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I love a simple, versatile dinner that’s tasty, healthy and super easy. This slow cooker peanut butter chicken fits the bill! You can use chicken breasts or chicken thighs, and creamy or crunchy peanut butter. This is sure to become a new family favorite. Enjoy with this 10-minute Easy Rice!
A Family Favorite Recipe:
I am introducing you to my kids’ favorite crockpot meal. If there is one food they love more than tacos, it’s peanut butter chicken. The peanut sauce is slightly sweet, a little acidic, and will leave your house smelling AhhhhhMAZING! You will love the way the chicken tenderizes and can even shred to create the most delicious bowl of goodness.
As a nutritionist, I love nothing more than easy healthy dinner recipes. This dinner is one that fits the bill! It’s high in healthy fat and protein, and can be a perfect meal when paired with some fiber; a side of broccoli or Brussels sprouts is a great option!
Short on time? This recipe is perfect. If your weeknights are super busy like ours, dinner can be ready with very little prep time. Less than 10 minutes!
How to make Slow Cooker Peanut Butter Chicken:
All you need is a slow cooker and these simple ingredients:
- Chicken breast or thighs
- Peanut butter (smooth or crunchy, your preference! You can also use another nut butter)
- Gluten-free Tamari Sauce, coconut aminos, or soy sauce
- Honey (omit if using coconut aminos)
- Rice vinegar (you can sub with apple cider vinegar)
- Chicken broth
- Garlic cloves
- Cilantro (for serving)
- Crushed red pepper (optional)
- Lime juice (optional)
All you need to do is stir the peanut sauce ingredients (peanut butter, coconut aminos, honey, rice vinegar, chicken broth, and garlic), throw in your chicken breast, hit start, and be on your way. Cook on 4 to 6 hours in your slow cooker. I always set mine to 6, then check at the 4 hour mark.
It’s that easy you guys!
Tips for Serving and Storing:
- Make it creamier: stir in 1/2 cup of coconut milk!
- Serve with some veggies over rice or cauliflower rice. It tastes so delicious with my Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice.
- For veggies, my favorite companion is my oven Roasted Lemon and Garlic Broccoli.
- Storing: in the fridge for up to 5 days (perfect for meal prep lunch), or freeze for up to 3 months.
Can I make this in the Instant Pot?
Yes! You can make this recipe in the Instant Pot. You will need to increase the chicken broth to 3/4 cup, or use coconut milk. Note that the nut butter has a tendency to create the burn signal so be sure to add in more liquid than you would use in the slow cooker. I recommend following my recipe for Instant Pot Cashew Butter Chicken to get the right liquid ratio.
Is there a Paleo option?
You can easily make this a paleo meal by substituting cashew butter or almond butter for the peanut butter. I would suggest trying my Cashew Butter Chicken recipe for a Paleo option!
Also, use coconut aminos in place of GF Tamari or soy sauce. When using coconut aminos, you will most likely not need any honey. You can stir the sauce and taste before adding it to the slow cooker to test it out.
Now it’s your turn to try!
Be sure to rate the recipe below and comment if you make it! Also, tag me on Instagram @wholesomelicious with your creations. I love to see them!
Easy Slow Cooker Peanut Butter Chicken
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken breast or chicken thighs
For the Peanut Butter Sauce:
- 1/2 cup peanut butter, (creamy or crunchy)
- 1/4 cup GF Tamari Soy Sauce or Coconut Aminos*
- 1/4 cup honey**
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 3 large garlic cloves, minced
For Serving:
- 1 tbsp crushed red pepper, (optional)
- 1 tbsp lime juice, (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, (optional)
Instructions
- Place chicken breasts into your slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, whisk together sauce ingredients: peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, chicken broth, and garlic cloves. Sauce will be slightly lumpy, but make sure it's well incorporated. Pour on top of chicken.
- Set your slow cooker to cook on low for 6 hours. You can check on it at the 4 hour mark to see if it can easily shred. If not, let it continue to cook until the 6 hour mark.
- Serve over rice with roasted vegetables and be sure to top your chicken with the sauce. Add optional crushed red pepper, lime juice, and cilantro on top.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made this last night. I used bone in chicken legs and baked it at 325 for about 90 minutes. I took the meat off the bone and rough chopped it. Served over ramen noodles discarding the seasoning packet. Loved the sauce. This is a keeper!
Sounds like a delicious adaptation!!
Really beautiful tasting sauce and tender chicken. The whole family enjoyed it. My daughter who was visiting demanded the recipe! Served with rice noodles and brocolli. Will become a regular dish in our house. Thanks.
Love to hear that! Thank you 🙂
For the slow cooker peanut butter chicken it says to cook for 6 hours and then it says 4 hours. I was wondering if it is 4 or 6?
It is between 4-6 hours, depending on your slow cooker. I find mine is perfect at 4 hours. Start with 4 hours, and then check to see if it needs more time
Hello, I am very excited to make this! I am just wondering where the nutritional facts are so I can calculate it within my weight watchers app. Thank you!
Can I make this without lime juice, I’m allergic to citrus fruits. If so should I substitute with something?
HAs anyone made this in the instant pot? What setting would you use? I love this recipe!
Yes! Use the manual setting, set it to 8 minutes on high pressure. Use a quick release!
I used the instant pot to your specifications (first time I’ve actually used it other than rice right before) and it came out great. However the valve never rose and there was no pressure when I did the quick release. Is that the experience you had? Wondered if iit had something to do with the sauce being so thick? Thanks!
Hi Ryan, That’s definitely weird and has never happened to me. Did you have the valve set right? I’m actually surprised the chicken still came out if there was no pressure. You could maybe try to add some more chicken broth next time, but the sauce will be runny.
Hi I’m going to try this but wondering does it work well with boneless thighs as well? What about bone-in legs? Thanks!
Yes, it will definitely work with thighs. I have not tried with bone-in because the chicken gets so tender and will shred.
This turned out delcious. One of my favorites a great recipe. Thanks for sharing.
simon
Made this for dinner tonight. It was yummy. I served it with rice noodles and chopped peanuts on top. Have some left for lunch tomorrow!
Glad you enjoyed it Suzanne!
Hello, I just put everything in the crockpot. I have four options on my crockpot: 4hrs on high, 6hrs on high, 8hrs on low and 10hrs on low. If I chose 6hrs on high, will it be too much?
Hi Catherine, I would do 8 hours on low and then take it out early (between 4-6 hours)