Slow-Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken

Name: Slow-Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 4 h 10 min
Yield: 3
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 1 lb skinless chicken breasts, cubed; 1 cup brown sugar; 1 cup water; 1/2 cup vinegar; 2 tablespoon ketchup; 1 teaspoon soy sauce; 1/2 white onion, sliced; 3 - 4 tablespoons cornstarch

49 Ratings

20 Comments

Prep 10 min
Total 4 hr 10 min
Servings 3

With just the right sweet-to-tangy ratio, this easy sweet and sour chicken is prepared in a slow cooker and served over rice. As simple as this pantry-friendly meal is to make, it’s even tastier to eat. MORE+ LESS-

By Girl Who Ate Everything

Updated December 4, 2019

Ingredients

lb skinless chicken breasts, cubed

cup brown sugar

cup water

1/2

cup vinegar

tablespoon ketchup

teaspoon soy sauce

1/2

white onion, sliced

- 4 tablespoons cornstarch

Steps

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1

In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, water, vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, and sliced onion.
2

In a separate small bowl, mix cornstarch with just enough water to form a paste. Add it to the sauce mixture and mix well.
3

Place cubed chicken in the slow cooker and pour sauce mixture over chicken. Cook in the slow cooker on low for 3-4 hours or until done.

Expert Tips

We like this dish served over white rice, but it would also top well on other cooked grains like brown rice or quinoa.
To add a little color and texture to this dish, garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Calories: 520
Calories from Fat: 45

% Daily Value

Total Fat: 5g; 8%
Saturated Fat 1 1/2g 7% Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol: 95mg; 31%
Sodium: 300mg; 12%
Potassium: 430mg; 12%
Total Carbohydrate: 84g; 28%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0% Sugars 74g
Protein: 34g

% Daily Value*:

Vitamin A: 0%; 0%
Vitamin C: 0%; 0%
Calcium: 8%; 8%
Iron: 10%; 10%

Exchanges:

1 Starch; 0 Fruit; 4 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 4 1/2 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1/2 Fat;

Carbohydrate Choice

5 1/2

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

I have an unusually large sweet tooth so if I can sneak a little sweetness into my dinner, that’s a score in my book. This Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken has a just enough sweet flavor mixed with a little sour tang that I love. Not only can you have take-out style sweet and sour chicken, all the work is done for you in a slow cooker, which means your house stays cool, too. Not to mention that it’s a much healthier take on the classic -- no frying here. Every ingredient plays a small role in creating the distinct flavor of this dish. Another plus is that this is one of those meals that most likely you will have all the ingredients already available in your pantry. Huge bonus! Because c’mon, let’s face it…I would rather eat cold cereal for dinner than have to drag all three of my kids to the grocery store when it’s not necessary. Unlike its fried takeout counterpart, this sweet and sour chicken is healthier because it’s not fried. Plus, since it’s made in the slow cooker, your house will stay cool and your hands free. After cooking in the sweet and sour sauce all day, the chicken turns a beautiful caramel color. Every ingredient plays a small role in creating the distinct flavor of this dish, from the brown sugar to the vinegar to the soy sauce. Mix it up Tired of cooking with chicken? Add a little variety and try this with pork! Keep Your Cool Don't start the oven if you don't have to in the summer months! With great slow cooker recipes, you can have a fab meal without the heat.