Description
This Crock Pot Sesame Chicken is a sweet, savory, and incredibly easy slow cooker dinner that tastes just like takeout. Tender bite-sized chicken cooks slowly in a sticky sesame sauce made with soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. Toss in fresh red bell peppers and finish with sesame seeds and green onions for the perfect flavor and texture. Serve it over fluffy rice or noodles for a cozy, family-friendly meal that practically cooks itself.
Ingredients
2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
3 tablespoons cornstarch
Sauce
½ cup low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
⅓ cup light brown sugar
¼ cup honey
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Add-ins
1 red bell pepper, chopped
Garnish
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 green onions, chopped
For Serving
Cooked white rice or noodles
Instructions
1. Prepare the chicken
Trim excess fat from the chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Cut into bite-sized pieces. Add the chicken and cornstarch to a large zip-top bag and shake until evenly coated.
2. Add chicken to slow cooker
Transfer the coated chicken pieces into the crock pot.
3. Make the sesame sauce
In a bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, brown sugar, honey, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and crushed red pepper.
4. Combine ingredients
Add the chopped red bell pepper to the slow cooker. Pour the sesame sauce over the chicken and gently stir to coat.
5. Slow cook
Cover and cook on HIGH for 2½–3½ hours or LOW for 4½–5½ hours, until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
6. Garnish and serve
Sprinkle sesame seeds and chopped green onions over the chicken. Serve hot over rice or noodles.
Notes
• For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and stir it into the crock pot during the last 20 minutes of cooking.
• Chicken thighs can be used instead of chicken breasts for a juicier result.
• Add steamed broccoli, snap peas, or carrots for extra vegetables.
• Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg