Slow Cooker Peanut Chicken (Printable)

Tender chicken in rich peanut sauce with vegetables, perfect for easy comfort meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs (approximately 1.3 pounds)
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 additional 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 - Fresh lime wedges
20 - Steamed jasmine rice for serving optional

# How to Make It:

01 - Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and black pepper.
02 - Arrange sliced bell pepper, onion, carrot, minced garlic, and grated ginger in an even layer at the bottom of the slow cooker. Place seasoned chicken thighs directly on top of the vegetable bed.
03 - Combine creamy peanut butter, soy sauce, chicken broth, honey, rice vinegar, lime juice, sriracha if using, and sesame oil in a medium bowl. Whisk vigorously until completely smooth and well incorporated.
04 - Pour the prepared peanut sauce evenly over the chicken and vegetables, ensuring all pieces are coated.
05 - Cover the slow cooker with its lid. Cook on low heat setting for 5 hours or until chicken is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
06 - Carefully remove cooked chicken from the slow cooker. Use two forks to shred meat or cut into large chunks. Stir the sauce thoroughly in the cooker, then return the shredded chicken and mix well to coat evenly.
07 - Portion the peanut chicken over steamed jasmine rice if desired. Top generously with chopped roasted peanuts, fresh cilantro, and additional lime wedges for squeezing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce alone will make you want to lick the spoon clean and nobody will judge
  • Your slow cooker does all the heavy lifting while you go about your day
  • The leftovers somehow taste even better the next morning straight from the fridge
02 -
  • The sauce will look thin when you first pour it in but thickens beautifully as it cooks down
  • Natural peanut butter can separate and make the sauce grainy, stick to regular creamy for best results
03 -
  • Whisk the sauce vigorously until completely smooth before pouring, any lumps will not dissolve during cooking
  • Let it rest for 10 minutes after cooking before serving, the sauce thickens and coats everything better

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