Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken in sticky sweet chili sauce with garlic and ginger. Easy 10-minute prep, perfect for weeknight dinners.

# What You'll Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1.2 lbs)

→ Sauce

02 - 1 cup sweet chili sauce
03 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce (use gluten-free if needed)
04 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
05 - 1 tablespoon honey
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
08 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil

→ Garnish (Optional)

09 - 2 green onions, sliced
10 - 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
11 - Fresh cilantro leaves

# Method:

01 - Place the chicken breasts in an even layer at the bottom of the slow cooker.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, and sesame oil until thoroughly combined.
03 - Pour the sauce mixture evenly over the chicken breasts, ensuring all pieces are coated.
04 - Cover and cook on low heat for 4 to 5 hours, or until the chicken is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
05 - Remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker and shred using two forks, or slice into strips as preferred.
06 - Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and toss thoroughly with the sauce. Serve hot, garnished with sliced green onions, sesame seeds, and fresh cilantro.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The sauce thickens into this incredible sticky glaze that coats every single strand of shredded chicken
  • It is one of those dump and go recipes that actually tastes like you spent time on it
  • The leftovers somehow get even better when the flavors really settle in overnight
02 -
  • The sauce will look quite thin when you first pour it in, but it thickens beautifully as it cooks down
  • If you want it spicier, add red pepper flakes at the beginning so the heat has time to mellow into the sauce
  • Resist the temptation to lift the lid too often, or you will need to extend the cooking time
03 -
  • Pat the chicken dry before adding it to help the sauce cling better
  • If your sauce is not thick enough at the end, turn the slow cooker to high for 30 minutes with the lid off

Go Back