Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken

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Total Time 4 hours 5 minutes

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Saucy Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken with a spicy kick! Simple ingredients bring a ton of flavor to this easy-to-make family favorite.  

top view of slow cooker kung pao chicken on rice in a bowl topped with peanuts.

I’ve officially had Kung Pao Chicken twice in the past 36 hours. I made this slow cooker version a couple of nights ago for dinner and instantly fell in love. If you’re a sauce person – like me – you’ll want to double this sauce because it is finger-lickin’ good.

top view of slow cooker kung pao chicken in a metal bowl topped with peanuts with more peanuts on the side in a small jar.

But that was only the first time I had Kung Pao Chicken this week. Last night my husband came home from a business trip and we went out to dinner with my parents. They picked a Chinese restaurant I haven’t been to in years and I ordered the same thing I always ordered back in the days – Kung Pao Chicken. And here is the real kicker – I was disappointed because this slow cooker version was so much better. Like…. soooo much better.

a small jar full of peanuts with more peanuts on the side.

Plus I’m pretty sure that this recipe is healthier than any restaurant Kung Pao Chicken. And easy! Just brown the chicken, throw it into the slow cooker with the sauce, let it work its magic for a few hours, and then add the last couple of ingredients. Perfect Kung Pao Chicken made with simple everyday ingredients and loaded with tons of flavor. I’m in love!

a hand holding chopsticks taking apiece of slow cooker kung pao chicken from a bowl of chicken on rice in a bowl topped with peanuts with a small jar of more peanuts on the side.
Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken
4.67 from 12 votes

Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken

Saucy slow cooker Asian Kung Pao Chicken with a spicy kick! Simple ingredients bring a ton of flavor to this easy-to-make family favorite.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 4 hours
0 minutes
Total: 4 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
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Ingredients 

  • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 zucchini, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic

Sauce

  • 4 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons chili paste
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • cup water
  • 2 tablespoons corn starch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • cup peanuts , (see note)
  • optional: cooked rice, green onions
  • 2 teaspoons sriracha , or ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions 

  • Drizzle a large sauce pan with oil and saute chicken over medium heat for 2-3 minutes until browned
  • Add chicken to a greased slow cooker. In a bowl whisk together sauce ingredients: garlic, soy sauce, chile paste, vinegar, brown sugar, sriracha and 1/3 cup water. Pour sauce into the slow cooker. Cook on high 3-4 hours or on low 5-6 hours.
  • About 10-15 minutes before serving, drizzle a pan with oil and saute peppers, zucchini, and garlic for 2-3 minutes until veggies are tender. Add to slow cooker.
  • Whisk together corn starch and cold water til dissolved. Add to slow cooker and stir. Allow to thicken for 5-10 minutes. Serve over rice and garnish with peanuts and green onions as desired.

Notes

*Peanuts are optional. I like to add most of my peanuts at the same time I add the peppers and zucchini so that they can soften up a bit in the sauce, and then sprinkle some more on top when serving.
*double sauce ingredients if you like extra sauce – we do!

Nutrition

Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 1169mg | Potassium: 665mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1063IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this?Leave a star rating or comment below!
Tiffany of Creme de la Crumb in the kitchen

Welcome!

Hey there, I’m Tiffany – chef, photographer, mother, and avid taco eater. I am passionate about turning simple flavors and ingredients into tasty meals the whole family will love, with minimal prep and cleanup so there’s more time to spend eating and enjoying. Stay awhile, and help yourself to a taco or two!

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56 Comments

  1. Claire says:

    5 stars
    My husband loved this recipe! I coated the chicken in a flour and corn starch mix before sautéing it, and the sauce was thick enough at the end to skip the cornstarch step. I also just added a cooked bag of frozen stir fry veggies instead of the zucchini. Will definitely make again!!

  2. melinda says:

    how would I cook this on the stovetop? love the sauce but chicken is tender but dry.

    1. Tiffany says:

      Hi Melinda, I have a newer stovetop Kung Pao Chicken on my site! Just search “kung pao chicken” and it should come right up. 🙂

  3. NicolE says:

    3 stars
    I used this recipe as it seemed healThy (ie nO Saute on the cHicken iN oiL), but if you dont do this, the chicken pieces fall apart and it comes out lookng like slop. The sauce was fINe. Will try agaiN With a few aDjustMents

  4. Nadine says:

    4 stars
    Made this today, my roommate loved it . I did however add mushrooms to the chicken and and onions to the peppers and ZUCCHINI. I will make again how ever I will be adding more chile paste and sriracha sauce, it WASN’T Kung poa enough for me.

    1. Tiffany says:

      Thanks for your input, Nadine!

  5. Angela says:

    Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. it looks so delicious and i am going to try it sometime this coming week hopefully! also, sorry about that weird guy who got all riled up because you didn’t respond to his comment. i really admire how professionally you handled that!

    1. Tiffany says:

      You’re the sweetest, Angela! I hope that you love this recipe 🙂

  6. Emily says:

    4 stars
    Super good i think next time ill use low sodium soY a bit salty for my liking so i had to add some extra water but i also sauteed onions anD serano wHile browning thE chicken for some extra kick. Will definitely be making this again!

    1. Tiffany says:

      Great idea, Emily!

  7. cHRISTINE says:

    hoW MUCH CHILE PASTE? IT’S NOT LISTED IN THE INGREDIENTS THAT I CAN SEE.

    1. Tiffany says:

      Hi Christine- thanks for pointing out that error. It should be fixed now! 2 tsp of chili paste is what is called for in this recipe!

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  9. Madison says:

    5 stars
    Hi, I KNOW it calls for SRIRACHA sauce but it’s not even in the ingredients list. I haven’t made the recipe in forever and I don’t know how much to use?

    1. Tiffany says:

      Hey Madison! You are correct- sriracha should be listed in this recipe! I think it got lost when this recipe was transferred over to my new website design- sorry and thanks for catching that! I have updated the recipe now!