This Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken is a tangy mixture of chicken breasts, sweet pineapple, zesty red and green bell peppers, tangy onions, and a sour, flavorful sauce for a dinner dish that will satisfy your takeout cravings without breaking the bank.
I have always loved getting sweet and sour chicken from Chinese restaurants, but don’t always like how greasy it can be, and not to mention how expensive it can be. This Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken is a great alternative! It is less expensive, healthier, and tastes just as good without all of the grease! An added bonus? It is cooked in the slow cooker.
For this Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken, you can do all of the work in advance, so that once you are tired after a long day of work, your dinner is already ready and waiting for you when you get home. In the morning, just cut up your chicken and coat it with cornstarch. Then add the chicken, peppers, and onions to the slow cooker. After that, mix up the rest of your ingredients and pour them on top of the chicken. Let it cook all day, and enjoy it when you are ready for dinner!
Why You’ll Love This Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe
- It tastes just as good as takeout, but is healthier and cheaper.
- All of the work is done in advance, so it is ready when you are ready to eat.
- It is the perfect combination of sweet and sour flavors.
- It is a great, tasty alternative to going out to eat.
- The peppers and pineapple add amazing flavors to the chicken.
Equipment Needed To Make This Sweet n Sour Chicken Crock Pot Recipe
- 1 Gallon Freezer Bags
- Slow Cooker
- Medium Mixing Bowl
- Stirring Utensil
Ingredients For Your Homemade Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken
- Chicken Breasts
- Corn Starch
- Canned Pineapple Chunks
- Red & Green Bell Peppers
- Yellow Onion
- Brown Sugar
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Soy Sauce
- Garlic
How To Make Homemade Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken Step by Step
- Cut chicken into 1" chunks and add to a 1 gallon freezer bag. Add cornstarch and close bag. Shake until completely coated.
- Add chicken, green pepper, red pepper, and onion to the slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl add juice from pineapple chunks, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and garlic. Stir together and pour over chicken and vegetables.
- Cover and cook on high for 1½ hours (or low for 3½ to 4½ hours). Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165° F. 30 minutes before the cooking time is complete, add in the pineapple chunks and recover, and finish cooking.
- Serve over rice and garnish with fresh green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Popular Substitutions & Additions
- If you want something a little extra tangy, you can also add slices of banana peppers into the mixture.
- If you are watching your sugar intake, use sugar free ketchup. You can also use balsamic vinegar in place of soy sauce.
- If you want your sweet and sour chicken to be spicy, add slices of fresh jalapeno into the mixture, or add crushed red pepper.
How to Store & Reheat
This sweet and sour chicken can also be enjoyed left over. Once it has cooled completely, transfer it into an airtight container and put it in the fridge. If properly stored, it will last for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave in 30 second increments until it is warm. Stir after each interval. You can also reheat this chicken in the oven or the air fryer for a better texture or for larger portions.
What To Serve/Pair With Your Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken
Enjoy this sweet and sour chicken over rice and top with green onions and sesame seeds. The sauce will soak into the rice and make it extra delicious. You can also serve this sweet and sour chicken with egg rolls and egg drop soup for a full meal. I love dipping the egg roll into the sweet and sour sauce that is in the slow cooker.
If rice is not your preference, this sweet and sour chicken can also be served over Asian noodles. You won’t even have to flavor them because the sauce from the sweet and sour chicken will add just enough flavor.
Sweet and Sour Slow Cooker Chicken Recipe FAQs
Yes, you should line or spray your slow cooker. This makes cleanup much easier and will keep your chicken from sticking in the corners of the Crock Pot.
This gives the chicken a nice, bread-like coating that is not too thick. It also allows the sauce to stick to the chicken.
For this Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken, you can use either fresh or canned pineapple chunks.
Other Slow Cooker Recipes To Try
- Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Potatoes (With Bacon)
- Slow Cooker Flank Steak Mongolian Beef
- Shredded Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken
- Easy, Cheesy Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes
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Crock Pot Sweet and Sour Chicken
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be substituted. Cut chicken into 1" chunks.)
- ¼ cup corn starch
- 1 cup pineapple chunks (Do not drain. The juice will be used in sauce.)
- 1 medium red bell pepper (cut into 1" pieces)
- 1 medium green bell pepper (cut into 1" pieces)
- 1 cup yellow onion (cut into 1" pieces)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 cloves garlic minced
Instructions
- Cut chicken into 1" chunks and add to a 1 gallon freezer bag. Add cornstarch and close bag. Shake until completely coated.
- Add chicken, green pepper, red pepper, and onion to the slow cooker.
- In a medium bowl add juice from pineapple chunks, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and garlic. Stir together and pour over chicken and vegetables.
- Cover and cook on high for 1½ hours (or low for 3½ to 4½ hours). Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165° F. 30 minutes before the cooking time is complete, add in the pineapple chunks and recover, and finish cooking.
- Serve over rice and garnish with fresh green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Notes
- For this Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken, you can use either fresh or canned pineapple chunks.
- Instead of chicken breast, you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
- How To Store: Once it has cooled completely, transfer it into an airtight container and put it in the fridge. If properly stored, it will last for up to 3 days.
- How To Reheat: Reheat individual portions in the microwave in 30 second increments until it is warm. Stir after each interval.
Nutrition
*All nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and is an estimate and will vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact numbers on your ingredients, I would recommend calculating them with your prefered nutrition calculator.
Lyn
Love cooking in the slow cooker and I can't wait ti give this one a try! Sounds delicious and the instructions make it seem so easy.
Ryan Allen
Thanks Lyn, it is so easy to make and has incredible flavor.
Anita
This is the easiest way to cook sweet and sour chicken. The crock pot does everything, just remember to set it up before heading out, and return to a delicious home cooked meal.
Ryan Allen
It really does all the work. I hope you enjoyed the sweet and sour chicken.
kushigalu
Love the combination of flavors in this chicken recipe. Looks amazingly delicious too. Thanks for sharing.
Ryan Allen
Thank you! I really hope you enjoyed it.
Chenée
This sweet and sour chicken looks so incredible! And I love that I can make it in the slow cooker!
Ryan Allen
Thank you! Being able to make it in the slow cooker definitely opens up your day.
Ieva
I've only recently come across your blog and must admit I visit it often. Slow cooker meals are my favourite! This sweet and sour chicken was no exception - so lovely, so easy to make, and just the perfect amount of sweetness in it! Keep the recipe coming - we really enjoy them! 🙂
Ryan Allen
Thank you so much
Amanda
So I am making this now, and my sauce is really thick. What can I add to it before its done to make it not so thick??
Ryan Allen
I would add water about 2 tbsp at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
Christy Story
Making this recipe now! Will the cornstarch help to make the chicken crisper, or can I sear it before putting in the crock pot??
Ryan Allen
You can definitely crisp up the chicken before adding it to the crock pot. The Cornstarch help thicken up the sauce and stick to the chicken.
Jane Hogan
So easy to make and it was delicious!
Ryan Allen
I am glad you enjoyed this tasty chicken.