Description

This Slow Cooker Peanut Chicken is a creamy, flavorful dish combining tender chicken breasts or thighs with a rich peanut sauce made from coconut milk, peanut butter, soy sauce, and a blend of spices. Perfect for an easy, hands-off meal, this recipe cooks gently in the slow cooker, allowing the chicken to soak up delicious peanut flavors. Served over rice or noodles and garnished with chopped peanuts and fresh cilantro, it’s an irresistible dish with a slight hint of heat from optional red pepper flakes.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs

Peanut Sauce

1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional for spice)

For Garnish and Serving

1/4 cup chopped peanuts
Fresh cilantro, chopped
Cooked rice or noodles, for serving

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Instructions

Prepare the Slow Cooker: Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker with non-stick spray or a small amount of oil to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
Add Chicken: Place the boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs in the bottom of the slow cooker in a single layer for even cooking.
Make the Sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, creamy peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, lime juice, grated ginger, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes until smooth and well combined.
Pour Sauce Over Chicken: Pour the peanut sauce evenly over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well coated with the flavorful mixture.
Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on the low setting for 4-5 hours or on the high setting for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
Shred Chicken: Once cooked, shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker using two forks and mix it with the sauce. Alternatively, you can leave chicken pieces whole if preferred.
Serve: Serve the peanut chicken over cooked rice or noodles. Garnish with chopped peanuts and fresh cilantro for added texture and freshness.

Notes

You can use either chicken breasts for leaner meat or thighs for more flavor and tenderness.
If you prefer a spicier dish, increase the crushed red pepper flakes to taste.
Make sure to shred the chicken in the sauce to allow it to absorb maximum flavor.
This dish can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
For a gluten-free option, substitute soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos.