts
18 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
19 - Fresh lime wedges
20 - Steamed jasmine rice for serving
# Directions:
01 - Rub chicken thighs evenly with salt and black pepper on all sides.
02 - Place sliced bell pepper, onion, carrot, minced garlic, and grated ginger in an even layer at the bottom of the slow cooker.
03 - Arrange seasoned chicken thighs directly on top of the vegetable bed.
04 - Whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, chicken broth, honey, rice vinegar, lime juice, sriracha if using, and sesame oil in a medium bowl until completely smooth and well combined.
05 - Pour the peanut sauce mixture evenly over the chicken and vegetables in the slow cooker.
06 - Cover and cook on low setting for 5 hours until chicken is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
07 - Remove cooked chicken from the slow cooker and shred using two forks or cut into large chunks.
08 - Stir the sauce remaining in the slow cooker thoroughly, return the shredded chicken and mix well to coat. Serve hot garnished with roasted peanuts, fresh cilantro, and lime wedges alongside steamed jasmine rice.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Set it and forget it cooking that delivers restaurant quality flavor with basically zero effort
- That peanut sauce gets velvety and rich, clinging to every bite of chicken
- Leftovers somehow taste even better the next day, if they last that long
02 -
- The sauce thickens up considerably as it cools, so dont panic if it looks thin at first
- Natural peanut butters can separate and make the sauce grainy or oily, so stick with conventional creamy peanut butter
03 -
- Whisk your sauce really, really well to ensure the peanut butter fully incorporates
- Stir the sauce halfway through cooking if youre home, it helps prevent any separation