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Dreamy Peanut Chicken Slow Cooker

Category: Satisfying Entrées for Any Occasion

You get juicy chicken bathed in a creamy, peanut-packed sauce with hits of ginger, garlic, and lime. Creamy coconut milk takes things up a notch, while sweet red pepper adds a pop of color and gentle sweetness. Honey and brown sugar balance out salty soy sauce for that classic sweet-meets-savory thing. Sprinkle on cilantro and crunchy roasted peanuts before serving it up with rice and lime wedges. It’s a feel-good family favorite that’s easy to make and big on taste!

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Dana
Updated on Sat, 12 Jul 2025 12:46:51 GMT
A bowl of food with rice and meat. Pin
A bowl of food with rice and meat. | chefsnaps.com

Your house is gonna smell incredible while this slow cooked peanut chicken does its thing. Ginger, lime, garlic… you’ll want to hang out by the kitchen. Chicken breasts become super soft and soak up a peanutty sauce that’s just full of flavor. When I need comfort food but don’t want takeout, this is what I throw in the pot. Spoon it over jasmine rice and everyone’s happy.

When I set this dish on the table for the first time, my husband thought I’d grabbed Thai takeout. Now it’s always on our weeknight rotation—stress just melts away when it’s dinner like this.

Effortless Ingredients

  • Lime wedges: Squeeze these over at the end for a zippy finish
  • Cooked white or jasmine rice: Fluffy, aromatic jasmine’s hard to beat with peanut chicken
  • Chopped roasted peanuts: For a salty crunch—dry roasted or unsalted work
  • Chopped fresh cilantro: Toss on top for bright flavor and color
  • Large red bell pepper: Glossy, firm peppers make the dish pop and add crunch
  • Coconut milk: Choose full-fat for extra creaminess or the light kind for less richness
  • Salt and black pepper: Taste and adjust after the soy goes in
  • Crushed red pepper flakes: Sprinkle in for a gentle kick, or more if you love heat
  • Lime juice: Fresh is best for tartness, but bottled works
  • Fresh ginger grated: Grate with a microplane, peel with a spoon—makes everything smell incredible
  • Garlic minced: Freshly chopped gives the best punch
  • Honey or brown sugar: Either works to sweeten and balance the tang
  • Chicken broth: Homemade or a trusty carton is fine
  • Rice vinegar: Look for clear, Japanese-style to brighten up the sauce
  • Soy sauce: Low-sodium is a safer bet for salt levels
  • Creamy peanut butter: Natural or regular brands work, pick based on your sweet tooth
  • Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Go for hefty pieces without added water—more flavor, better texture

Simple How-To Steps

Finish and Serve:
Scoop the chicken over soft rice, then top generously with peanuts and cilantro. Hand out lime wedges for a bright, citrus pop.
Shred and Mix:
Lift out chicken and shred it using two forks, then toss it back in so every bit is coated. This keeps things super saucy.
Cook Until Tender:
Pop the lid on and cook—go low for 5–6 hours or high for 3–4. Let it get all juicy and flavorful.
Add and Stir:
Pour that sauce all over your chicken, turning to cover everything. Throw in sliced red bell pepper and coconut milk, give it a gentle stir.
Mix Up the Sauce:
Stir together peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, broth, your sweetener, garlic, ginger, lime juice, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper in a bowl until it’s smooth.
Lay Down the Chicken:
Put the chicken breasts side by side on the bottom of your slow cooker so they cook nice and even.
A bowl of food with rice and meat. Pin
A bowl of food with rice and meat. | chefsnaps.com

You Gotta Know

  • No dairy here—coconut milk does the heavy lifting
  • Packed with satisfying protein that keeps you going
  • Switch to tamari for a super easy gluten-free swap

Each mouthful takes me back to when my youngest scooped a whole mountain onto her plate and kept asking for more sauce and peanuts. Always double the batch, it’s somehow even tastier the next day!

How to Store Leftovers

Pop any extras in a lidded container and keep them chilled for up to three days. The flavors get even deeper after sitting overnight. Reheat slowly in a skillet with a little more broth to loosen things up.

Easy Ingredient Swaps

  • Boneless chicken thighs will make this even more juicy if you like that
  • Want a switch from peanuts? Almond butter works great
  • For gluten issues, tamari or coconut aminos sub in for soy without missing out
  • Craving more spice? Sriracha or diced chili go right in

How to Serve It

  • Pile it over jasmine or basmati rice, then hit it with extra cilantro and peanuts
  • Steamed snap peas or broccoli on the side make it fresher and crunchier
  • Go light—wrap the chicken in lettuce leaves for a fun twist
A bowl of food with rice and meat. Pin
A bowl of food with rice and meat. | chefsnaps.com

A Little Background

You’ll find peanut sauce all over Southeast Asia, where folks mix up nuts, coconut, and different spices to blend sweet with savory. They’re perfect on skewers, noodles, and rice. Here, a laid-back slow cooker trick brings those flavors to basic chicken with hardly any effort.

Recipe FAQs

→ Is it okay to use thighs instead of breasts?

Totally fine! Thighs stay moist and soft after slow cooking. You might need to tweak your cook time just a bit.

→ How do I make it friendly for gluten-free folks?

All you need to do is swap the soy sauce for tamari or your favorite gluten-free soy sauce sub.

→ Is the sauce spicy?

It's pretty chill if you only add a tiny bit of red pepper flakes. Go wild or skip them if you want more or less heat.

→ Got any serving ideas?

It’s awesome with jasmine or plain white rice. Steamed veggies like broccoli or snap peas make tasty sides, too.

→ Can I make this ahead to save time?

Definitely! Pop it in the fridge and it’ll keep for up to three days. Super handy for prepping meals in advance.

Peanut Chicken Slow Cooker

Chicken cooks low and slow in a peanutty ginger sauce with garlic and lime. Pile on cilantro and peanuts before spooning it all over steamy rice.

Preparation Time
15 min
Cooking Time
240 min
Total Time
255 min
By: Dana

Category: Main Dishes

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: Asian-style

Yield: Serves 4

Dietary Preferences: Dairy-Free

Ingredients

→ Main

01 1 large red bell pepper, sliced thin
02 120 ml coconut milk
03 Salt and black pepper, add as much as you like
04 5 ml crushed red pepper flakes (if you want it spicier)
05 15 ml lime juice
06 15 ml fresh ginger, grated
07 3 garlic cloves, chopped
08 30 ml honey or brown sugar
09 120 ml chicken broth
10 30 ml rice vinegar
11 60 ml soy sauce
12 120 ml creamy peanut butter
13 700–900 g boneless, skinless chicken breast

→ To Serve

14 Lime wedges
15 Cooked jasmine or white rice
16 Roasted peanuts, chopped on top
17 Chopped fresh cilantro for topping

Steps

Step 01

Dish up the chicken over hot rice, sprinkle with cilantro and peanuts, and toss some lime wedges alongside.

Step 02

Pull the chicken out and use two forks to tear it up. Drop it back in with the sauce and mix well.

Step 03

Pop the lid on and let it go on low for 5-6 hours or crank it up to high for 3-4 hours until the chicken's super soft.

Step 04

Mix in the bell pepper slices and pour in the coconut milk, giving everything a gentle stir with the sauce and chicken.

Step 05

Drizzle the peanut sauce right over the chicken, making sure every bit gets covered.

Step 06

Grab a mixing bowl and whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chicken broth, honey or brown sugar, garlic, ginger, lime juice, red pepper flakes if you want, plus salt and black pepper until it’s all smooth.

Step 07

Lay the chicken breast down flat at the bottom of your slow cooker.

Notes

  1. If you want your sauce thicker, leave the slow cooker open the last half hour.
  2. Toss in some steamed snap peas or broccoli on the side for more veggies.
  3. Like things spicy? Add extra red pepper flakes or a shot of hot sauce.
  4. Need it gluten-free? Swap soy sauce for tamari or a gluten-free option.
  5. Stash leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge and they'll be good for three days.

Required Tools

  • Slow cooker
  • Mixing bowl
  • Cutting board
  • Small knife
  • Forks (for shredding)

Allergen Information

Check every ingredient for potential allergens, and consult a healthcare professional if uncertain.
  • Has peanuts
  • Has soy
  • Might have tree nuts (coconut milk can cause issues for some folks)

Nutritional Details (Per Serving)

These details are for reference purposes and don't replace professional medical advice.
  • Calories: 450
  • Fats: ~
  • Carbohydrates: ~
  • Protein: ~