Description
Comfort meets convenience in this hearty slow cooker chicken and broccoli dish, packed with creamy textures and rich flavors. Minimal prep and maximum satisfaction guarantee a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 ½ pounds (680 grams) boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs), cut into bite-sized pieces
Vegetables and Herbs:
- 3 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tablespoons green onions, sliced (for garnish)
Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) low-sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons honey (or brown sugar)
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch + 3 tablespoons water (for thickening)
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)
Serving Suggestion:
- Cooked rice or noodles
Instructions
- Nestle chicken pieces into the bottom of the slow cooker, ensuring they are evenly distributed and not overlapping.
- Craft a vibrant sauce by combining soy sauce, chicken broth, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, freshly ground black pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes in a mixing bowl.
- Pour the aromatic sauce directly over the chicken, making sure each piece is thoroughly coated and infused with the flavorful liquid.
- Cover the slow cooker and set to low heat, allowing the chicken to gently simmer and absorb the complex flavor profile for approximately 3-4 hours.
- During the final 30 minutes of cooking, carefully add fresh broccoli florets on top of the chicken, ensuring they steam and become tender without becoming mushy.
- Once cooking is complete, use two forks to shred the chicken or slice it into bite-sized pieces, letting it mingle with the sauce and broccoli.
- Optional: Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions for an extra layer of texture and visual appeal.
- Serve the chicken and broccoli hot over steamed rice or cauliflower rice, drizzling any remaining sauce from the slow cooker for maximum flavor.
Notes
- Swap chicken broth with vegetable broth to create a completely vegetarian version that maintains the rich, savory flavor profile.
- Add cornstarch to the sauce mixture for a thicker, more glossy coating that clings perfectly to the chicken and broccoli.
- Prep broccoli florets separately and add during the last 30 minutes of cooking to prevent overcooking and maintain a crisp, bright green texture.
- For a low-carb adaptation, replace honey with a sugar-free sweetener like monk fruit or stevia to reduce overall sugar content while preserving the dish’s sweet-tangy balance.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg