Description
This Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Chicken recipe offers tender, juicy chicken thighs cooked in a flavorful sweet chili glaze. Perfectly slow-cooked for six hours, the chicken absorbs the rich blend of chili sauce, soy, and spices, then is topped with a thickened sauce and fresh cilantro. Ideal for a hands-off, comforting meal served over rice or your preferred grain.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
Glaze
- ¾ cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup soy sauce
Sauce Thickener
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Garnish
- 1 handful fresh cilantro, snipped
Instructions
- Combine Glaze Ingredients: In the bottom of a large slow cooker, whisk together the sweet chili sauce, chicken broth, kosher salt, black pepper, and soy sauce until well combined.
- Add Chicken: Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs into the slow cooker, making sure they are coated evenly by spooning some of the glaze mixture over the top.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on LOW heat for 6 hours. Avoid opening the lid during cooking to maintain moisture and allow the flavors to deeply infuse the chicken.
- Thicken Sauce (Optional): After cooking, carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred or cut it into bite-sized pieces. In a small bowl, whisk together ¼ cup chicken broth and the cornstarch until smooth to create a slurry. Pour this mixture back into the slow cooker and stir to combine with the glaze. Return the shredded chicken to the pot, cover, and cook for another 20-30 minutes on LOW until the sauce thickens to your liking.
- Serve: Garnish the sweet chili chicken with freshly snipped cilantro. Serve it over steamed rice or your favorite grain for a full and delicious meal.
Notes
- Use chicken thighs for more tender and flavorful meat, but chicken breasts are a leaner alternative.
- Do not open the slow cooker lid frequently during cooking to prevent heat loss and maintain moisture.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, don’t skip the cornstarch slurry step.
- Serve with rice, quinoa, or noodles to soak up the delicious glaze.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
