Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken -

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This no-fuss Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken is a saucy, flavor-packed version of a takeout favorite that you can make at home, for an easy and delicious weeknight dinner. It’s simple to prepare and cook over the course of the day and healthier than delivery too!

hand holding bowl of sweet and sour chicken with crockpot of sweet and sour chicken in background

We all crave takeout from time to time, but there’s nothing like a home-cooked meal. This Crockpot Sweet and Sour Chicken is the best of both worlds —it’s a delicious at-home take on the classic carryout dish you love, and you can make it from the comfort of your own kitchen. It’s a simple, hands-off recipe thanks to the slow cooker (the real MVP of dinnertime!), so it’s perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.

Tender juicy chicken and crunchy veggies get coated in a rich and glossy sauce that’s the perfect balance of tangy, sweet and savory flavors. I like to serve this Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken over rice or noodles so there’s no sauce left behind. This is one of our family’s favorite dinners, and I think it’ll be one of yours too.

If you like this easy one pot dish, try some of our other favorite chicken recipes. This Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken is a fan favorite and our Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie is shortcut spin on the classic comfort food.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Easy One Pot Wonder: The slow cooker does all of the work for you here. With minimal prep and a simple process, this all-in-one pot meal could not be easier.
Sweet and Tangy Sauce: The perfectly balanced sweet, savory, and tangy sauce is packed with flavor and coats the chicken beautifully.
Family-Friendly: This dish is loved by everyone in the family – it’s in our dinner rotation regularly. Adults crave it and kids approve!
Easy Weeknight Meal: Since this hands-off, one-pot meal comes together easily with minimal effort but maximum flavor, it’s the ideal dinner for busy weeknights.
Takeout At Home: You don’t have to order delivery to get your favorite takeout anymore – make this recipe at home instead. This easy, no-fuss version is just as delicious, simple to make and way more affordable.
Great for Meal Prep. Prep this in advance to save you time, then set it and forget it until dinner time. Bonus, leftovers are just as good (maybe even better!) the next day to serve for another meal.

Ingredients

Chicken Breast: Lean and tender when slow-cooked, use boneless skinless breasts.
Onion: Aromatic and flavorful.
Tomato Paste & Ketchup: Adds a sweet and tangy depth of flavor to the sauce.
Soy Sauce & Worcestershire: For a punch of savory umami.
Garlic & Ginger: Essential aromatic ingredients. Use freshly minced or grated.
Honey: For sweetness, and also helps the sauce to caramelize.
White Wine Vinegar: Adds a tangy brightness to balance out the bold, sweet flavors.
Pineapple Juice: For fruity, sweet and tart notes in the sauce.
Sesame Oil: Nutty and fragrant.
Salt & Pepper: Seasoning is always key.
Cornstarch: For that signature texture and consistency.
Dark Brown Sugar: For sweetness and caramelization.
Bell Peppers: Fresh, vibrant veggies for crunch and texture. Use your favorite colors.
Pineapple: Sweet chunks for a burst of fruity flavor.

How To Make Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken

1. Add the chicken and onion to the slow cooker.
2. Add the tomato paste, ketchup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, ginger, honey, white wine vinegar, pineapple juice, sesame oil, salt, and pepper.

chicken and onions in slow cooker with some sauce ingredients

3. Stir gently so the chicken is coated in the sauce.
4. Cover and cook: HIGH for 3 hours, or LOW for 5–6 hours
5. In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch with a few tablespoons of liquid from the slow cooker until smooth to create a slurry.
6. Stir the slurry back into the slow cooker.
7. Add the brown sugar, bell peppers, and pineapple chunks.

bell peppers added to slow cooker with chicken and sauce

8. Cook for an additional: 30 minutes on HIGH, until the sauce thickens and the peppers soften slightly.

9. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

sweet and sour chicken in slow cooker topped with sesame seeds

Expert Tips

Use Chicken Thighs: Switch this recipe up with thighs. They’re super juicy and full of flavor – try boneless-skinless for ease.
Add Veggies At The End: Add in the bell peppers towards the end of cooking when the chicken is just about ready to keep their crunchy texture. Adding too early could make them overly soft and soggy.
Don’t Skip Pineapple Juice: This ingredient is a must. It’s sweet and tart, and the perfect balance of sweetness with fruity tang. Plus, it naturally tenderizes the chicken for the perfect texture.
Thicken the Sauce With Cornstarch: Make a quick cornstarch slurry with equal parts cornstarch and water to thicken the sauce to a glossy consistency that coats the chicken.
Serve Over Rice: Simply steamed white rice goes well with the saucy chicken, and is perfect to soak up all of that extra sauciness.
Make It a Complete Meal: Serve with whatever your family loves. Chow mein noodles, brown rice, fried rice, or steamed broccoli would make this a delicious and well-rounded meal.

Variations

Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of chili flakes or stir in sriracha for a spicy kick.
Add Honey: For an extra sweet note, add in a squeeze of honey.
Add Extra Veggies: Add your favorite veggies to bump up the nutrition and bulk up the dish. Broccoli florets, green beans, baby corn, eggplant, or snow peas would be great for flavor, crunch and a pop of color.
Sweet and Sour Chicken Meatballs: Get all of the same sweet and tangy flavors, but in meatball form. Mix ground chicken with minced ginger, garlic, onion, egg, breadcrumbs and tomato paste to make meatballs, then brown and coat in the luscious sauce to finish.
Low-Sugar Version: Use less brown sugar or swap out the sugar for a tablespoon of honey.

Storage

Store leftover crockpot sweet and sour chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stove over medium heat with a splash of water or chicken stock to loosen the sauce if needed. Serve over freshly steamed rice.

You can freeze leftovers, too. Let the chicken cool completely then transfer to an airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat as instructed above.

bowl of sweet and sour chicken on counter

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken in the slow cooker?

For food safety reasons, we recommend fully thawing the chicken before cooking in the slow cooker.

How do I thicken sweet and sour sauce?

A cornstarch slurry is an easy way to thicken the sauce. Use a mixture of even parts cornstarch to water, and stir into the sauce until the desired consistency is reached. Alternatively, you can also let the chicken and sauce cook with the lid off, the reduce slightly.

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Definitely. You can prep all of the ingredients and sauce in advance, add to the slow cooker, then refrigerate until you’re ready to cook. You can also prep everything and store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2-3 months until you’re ready to cook and serve (just be sure to thaw overnight in the fridge). Finally, you can fully make this recipe in advance, let it cool, then store in the fridge until ready to serve.

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?

Definitely. Thighs are full of flavor and very tender. They’re almost impossible to overcook, too.

Can I make this recipe without pineapple?

You can, but we wouldn’t recommend it. The pineapple and juice create that signature sweet and tart flavor that has the perfect balance of tang. The pineapple naturally tenderizes the chicken, too, for the perfect texture.

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