Description
A delicious and easy Crock-Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe featuring tender chicken pieces slow-cooked with bell peppers, pineapple, and a flavorful tangy sauce. Perfect for a comforting and hands-off dinner served over steamed rice.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Vegetables
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup pineapple chunks (with 1/2 cup pineapple juice reserved)
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 small onion, chopped
Sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Thickening and Cooking
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Prepare the Crock-Pot: Lightly grease the crock pot with the vegetable oil to prevent sticking and enhance flavor.
- Assemble Ingredients: Place the bite-sized chicken pieces at the bottom of the slow cooker. Add the chopped red and green bell peppers, chopped onion, and pineapple chunks on top of the chicken.
- Make the Sauce: In a mixing bowl, whisk together ketchup, reserved pineapple juice, rice vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, salt, and black pepper until the sauce is well combined and smooth.
- Combine and Cook: Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the chicken and vegetables in the crock pot. Cover with the lid and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours until the chicken is tender and fully cooked through.
- Thicken the Sauce: About 20 minutes before serving, stir together cornstarch and water in a small bowl to form a slurry. Pour the slurry into the crock pot and stir to combine. Cover and cook for an additional 20 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Serve: Serve the sweet and sour chicken hot, ideally over steamed rice for a complete meal.
Notes
- Chicken thighs remain juicier during slow cooking, but chicken breasts also work well.
- For added vegetables, consider adding carrots or snap peas during the last hour of cooking.
- Adjust the sweetness by varying the amount of brown sugar according to your taste preferences.
