Slow Cooker Peanut Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken in rich peanut sauce with vegetables for an easy comforting meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 1.3 lbs)
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 lime juice (plus more for serving)
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 - Lime wedges
20 - Steamed jasmine rice, for serving (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Season chicken thighs evenly with salt and black pepper on all sides.
02 - Arrange sliced bell pepper, onion, carrot, garlic, and ginger in an even layer at the bottom of the slow cooker. Place seasoned chicken thighs directly on top of the vegetable bed.
03 - In a medium bowl, whisk together creamy peanut butter, soy sauce, chicken broth, honey, rice vinegar, lime juice, sriracha (if using), and sesame oil. Whisk vigorously until completely smooth and well combined.
04 - Pour the prepared peanut sauce evenly over the chicken and vegetables in the slow cooker, ensuring all pieces are coated.
05 - Cover and cook on low heat for 5 hours or until the chicken is tender, registers 165°F internally, and is fully cooked through.
06 - Remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker and shred using two forks or cut into large chunks. Stir the sauce well in the cooker, then return the shredded chicken to the sauce and toss to coat thoroughly.
07 - Serve hot over steamed jasmine rice if desired. Garnish generously with chopped roasted peanuts, fresh cilantro, and additional lime wedges for squeezing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The peanut sauce transforms into something deeply savory and rich, nothing like the simple ingredients you start with
  • Your slow cooker does all the heavy lifting while you go about your day
  • This is one of those dishes that tastes even better as leftovers, the flavors melding together overnight
02 -
  • The sauce will look separated and slightly curdled when you first pour it in, but it will emulsify beautifully during cooking
  • Resist the urge to lift the lid too often—every peek adds about 15 minutes to your cooking time
  • Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after shredding before returning it to the sauce, so the meat absorbs more flavor
03 -
  • Line your slow cooker insert with parchment paper before adding ingredients for cleanup that takes seconds instead of scrubbing
  • Use natural peanut butter that only contains peanuts and salt—added stabilizers can make the sauce taste artificial

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