Juicy and tender chunks of chicken and chunky vegetables cooked in an easy homemade sauce makes the perfect simple week night meal - one the whole family will love. Save yourself some money and cook this Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken yourself, rather than ordering a takeaway.
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This Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken will quickly become a family favourite. When school starts, our slow cooker is almost constantly on and helps make delicious meals with minimal effort.
Forget the jars of sauce full of additives, it takes less than a minute to make your own sauce, with the perfect balance of sweet and sour.
Add whatever vegetables you like and then let the slow cooker do the work for you and you end up with melt in your mouth sweet and sour chicken in the slow cooker.
There is no pre-cooking or browning required in this recipe, just dump all the ingredients in and let it cook. Perfect for busy school/work days. Slow cookers are perfect for batch cooking and then stashing in the freezer. You can easily double this recipe, and then store a few portions for busier times.
If you are looking for some more healthier alternatives to takeaway, why not try our delicious Pork and Apple Burgers, simple Soy Sauce Noodles or our easy BBQ Chicken Pizza?
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Chicken - We used skinless boneless chicken breasts cut into chunks to keep this recipe lean, however you could swap it for boneless skinless chicken thighs, which would be juicer and have more flavour.
- Carrot - These add a bit of chunky texture to the slow cooker sweet and sour chicken. Make sure you dice them fairly small, because you want them to be cooked at the same time as the softer veg.
- Bell peppers - These add colour and texture to the dish. We used a red and a green bell pepper, however you can use any colour you like. You can cut them into thin strips or chunks. We wouldn't recommend using frozen peppers, as these can make the whole dish a bit too watery.
- Onion - The base of any good dish. Save yourself some time by using frozen onion, as this won't release as much water as frozen pepper would. You could use diced shallots instead, which have a nice sweet flavour.
- Garlic and ginger - These both add so much flavour to the dish. You can get garlic and ginger paste combined, which would save some time. If you are going to use that, then you would only need to use 2 teaspoons.
- Water - This helps to loosen up the sauce. You could use chicken stock if you wanted to add a little more flavour. Use reduced salt if you are making it for younger children though.
- Vinegar - This is what adds the sourness to the dish. We used apple cider vinegar, as it has such an amazing flavour. You could use a white vinegar instead in this crock pot sweet and sour chicken though.
- Soy sauce - A classic Chinese dish flavour, it adds a nice saltiness to the sauce, and helps to darken it a little, so it isn't super red. Tamari is a gluten free alternative.
- Passata - This is what gives the sauce the red colour, and also helps to thicken it a little. A lot of recipes will use ketchup or even tomato paste/puree, but we use passata to reduce the sugar and still give the colour.
- Honey - We use honey to sweeten our dish. Just a little, so it is not overpowering. You could always adjust it to make it sweeter or even less sweet.
- Pineapple - Pineapple is a must in sweet and sour, right? We used juice and chunks from a tin. Make sure you get a tin with 100% juice, and not syrup.
- Cornflour (cornstarch) - This is what helps to thicken up the sauce at the end. You only need a little, otherwise it will change the colour and flavour.
Variations
Chicken - We use chicken breast to keep this dish lean, however some people can find chicken breast a little dry when cooked for a long time in the slow cooker. You can swap it for boneless and skinless chicken thighs, which will be much juicer.
Vegetables - We love a dish that we can add some extra veggies into, and the slow cooker is perfect for that. Whilst adding different vegetables won't make this a traditional sweet and sour (this recipe is very different from the traditional sweet and sour that originated in China anyway), it's a great way to give it a nutrient boost.
Some of our favourite vegetable to add are water chestnuts, baby corn, peas, shiitake mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans and mangetout.
Vegan - If you wanted to make a vegan version of this, then you could swap the chicken for tofu, or just add extra vegetables. We haven't tried this ourselves so we don't know what the results are. If you try it, do let us know the results.
How To Make Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Step 1: In a bowl, mix together the water, vinegar, soy sauce, passata, honey, garlic and ginger.
- Step 2: In the slow cooker bowl, add the chicken pieces, onions, carrots and peppers. Pour the sauce mixture into the slow cooker and mix. Put the lid on and cook on high for 2.5 hours, or low for 6 hours.
- Step 3: Add the pineapple juice and cornflour to a small bowl (a). Whisk to make a slurry (b).
- Step 4: Add the slurry to the slow cooker a little at a time, stirring until all mixed it. Put the lid back on and cook for a further 30 minutes on high or an hour on low, until the chicken is cooked through.
- Step 5: Add the pineapple chunks.
- Step 6: Mix well and serve.
Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce
If you have never tried making your own sweet and sour sauce, you really should. Made using ingredients you probably already have in your cupboard, you have yourself a deliciously smooth sauce that you can use for so many recipes, or just as a dip.
For this slow cooker sweet and sour chicken recipe, the sauce cooks in the slow cooker. However, if you wanted to use it for another recipe then follow the instructions in our Easy Sweet and Sour Sauce recipe.
Serving Suggestions
When it comes to sweet and sour, rice is the perfect side dish. Light and fluffy white rice if you want to keep it simple, or you could try our Turmeric Rice if you wanted something a bit different, or even our Egg Fried Rice.
If rice isn't your thing, then why not serve it up with noodles? The great thing about noodles is there are so many different ones. You could serve it with ramen noodles, udon noodles or soba noodles.
If you want something lower carb, then why not serve it with our Air Fryer Broccoli or our Roast Pak Choi?
Dannii's Top Tips
- If you like a kick of heat to your recipes, you can either mix a little sriracha into the sweet and sour sauce, or sprinkle some red chilli flakes on before serving.
- If you like your sweet and sour really sweet, then you can swap the passata for ketchup.
- Finish the whole dish off with some fresh coriander, slices of spring onions (scallions) and some sesame seeds.
- When shopping for pineapple chunks, make sure you get a tin with 100% juice, and not syrup, as the juice is added to the dish.
- If you are using chicken thighs for slow cooker chicken sweet and sour, then you could add them whole and then shred the chicken in the sauce once it is cooked.
- You can give this an extra protein boost by adding some quick cook lentils at the same time as the sauce.
- You don't have to thicken the sauce with a cornflour slurry, as it does take away some of the flavour, but you might find it too runny without it.
Frequently Asked Questions
There really is no rule here. We use a Morphy Richards Slow Cooker and we love it. What I love most about it is that you can put the bowl insert on the hob too.
The chicken should be perfectly cooked in the slow cooker after 3 hours on high or 6.5 hours on low. However, we always like to use a food thermometer to check. The cooked temperature of chicken is 75°C/165°F. However, if you don't have a food thermometer, then it is best to use your judgement and stick a knife in it. It shouldn't be pink inside.
This is a great batch cook meal, so make extra and keep it in the freezer for those buy nights. Leftovers can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for 2 days.
Yes, once you have let it fully cool, you can transfer it into a freezable container and then it will keep for 3 months. You can also freeze it with the rice. Make sure to fully defrost this in the fridge overnight and then you can reheat it in a saucepan over a medium heat until piping hot all the way through. You could also reheat it in the microwave.
If you want a thicker sauce, then you could take the lid off and leave it cooking for 30 minutes. We wouldn't recommending any more cornflour, as it would totally change the flavour.
Yes, this can all be cooked on the hob and it will take around 35-40 minutes. Just make sure that the chicken is cooked through.
More Chinese Recipes
If you've tried this slow cooker sweet and sour chicken, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken
Ingredients
- 700 g (1.5 lb) of Chicken breast - cut in to chunks
- 1 Carrot - peeled and diced
- 1 Red bell pepper - cut in to large chunks
- 1 Green bell pepper - cut in to large chunks
- 1 Onion - diced
- 2 Garlic clove - crushed
- 30 g (1.06 oz) of Fresh ginger - peeled and grated
- 60 ml (0.25 cups) of Water
- 100 ml (0.5 cups) of Apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoon of Soy sauce
- 60 ml (0.25 cups) of Passata
- 4 tablespoon of Honey
- 4 tablespoon of Pineapple juice - reserved from can of pineapple chunks
- 2 tablespoon of Cornflour (corn starch)
- 140 g (5 oz) of Pineapple chunks
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together 60 ml of Water, 100 ml of Apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp of Soy sauce, 60 ml of Passata, 4 tbsp of Honey, 2 Garlic clove and 30 g of Fresh ginger.
- In the slow cooker bowl, add 700 g of Chicken breast, 1 Onion, 1 Carrot, 1 Red bell pepper and 1 Green bell pepper.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables. Put the lid on and cook on high for 2 and a half hours or low for 6 hours.
- Mix together 4 tbsp of Pineapple juice and 2 tbsp of Cornflour (corn starch) and then add it to the slow cooker a little at a time, stirring until all mixed it.
- Put the lid back on and cook for a further 30 minutes on high or an hour on low, until the chicken is cooked through.
- Stir in 140 g of Pineapple chunks and serve.
Recipe Tips
- If you like a kick of heat to your recipes, you can either mix a little sriracha in to the sweet and sour sauce, or sprinkle some red chilli flakes on before serving.
- If you like your sweet and sour really sweet, then you can swap the passata for ketchup.
- Finish the whole dish off with some fresh coriander, slices of spring onions (scallions) and some sesame seeds.
- When shopping for pineapple chunks, make sure you get a tin with 100% juice, and not syrup, as the juice is added to the dish.
- If you are using chicken thighs, then you could add them whole and then shred the chicken in the sauce once it is cooked.
- You can give this an extra protein boost by adding some quick cook lentils at the same time as the sauce.
- You don't have to thicken the sauce with a cornflour slurry, as it does take away some of the flavour, but you might find it too runny without it.
Nutritional Information
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The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
veenaazmanov says
Quick and easy recipe and best dish for the weekend, My kids to surely love it all. Looks delicious.
Elle @ Spice and Life says
Absolutely obsessed with this recipe! I always order it from the takeaway, but it is so greasy and fatty I always feel guilty. This slow cooker recipe is the opposite and I fell like I can treat myself more often!
kushigalu says
Love sweet and sour recipes. This chicken dish looks so delicious. Thanks for sharing
Maria says
Slow cooker recipes are the best! Thanks for giving informative instructions it makes it easier for me to follow this.Such a great recipe!
Denay DeGuzman says
Just made this easy recipe for lunch and it was delicious! Loved the flavors, colors and textures. I'll be adding this sweet and sour chicken to our family's fall meal plan rotation.
Shashi says
Such a flavor packed meal! And so love that it is super easy to make in a slow cooker! Deliciousness!
Pam says
I love my slow cooker and I'm always on the lookout for new recipes to make in it. This Sweet and Sour Chicken is a great addition to my collection.
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
This was amazing and such a treat! Thank you!
Kate says
Love 'fakeaway' meals like this that are so much cheaper and usually healthier than the takeaway version. This is even better as you can shove it all in the slow cooker earlier in the day - just perfect!
Nathan says
I love a crock pot chicken recipe, and especially with school starting up soon I've been looking for more options for the slow cooker. Can't wait to give it a try!
GUS says
Thanks for the clear instructions. The result was amazing. I loved the pineapple juice touch!
Chenée says
Can't wait to make this again! It was so delicious and perfectly simple to make for a weeknight dinner!
Amanda Dixon says
I'll definitely make this again! The chicken came out so juicy and flavorful, and the slow cooker really makes the whole process super simple.