Slow Cooker Peanut Chicken
Slow Cooker Peanut Chicken is a comforting and easy-to-make dish featuring tender chicken simmered in a rich, creamy peanut sauce. This hands-off recipe combines nutty, savory, and slightly sweet flavors, making it perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep. Garnished with green onions and chopped peanuts, it’s versatile to serve over rice, noodles, or with vegetables for a wholesome, crowd-pleasing meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 to 6 hours (low) or 2 to 3 hours (high)
- Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes to 6 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 to 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
- Diet: Gluten Free (with tamari or coconut aminos)
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
Sauce
- 1/2 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari/coconut aminos for gluten-free)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar or honey
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar or lime juice
- Optional: 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes or 1 teaspoon sriracha (adjust to taste)
Garnish
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped peanuts
- Optional: additional chili flakes for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Rinse and pat dry the chicken breasts or thighs. Place them evenly in the bottom of the slow cooker to ensure even cooking and easy shredding.
- Mix the Sauce Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine peanut butter, coconut milk, soy sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, brown sugar, and rice vinegar or lime juice. Stir until smooth and well blended to create the creamy sauce base.
- Pour Sauce Over Chicken: Pour the peanut sauce evenly over the chicken in the slow cooker, making sure all pieces are well coated to absorb the flavors during cooking.
- Slow Cook: Cover and cook on low heat for 4 to 6 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours. The chicken should become tender and easy to shred with a fork once done.
- Shred and Stir: Remove the lid, shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker using two forks, and stir to coat the shredded meat thoroughly with the sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped green onions and crushed peanuts on top to add crunch and freshness before serving.
Notes
- Skip overcooking: Keep an eye on cooking time to avoid drying out the chicken.
- Use natural peanut butter for a more authentic and less sweet flavor.
- Let the chicken rest a few minutes after cooking before shredding for easier handling.
- Toast garlic and ginger lightly before adding to enhance aroma and flavor.
- If the sauce is too thin, thicken it by adding a cornstarch slurry during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: Thirty-five g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: slow cooker, peanut chicken, easy dinner, creamy peanut sauce, crockpot recipe, gluten free, meal prep
Find it online: https://juliaglam.com/slow-cooker-peanut-chicken-3/
