Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe
Introduction
Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken is a delicious, easy-to-make meal perfect for busy weeknights. Tender chicken simmers in a tangy, flavorful sauce with colorful bell peppers and pineapple for a classic taste that everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 onion, peeled and cut into large pieces
- ½ cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (or 2 teaspoons minced garlic)
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup white wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ cup cold water
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into large pieces
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into large pieces
- 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into large pieces
- 15 oz. pineapple chunks in juice
Instructions
- Step 1: Place the chicken, onion, ketchup, soy sauce, garlic, ground ginger, honey, white wine vinegar, and the juice from the can of pineapple into a crock pot.
- Step 2: Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3 hours until the chicken is cooked through.
- Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until the cornstarch is dissolved.
- Step 4: Stir the cornstarch mixture, bell peppers, and pineapple chunks into the crock pot.
- Step 5: Cover and cook on high for another 30-40 minutes until the peppers are tender and the sauce has thickened.
- Step 6: Serve warm as is or over rice and enjoy!
Tips & Variations
- For extra flavor, add a splash of fresh lime juice before serving.
- Use chicken thighs instead of breasts for juicier meat.
- Add chopped pineapple leaves or green onions for garnish.
- Swap white wine vinegar for apple cider vinegar if preferred.
- Adjust the amount of honey to control sweetness according to taste.
Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a microwave or on the stovetop, adding a splash of water if the sauce has thickened too much.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?
It’s best to use fresh chicken breasts for even cooking. If using frozen chicken, make sure to thaw completely before adding to the slow cooker.
How can I make the sauce thicker?
Thicken the sauce by increasing the cornstarch to 4 tablespoons, mixing with cold water before stirring into the crock pot. Cook on high until desired thickness is reached.
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Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe
- Total Time: 5 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe offers a perfect balance of tangy and sweet flavors, combining tender chicken breast pieces with colorful bell peppers and pineapple chunks. Cooked low and slow in a crock pot, it develops a rich, flavorful sauce with honey, soy, and vinegar, ideal for a comforting and easy weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Chicken and Sauce
- 1 ½ pounds Chicken Breasts, cut into bite size pieces
- 1 Onion, peeled and cut into large pieces
- ½ cup Ketchup
- 3 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced (or 2 teaspoons minced garlic)
- ½ teaspoon Ground Ginger
- ½ cup Honey
- ½ cup White Wine Vinegar
- Juice from 15 oz. can Pineapple chunks
Thickening and Vegetables
- 3 Tablespoons Cornstarch
- ¼ cup Cold Water
- 1 Red Bell Pepper, cut into large pieces
- 1 Green Bell Pepper, cut into large pieces
- 1 Yellow Bell Pepper, cut into large pieces
- 15 oz. Pineapple chunks (with juice reserved)
Instructions
- Combine Chicken and Base Ingredients: In the slow cooker, place the cut chicken breasts, large pieces of onion, ketchup, soy sauce, minced garlic, ground ginger, honey, white wine vinegar, and the juice from the canned pineapple. Stir gently to combine.
- Cook Chicken: Cover and cook on low heat for 5 to 6 hours, or alternatively on high heat for 3 hours, until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and tender.
- Prepare Thickening Mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until the cornstarch is fully dissolved, creating a slurry that will thicken the sauce.
- Add Peppers, Pineapple, and Thickener: Stir the slurry, red, green, and yellow bell peppers, and pineapple chunks into the slow cooker. Mix carefully to evenly distribute the ingredients.
- Final Cooking: Cover the slow cooker and continue cooking on high for an additional 30 to 40 minutes, or until the bell peppers are tender but still vibrant.
- Serve: Serve the sweet and sour chicken warm, either on its own or over a bed of steamed rice for a complete meal. Enjoy!
Notes
- Adjust the cooking times based on your slow cooker model as temperatures can vary.
- For a thicker sauce, add a little more cornstarch slurry a few minutes before the end of cooking if needed.
- Use fresh pineapple chunks if available for better texture and flavor.
- Serve over rice, noodles, or with steamed vegetables for a balanced meal.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Keywords: slow cooker sweet and sour chicken, crock pot chicken recipe, easy sweet and sour chicken, slow cooker chicken meals, sweet and sour chicken with pineapple
