Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken
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Saucy Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken with a spicy kick! Simple ingredients bring a ton of flavor to this easy-to-make family favorite.
Kung Pao Shrimp, Kung Pao Chicken, and Kung Pao Noodles are more tasty recipes to try next!
I’ve officially had Kung Pao Chicken twice in the past 36 hours. I made this slow cooker version a couple of nights ago for dinner and instantly fell in love. If you’re a sauce person – like me – you’ll want to double this sauce because it is finger-lickin’ good.
But that was only the first time I had Kung Pao Chicken this week. Last night my husband came home from a business trip and we went out to dinner with my parents. They picked a Chinese restaurant I haven’t been to in years and I ordered the same thing I always ordered back in the days – Kung Pao Chicken. And here is the real kicker – I was disappointed because this slow cooker version was so much better. Like…. soooo much better.
Plus I’m pretty sure that this recipe is healthier than any restaurant Kung Pao Chicken. And easy! Just brown the chicken, throw it into the slow cooker with the sauce, let it work its magic for a few hours, and then add the last couple of ingredients. Perfect Kung Pao Chicken made with simple everyday ingredients and loaded with tons of flavor. I’m in love!
More Recipes to Try
- Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken – tender chicken coated in a sticky, irresistible sauce-can’t get much better than that!
- Slow Cooker Korean BBQ Pork Tacos – sweet, savory, and loaded with Korean inspired flavor in every bite.
- Slow Cooker Sesame Beef – minimal effort for a whole lotta flavor!
When you make this recipe, snap a photo and tag me on social – I love connecting with you and seeing what you’re up to in the kitchen!
Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped into 1 inch pieces
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 zucchini, chopped
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons chili paste
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ⅓ cup water
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- ⅓ cup peanuts , (see note)
- optional: cooked rice, green onions
- 2 teaspoons sriracha , or ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Drizzle a large sauce pan with oil and saute chicken over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until browned
- Add chicken to a greased slow cooker. In a bowl whisk together sauce ingredients: garlic, soy sauce, chile paste, vinegar, brown sugar, sriracha and 1/3 cup water. Pour sauce into the slow cooker. Cook on high 3-4 hours or on low 5-6 hours.
- About 10-15 minutes before serving, drizzle a pan with oil and saute peppers, zucchini, and garlic for 2-3 minutes until veggies are tender. Add to slow cooker.
- Whisk together corn starch and cold water til dissolved. Add to slow cooker and stir. Allow to thicken for 5-10 minutes. Serve over rice and garnish with peanuts and green onions as desired.
Notes
*double sauce ingredients if you like extra sauce – we do!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My husband loved this recipe! I coated the chicken in a flour and corn starch mix before sautéing it, and the sauce was thick enough at the end to skip the cornstarch step. I also just added a cooked bag of frozen stir fry veggies instead of the zucchini. Will definitely make again!!
how would I cook this on the stovetop? love the sauce but chicken is tender but dry.
Hi Melinda, I have a newer stovetop Kung Pao Chicken on my site! Just search “kung pao chicken” and it should come right up. 🙂
I used this recipe as it seemed healThy (ie nO Saute on the cHicken iN oiL), but if you dont do this, the chicken pieces fall apart and it comes out lookng like slop. The sauce was fINe. Will try agaiN With a few aDjustMents
Made this today, my roommate loved it . I did however add mushrooms to the chicken and and onions to the peppers and ZUCCHINI. I will make again how ever I will be adding more chile paste and sriracha sauce, it WASN’T Kung poa enough for me.
Thanks for your input, Nadine!
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. it looks so delicious and i am going to try it sometime this coming week hopefully! also, sorry about that weird guy who got all riled up because you didn’t respond to his comment. i really admire how professionally you handled that!
You’re the sweetest, Angela! I hope that you love this recipe 🙂
Super good i think next time ill use low sodium soY a bit salty for my liking so i had to add some extra water but i also sauteed onions anD serano wHile browning thE chicken for some extra kick. Will definitely be making this again!
Great idea, Emily!