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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken

Updated: Sep 12, 2024 · Published: Aug 11, 2021 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 15 Comments

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Diet: Low Fat
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Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken with a text title overlay.

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.

A large bowl of sweet and sour chicken and rice with a spoon in it.

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?

Jump to:
  • Ingredients and Substitutions
  • Variations
  • How To Make Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken - Step by step
  • Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce
  • Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken Serving Suggestions
  • Extra Tips
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • More Chinese recipes
  • Recipe
  • Feedback

Ingredients and Substitutions

All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.

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 by step

A bowl of sweet and sour sauce.
  1. Step 1: In a bowl, mix together the water, vinegar, soy sauce, passata, honey, garlic and ginger.
Chicken and vegetables in a slow cooker with sauce poured over.
  1. 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.
Two shot collage of cornflour slurry, before and after mixing.
  1. Step 3: Add the pineapple juice and cornflour to a small bowl (a). Whisk to make a slurry (b).
Sweet and sour chicken in a slow cooker.
  1. 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.
Pineapple chunks added to the slow cooker.
  1. Step 5: Add the pineapple chunks.
Everything mixed together.
  1. 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.

A small jar of sweet and sour sauce with a spoon sticking out of it

Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken 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?

Extra 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.
A spoon lifting out some chicken and vegetables from a plate of sweet and sour chicken.

Frequently Asked Questions

What slow cooker should I use?

There really is no rule here, just make sure that the ingredients you are using can fit in your slow cooker. We use a Crock Pot DuraCeramic Slow Cooker and we love it. What I love most about it is that you can put the bowl insert on the hob too. So, you can brown the chicken on the hob, in the slow cooker bowl. I also love that it has a clear lid, as I am so impatient that I want to keep looking and seeing what it is doing. If you don't have a clear lid, then lifting it to see will release lots of the heat and add to the cooking time.

How do you know when the chicken is cooked?

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.

How to store slow cooker sweet and sour chicken

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.

Can you this be frozen?

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.

Why is my sauce too thin?

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.

Can I cook sweet and sour chicken on the hob?

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.

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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 and rice on a plate.

Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken

By: Dannii Martin
Juicy and tender chunks of chicken and chunky vegetables cooked in an easy homemade sauce make the perfect simple week night meal that the whole family will love.
the words low fat in a white circle.
Low Fat
4.95 from 20 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Prep: 10 minutes mins
Cook: 3 hours hrs
Total: 3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 329kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of two ears of wheat.
Gluten
An illustration of a cow's head.
Meat
An illustration of soyabeans.
Soya
An illustration of a wine glass.
Sulphites

Ingredients

  • 700 g (1.5 lb) 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) Fresh ginger - peeled and grated
  • 60 ml (0.25 cups) Water
  • 100 ml (0.5 cups) Apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon Soy sauce
  • 60 ml (0.25 cups) Passata
  • 4 tablespoon Honey
  • 4 tablespoon Pineapple juice - reserved from can of pineapple chunks
  • 2 tablespoon Cornflour (corn starch)
  • 140 g (5 oz) Pineapple chunks

Instructions

  • In a bowl, mix together 60 ml Water, 100 ml Apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoon Soy sauce, 60 ml Passata, 4 tablespoon Honey, 2 Garlic clove and 30 g Fresh ginger.
  • In the slow cooker bowl, add 700 g 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 tablespoon Pineapple juice and 2 tablespoon 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 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

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 329kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 496mg | Potassium: 1062mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 3737IU | Vitamin C: 74mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 2mg

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.

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Comments

  1. veenaazmanov says

    August 18, 2021 at 12:25 pm

    5 stars
    Quick and easy recipe and best dish for the weekend, My kids to surely love it all. Looks delicious.

    Reply
  2. Elle @ Spice and Life says

    August 18, 2021 at 11:20 am

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  3. kushigalu says

    August 18, 2021 at 10:08 am

    5 stars
    Love sweet and sour recipes. This chicken dish looks so delicious. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  4. Maria says

    August 18, 2021 at 9:33 am

    5 stars
    Slow cooker recipes are the best! Thanks for giving informative instructions it makes it easier for me to follow this.Such a great recipe!

    Reply
  5. Anjali says

    August 18, 2021 at 8:05 am

    5 stars
    I love slow cooker recipes and this recipe looks absolutely perfect for an easy weeknight meal! Can't wait to try it soon!

    Reply
  6. Denay DeGuzman says

    August 13, 2021 at 5:44 pm

    5 stars
    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.

    Reply
  7. Shashi says

    August 13, 2021 at 5:10 pm

    5 stars
    Such a flavor packed meal! And so love that it is super easy to make in a slow cooker! Deliciousness!

    Reply
  8. Pam says

    August 13, 2021 at 4:04 pm

    5 stars
    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.

    Reply
  9. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

    August 13, 2021 at 3:57 pm

    5 stars
    This was amazing and such a treat! Thank you!

    Reply
  10. Kate says

    August 13, 2021 at 3:50 pm

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  11. Nathan says

    August 12, 2021 at 6:43 pm

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  12. GUS says

    August 12, 2021 at 6:36 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks for the clear instructions. The result was amazing. I loved the pineapple juice touch!

    Reply
  13. Chenée says

    August 12, 2021 at 6:19 pm

    5 stars
    Can't wait to make this again! It was so delicious and perfectly simple to make for a weeknight dinner!

    Reply
  14. Amanda Dixon says

    August 12, 2021 at 5:47 pm

    5 stars
    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.

    Reply
  15. Beth says

    August 12, 2021 at 4:51 pm

    5 stars
    Looks so delicious! Always a winner and bonus that I can make it in a crockpot.

    Reply
4.95 from 20 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist.

Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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