Crockpot Orange Chicken Recipe
This Crockpot Orange Chicken recipe offers a deliciously tangy and sweet meal that is easy to prepare and perfect for busy days. Tender chicken breasts are slow-cooked in a zesty orange sauce infused with garlic, ginger, and a hint of chili, then thickened to perfection. Serve over rice and garnish with green onions for a comforting homemade takeout favorite.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Asian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup honey
- 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce, or tamari for gluten-free
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, optional, more or less to taste
Chicken & Thickening
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ cup water (for cornstarch slurry)
To Serve
- Cooked brown or white rice
- Chopped green onions, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Orange Sauce: In a liquid measuring cup or medium bowl, whisk together the freshly squeezed orange juice, water, honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, ground ginger, and red pepper flakes if using. This mixture will create your flavorful orange sauce base.
- Arrange and Season Chicken: Place the boneless skinless chicken breasts at the bottom of the slow cooker. Lightly season them with salt and pepper. Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the chicken to ensure it gets fully coated and infused with flavor as it cooks.
- Slow Cook Chicken: Cover the slow cooker and cook on the high setting for 2 ½ to 3 hours or on the low setting for 4 to 5 hours. The chicken is done when it is cooked through and tender enough to shred easily with a fork.
- Prepare Cornstarch Slurry: Remove the cooked chicken to a cutting board and let it cool slightly. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and ¼ cup water until smooth. This slurry will be added to thicken the sauce in the slow cooker.
- Thicken Sauce and Combine: Return the cornstarch slurry to the slow cooker and stir to combine with the sauce. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces and place it back in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high until the sauce thickens, which usually takes 10 to 30 minutes depending on your slow cooker’s previous setting.
- Serve: Spoon the orange chicken and thickened sauce over cooked brown or white rice. Garnish with chopped green onions for an added fresh flavor and appealing presentation.
Notes
- Nutrition estimate does not include rice, so consider adding rice calories for a full meal count.
- You can adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to control the spice level to your preference.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute tamari for the soy sauce.
- Using chicken thighs instead of breasts can provide a juicier, richer flavor.
- Make sure to whisk the cornstarch slurry well to avoid lumps in your sauce.
Keywords: Crockpot orange chicken, slow cooker chicken recipe, orange chicken slow cooker, easy orange chicken, homemade orange chicken, crockpot dinner recipes
Find it online: https://mjrecipe.com/crockpot-orange-chicken-recipe/