Description
Creamy chicken and broccoli slow cooker recipe brings comfort to dinner tables with minimal effort. Rich flavors blend seamlessly, providing hearty satisfaction you can enjoy without complicated preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 4)
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 head broccoli, cut into florets
- 2 tbsps rice wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp Sriracha
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ginger, minced
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- kosher salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
- cooked brown rice, for serving
- green onions, thinly sliced, for garnish
- toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- Sauce Preparation: Whisk garlic, ginger, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, ketchup, Sriracha, and sesame oil in a mixing bowl until thoroughly blended, creating a vibrant and complex flavor profile.
- Chicken Setup: Place chicken in the slow cooker, season with salt and pepper, then drench with the prepared sauce, ensuring complete coverage and deep marination for maximum flavor absorption.
- Slow Cooking Process: Set slow cooker to low temperature and allow chicken to simmer and tenderize for 3.5 to 4 hours, developing rich, succulent textures and deep flavor layers.
- Sauce Enhancement: Create a cornstarch slurry by mixing cornstarch with cool water, then gently incorporate into the cooking liquid to achieve a glossy, thickened sauce consistency.
- Broccoli Integration: Add broccoli florets to the slow cooker, letting them cook and infuse with the sauce’s complex flavors for 45 to 60 minutes until perfectly tender-crisp.
- Final Assembly: Shred or chop chicken, return to the slow cooker, and fold gently through the sauce to ensure uniform coating and flavor distribution.
- Plating: Serve over steamed brown rice, garnish with green onions and toasted sesame seeds, creating a visually appealing and delectable meal presentation.
Notes
- Marinate Strategically: Allow chicken to absorb sauce flavors by letting it sit in the mixture for at least 30 minutes before slow cooking, enhancing overall taste depth.
- Control Sauce Thickness: Adjust cornstarch slurry gradually to achieve desired sauce consistency, preventing potential over-thickening or lumpy texture.
- Timing Matters: Add broccoli during the last hour of cooking to maintain its vibrant color, crisp texture, and prevent mushy vegetables.
- Flavor Boosting Tip: Toast sesame seeds briefly in a dry skillet before sprinkling to intensify their nutty aroma and elevate the dish’s complexity.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg