Tender Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Chicken for Easy Weeknights (Print Version)

Make tender Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Chicken with minimal effort. This easy recipe brings sweet and spicy flavors to your dinner table.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 4 Hours minutes
Total Time: 19 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: Asian-inspired American
Dietary: Dairy-free

# Ingredients:

→ Main Players

01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce

→ Sweet & Spicy Sauce

03 - 1 cup sweet chili sauce
04 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
06 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
07 - 1 tsp sesame oil

→ Finishing Touches

08 - 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
09 - Chopped green onions (for garnish, optional)
10 - Sesame seeds (for garnish, optional)

# Instructions:

01 - Okay, first things first, grab those chicken thighs. Give them a quick pat dry with paper towels—this helps them soak up all that yummy sauce later. I usually trim off any really excess fat, but not too much, because that fat means flavor and juiciness in your Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Chicken. Just lay them right there in the bottom of your slow cooker. Don't worry about them being perfectly arranged; they're going to get cozy in there.
02 - Now for the magic! In a medium bowl, whisk together the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, and rice vinegar. Make sure it's all good and combined. You want a smooth, cohesive sauce, not lumps of ginger hanging out. I once used a fork instead of a whisk and ended up with a slightly separated sauce; lesson learned! This is where all the sweet and savory notes for your Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Chicken come alive.
03 - Carefully pour that beautiful sauce mixture over the chicken thighs in the slow cooker. I like to make sure each piece of chicken gets a nice bath in the sauce. Give the slow cooker a gentle shake or use tongs to nestle the chicken around so it's fully submerged. You should see the sauce bubbling around the edges, promising deliciousness. Oh, and if you're using red pepper flakes, now's the time to sprinkle them in!
04 - Pop the lid on your slow cooker. Set it to LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours. I usually go for low if I'm leaving it all day, but high works if you're in a bit of a rush. The smell that starts wafting through your kitchen after an hour or two? That's the best part. Honestly, resist the urge to peek too much; every time you lift the lid, it adds about 20 minutes to the cooking time, a mistake I've made many a time!
05 - Once the cooking time is up, the chicken for your Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Chicken should be incredibly tender. Like, fall-apart tender. Carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place it on a cutting board. Grab two forks and start shredding! It should practically melt apart. If it's not shredding easily, give it another 30 minutes to an hour in the slow cooker.
06 - Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker, stirring it into that amazing, thickened sauce. This is where it gets all coated and glorious. Drizzle in the sesame oil now—its delicate flavor really shines when added at the end. Give it a good stir, let it sit for another 5-10 minutes just to marry all those flavors. Your Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Chicken is ready to serve! It should look glossy and smell absolutely divine.

# Notes:

01 - Always use chicken thighs for the best tender, juicy results—breasts can sometimes dry out in the slow cooker.
02 - This Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Chicken is fantastic for meal prep; store it in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
03 - If you're out of fresh ginger, a teaspoon of ground ginger works in a pinch, though fresh is always my preference.
04 - A sprinkle of fresh green onions and sesame seeds at the end makes this dish look and taste extra special.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - Slow cooker (6-quart or larger)
02 - measuring cups and spoons
03 - whisk
04 - cutting board
05 - two forks

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 450
Total Fat: 20g
Total Carbohydrate: 35g
Protein: 30g

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