Sweet and Sour Chicken Crock Pot Recipe
This Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe made in a crock pot offers a deliciously tangy and savory dish that’s tender and flavorful. The chicken is lightly pan-fried to a golden brown before slow-cooking in a vibrant homemade sweet and sour sauce, resulting in a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and umami flavors. Easy to prepare and ideal for busy days, it pairs wonderfully with rice or noodles for a comforting meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours (high) or 6 hours (low)
- Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes (high) or 6 hours 15 minutes (low)
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken:
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch chunks
- Sea salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- ½ cup (8 tablespoons) cornstarch
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- ¼ cup olive oil
Sauce:
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup water
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce and Chicken: In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, water, and minced garlic until smooth. In a separate bowl, season the chicken chunks with sea salt and pepper, then add the cornstarch and beaten eggs. Mix thoroughly to coat each piece evenly.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken pieces and cook for 4-5 minutes until they are lightly golden brown on the outside but not fully cooked through. This step helps develop a crispy texture and seals in the juices.
- Slow Cook: Transfer the seared chicken pieces to the crock pot and pour the prepared sweet and sour sauce over them. Stir gently to ensure the chicken is evenly coated with the sauce.
- Cook in Crock Pot: Cover the crock pot and cook on high for 3 hours or on low for 6 hours. The chicken will become tender and infused with the flavors of the sauce during this slow-cooking process.
- Serve: Once cooked, serve the sweet and sour chicken hot over steamed white rice or noodles for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken thighs for breast if you prefer a juicier texture.
- For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce.
- Adjust the sweetness or tanginess of the sauce by varying the amount of brown sugar or vinegar to taste.
- Adding chopped pineapple chunks near the end of cooking is a great way to enhance the classic sweet and sour flavor.
- To keep the chicken crispy, you can skip the slow cooker after searing and instead simmer the sauce and chicken briefly on the stovetop.
Keywords: sweet and sour chicken, crock pot chicken recipe, slow cooker chicken, Chinese-American cuisine, easy weeknight dinner, comfort food
Find it online: https://lucabites.com/sweet-and-sour-chicken-crock-pot-recipe/
