Description
Homemade slow cooker chicken and broccoli delivers comfort straight from your kitchen. Creamy sauce and tender meat with crisp broccoli florets promise a satisfying meal you’ll eagerly anticipate.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) chicken breasts (or thighs), bite-sized pieces
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- ½ cup (120 ml) low-sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth
- 2 tbsps honey (or brown sugar)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsps cornstarch + 3 tbsps water (for thickening)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tbsps green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds (optional)
- Cooked rice or noodles (for serving)
Instructions
- Chicken Placement: Layer chicken pieces smoothly across slow cooker base without overlapping, creating an even cooking surface.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk together soy sauce, chicken broth, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, black pepper, and red pepper flakes into a harmonious liquid blend.
- Flavor Infusion: Cascade sauce over chicken, ensuring complete coating and deep flavor penetration throughout the protein.
- Slow Cooking Process: Secure lid and cook on low temperature for 3-4 hours, allowing chicken to tenderize and absorb complex seasoning profiles.
- Vegetable Integration: Strategically introduce broccoli florets during final 30 minutes of cooking, positioning them atop chicken to steam gently without losing vibrant color or crisp texture.
- Final Preparation: Deconstruct chicken using two forks, shredding or slicing into delectable morsels that intertwine with succulent sauce and verdant broccoli.
- Presentation: Elevate dish with toasted sesame seed and green onion garnish, then serve immediately over steamed rice or cauliflower rice, drizzling remaining pan sauce for maximum gustatory enjoyment.
Notes
- Optimize Chicken Placement: Arrange chicken pieces flat and spread out to ensure even cooking and consistent flavor absorption throughout the dish.
- Sauce Balancing Technique: Whisk sauce ingredients thoroughly to create a harmonious blend, tasting and adjusting seasonings before pouring over chicken for perfect flavor profile.
- Prevent Broccoli Overcooking: Add broccoli florets during final 30 minutes to maintain crisp texture and vibrant green color, avoiding mushy or discolored vegetables.
- Dietary Modification Options: Swap honey with maple syrup for vegan version, use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce for gluten-free alternative, or reduce sodium by using low-sodium chicken broth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg