Description

This Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Chicken recipe delivers tender, flavorful chicken thighs simmered in a sweet and tangy chili glaze. Perfect for an easy, hands-off meal, the slow cooker method allows the flavors to meld beautifully over several hours, resulting in juicy chicken with a luscious sauce that’s ideal served over rice or grains and garnished with fresh cilantro.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)

Sweet Chili Glaze

¾ cup sweet chili sauce
1 ½ cups chicken broth
½ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
¼ cup soy sauce

Thickening Sauce

¼ cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons cornstarch

Garnish

1 handful fresh cilantro, snipped

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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 fully combined to create the flavorful glaze base.
Add Chicken: Place the boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts) into the slow cooker, then spoon some of the prepared glaze evenly over the top of the chicken.
Cook: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on the LOW setting for 6 hours, taking care to avoid opening the lid during cooking to maintain moisture for tender chicken.
Thicken Sauce (Optional): After cooking, remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred or cut into bite-sized pieces. In a small bowl, whisk the ¼ cup chicken broth together with the cornstarch until smooth. Pour this mixture into the slow cooker and whisk into the remaining glaze. Return the chicken to the pot, cover, and continue cooking for an additional 20-30 minutes until the sauce has thickened to a glossy consistency.
Serve: Garnish the chicken with freshly snipped cilantro and serve over steamed rice or your preferred grain for a delicious and comforting meal.

Notes

For a bit more heat, add red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the glaze mixture.
If using chicken breasts, reduce the slow cook time slightly to avoid drying out the meat.
The thickening step is optional but recommended for a richer, more luxurious sauce.
Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
To keep the recipe gluten-free, use tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce alternative.