Crockpot Kung Pao Chicken
Introduction
Looking for a restaurant-quality dinner that’s simple to prepare, big on flavor, and perfect for busy weeknights? Crockpot Kung Pao Chicken delivers just that—tender chicken simmered with bold, slightly spicy Asian flavors and colorful veggies, all in a hands-off, slow cooker format that guarantees moist, flavorful results every time. This recipe is a family favorite and a guaranteed crowd pleaser, making takeout nights a thing of the past.
Why You’ll Love Crockpot Kung Pao Chicken
This dish stands out for its craveable combination of savory, sweet, and slightly spicy flavors, plus a hint of crunch from roasted peanuts. The slow cooker does all the work for you, melding the sauce and allowing the chicken to become fork-tender and deeply infused with rich, aromatic seasonings. Serve it over a bed of steamed rice or with your favorite stir-fry vegetables for a hassle-free feast that tastes like it came straight from your favorite Chinese restaurant.
The Secret to Flavorful Kung Pao Sauce
The flavor base of this recipe is a blend of soy sauce, hoisin, garlic, ginger, and a touch of honey, rounded out with a small kick from red pepper flakes or Szechuan peppercorns. Bell peppers add freshness and sweetness, while a last-minute addition of roasted peanuts brings a traditional crunch and contrast.
Effortless Crockpot Assembly
Place all the ingredients except peanuts and green onions into your crockpot in the morning, set it—and let the magic happen! The chicken absorbs savory-sweet sauce, and the vegetables stay vibrant. Stir in the peanuts just before serving to preserve their texture. A sprinkle of fresh green onions adds the perfect finishing touch.
Serving Suggestions for Crockpot Kung Pao Chicken
Plate your Kung Pao Chicken over steamed jasmine or brown rice for a classic meal. For a low-carb option, serve with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles. Add steamed broccoli or snap peas on the side to round out your plate with more color and crunch.
Nutritional Information and Serving Size
This recipe makes about 6 hearty servings, each containing roughly 350 to 400 calories, depending on serving size and rice additions. Protein-packed and loaded with veggies, it’s a balanced meal you can feel good about adding to your weekly rotation.
Ingredients
💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and meal planning.
Instructions
- Add chicken pieces, bell peppers, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, honey, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes (or Szechuan peppercorns) to your crockpot. Stir until everything is well coated.
- Cover and cook on low for 4–5 hours, or high for 2–3 hours, until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender but not mushy.
- If a thicker sauce is desired, whisk together cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Stir into the crockpot during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Stir in roasted peanuts just before serving to maintain their crunch.
- Serve over rice, garnished with sliced green onions.
Weekly Meal Planning
This Crockpot Kung Pao Chicken recipe is ideal for batch cooking and weekly meal planning. Save and schedule this recipe to plan which days to make it and unlock smart shopping lists that combine all your ingredients from planned meals.
Planning Benefits:
- Automatically calculates ingredient totals when planning multiple recipes.
- Organizes shopping lists by grocery aisle for speed and convenience.
- Prevents forgotten ingredients and duplicate purchases.
- Makes weekly meal prep easier and more organized.
Pro tip: When you plan several meals for the week, schedule your recipes to see overlapping ingredients. CookifyAI calculates total quantities (like bell peppers or rice) required—saving you money and reducing food waste.
Cook and Prep Times
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 4–5 hours (low), 2–3 hours (high)
Total Time: 4–5 hours (slow cook)
Enjoy a delicious, hassle-free rendition of a classic takeout favorite—right at home!