Effortless Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Chicken (A Must-Try Recipe)

We all have those hectic weeknights when the thought of cooking a complicated meal feels utterly exhausting. On days like these, what we truly need is a recipe that is both incredibly simple and deeply satisfying. This is where our beloved Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Chicken comes to the rescue. It’s a dish we turn to time and time again, a true gem that lets the slow cooker do all the heavy lifting while we get on with our lives.

This recipe is the epitome of low effort and high reward. We’re talking about tender, juicy chicken breasts, slow-cooked to perfection in a luscious sauce that hits all the right notes: sweet, tangy, and with just a hint of warmth. The aroma that fills the house is simply divine. It’s a foolproof meal that requires minimal prep, making it perfect for anyone, from kitchen novices to experienced cooks. Prepare to add a new go-to dinner to your collection that the whole family will adore.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Practically No Prep: It only takes about 5 minutes to get everything ready. Simply mix the sauce, pour it over the chicken, and let your slow cooker take over.
• Melt-in-Your-Mouth Tender: Slow cooking works its magic, breaking down the chicken until it’s so moist and soft that it shreds with just two forks, soaking up all the beautiful sauce.
• A Flavour Sensation: The sauce is a masterful blend of sweet and savoury with a gentle spicy kick that is wonderfully balanced and incredibly moreish. It’s designed to please every palate.
• Endlessly Adaptable: We love how versatile this chicken is. You can serve it over a bed of rice, stuff it into tacos, mix it through noodles, or use it as a protein-packed salad topper.
• A Meal Prep Dream: The flavours deepen overnight, making leftovers a genuine treat. Prepare a batch over the weekend for effortless and delicious meals all week long.

Ingredients

• 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 900g or 2 lbs)
• 250ml (1 cup) sweet chili sauce
• 60ml (1/4 cup) reduced-sodium soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
• 60ml (1/4 cup) rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon cornflour
• 1 tablespoon cold water
• Spring onions, thinly sliced (for garnish)
• Toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)
• Red chili flakes (optional, for extra heat)

How to Make Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Chicken: A Step-by-Step Guide

We firmly believe that cooking should be a pleasure, not a pressure. This straightforward method demonstrates that you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to produce a truly spectacular meal. Follow these simple directions, and your slow cooker will create something wonderful.

1. Mix the Delicious Sauce: In a bowl, we’ll begin by whisking together the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Continue until the mixture is smooth and well-combined. This vibrant sauce is the secret to our flavourful Sweet Chili Chicken.
2. Combine in the Slow Cooker: Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer at the bottom of your slow cooker. Pour the beautifully prepared sauce over the chicken, ensuring every piece is generously coated.
3. Cook Low and Slow: Secure the lid and set your slow cooker to cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours. We prefer the LOW setting for the most succulent results, but either will work wonderfully. The chicken is done when it’s cooked through and tender.
4. Shred the Tender Chicken: Once cooked, gently lift the chicken breasts out of the slow cooker and place them onto a board or into a shallow dish. Use two forks to shred the meat; it should pull apart with ease.
5. Thicken the Sauce (Optional but Recommended): This is our trick for an extra-luxurious finish! In a small cup, stir the cornflour and cold water together to form a smooth slurry. Pour it into the sauce left in the slow cooker and whisk it in. Set the cooker to HIGH for 10-15 minutes, allowing the sauce to bubble and thicken into a glossy glaze.
6. Bring It All Together: Add the shredded chicken back into the thickened sauce in the slow cooker. Stir well to coat every piece in the sticky, sweet goodness. Allow it to rest for a few minutes to absorb the flavours, then garnish with fresh spring onions and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds to serve.

Our Top Tips for the Best Results

Through making this dish countless times, we’ve gathered a few helpful hints to ensure it turns out perfectly every single time. Here are our best tips for success.

• Avoid Overcooking: Chicken breast is lean and can become dry if cooked for too long, even in a slow cooker. Start checking it at the shorter end of the recommended cooking time. A meat thermometer should read 74°C (165°F).
• Select a Good Sauce: The quality of your sweet chili sauce will really shine through. We recommend using a brand you love, such as Blue Dragon, which has a lovely balance of flavours.
• Bulk it Up with Veggies: To create a complete one-pot meal, feel free to add some sliced bell peppers, chunks of onion, or broccoli florets into the slow cooker for the final 45 minutes of cooking.
• Adjust to Your Taste: Don’t forget to have a little taste of the sauce before you serve it. A dash of lime juice can add a lovely brightness, while an extra pinch of chili flakes will satisfy those who like it hot.

What to Serve with Your Sweet Chili Chicken

A brilliant feature of this ChickenRecipe is its amazing versatility when it comes to side dishes. It provides a fantastic starting point for a wholesome and delicious meal. We adore spooning it over a mound of fluffy jasmine rice, which perfectly soaks up the glorious sauce, much like in our popular Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls. For a lighter approach, try loading the shredded chicken into crisp lettuce wraps or warm tortillas for speedy, flavour-packed tacos. It’s also superb when tossed with noodles or served on a bed of fresh, crunchy Asian-style slaw.

Customising Your CrockpotRecipe

We encourage you to experiment and make this recipe your own! It’s wonderfully easy to tweak according to your preferences and the ingredients you have available.

Making it Spicier or Milder

For those who enjoy a fiery kick, a teaspoon of sriracha or a generous sprinkle of red pepper flakes will elevate the heat beautifully. If you’re cooking for little ones or prefer a milder taste, simply reduce the sweet chili sauce slightly and add an extra touch of honey to create a gentler flavour profile.

Trying Different Cuts of Chicken

Although we’ve used chicken breasts here for a leaner option, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are also a fantastic choice. They contain a little more fat, which makes them incredibly flavourful and forgiving, ensuring they stay moist and tender. This is a surefire way to get a wonderfully Juicy Chicken Recipe.

Dietary Adjustments

Making this dish gluten-free is a breeze. Just swap the standard soy sauce for a gluten-free tamari or coconut aminos. It’s also wise to check that your sweet chili sauce is certified gluten-free. With this one simple change, everyone can enjoy it.

FAQ

Your New Favourite Weeknight Dinner Awaits

And there we have it—a wonderfully simple, flavour-packed, and versatile SlowCookerChicken recipe that we’re sure will earn a permanent place in your weekly meal plan. The combination of succulent shredded chicken enveloped in a sweet, sticky sauce is nothing short of irresistible. It’s the perfect comforting meal that brings a little bit of joy to the dinner table without any of the usual fuss.

We truly hope you give this EasyMeal a go. It’s the ideal way to enjoy a delicious, home-cooked dinner, even on the most demanding of days. When you do, we would love to hear how it went! Please drop a comment below or tag us on social media with your photos. We can’t wait to see you enjoying this fantastic slow cooker sweet chili chicken!

Recipe Card

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 2-3 hours
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 900g or 2 lbs)
• 250ml (1 cup) sweet chili sauce
• 60ml (1/4 cup) reduced-sodium soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
• 60ml (1/4 cup) rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon cornflour
• 1 tablespoon cold water
• For Garnish: Thinly sliced spring onions and toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

1. In a bowl, whisk together the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger until smooth.
2. Arrange the chicken breasts in a single layer in your slow cooker. Pour the sauce over the chicken, ensuring every piece is coated.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
4. Carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker and place on a board. Use two forks to shred the meat.
5. To thicken the sauce, mix the cornflour and cold water in a small cup to form a slurry. Whisk this into the sauce in the slow cooker. Set to HIGH for 10-15 minutes until it bubbles and thickens into a glaze.
6. Return the shredded chicken to the thickened sauce and stir to coat. Garnish with spring onions and toasted sesame seeds before serving.