Slow Cooker Thai Peanut Chicken is tender and full of peanut-y goodness, and it's super easy with a five-ingredient sauce. Prep for this flavorful Thai peanut chicken is quick—just mix five ingredients, pour over chicken, and cook in the slow cooker. Garnishing with peanuts and cilantro adds the perfect flavor and and just the right amount of crunch.
Place 2½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts in slow cooker.
Mix together 1 cup salsa, ⅓ cup peanut butter, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari, and 1-2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger root. Pour over chicken.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours depending on your slow cooker, stirring occasionally.
Serve over 3 cups prepared white rice and garnish with ¼ cup chopped peanuts and 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro.
Notes
Note that slow cookers vary in cooking time due to brand and size. This recipe was tested in a 6-quart slow cooker and cooked on the fast end. Smaller slow cookers generally cook slower and larger ones faster.
Preparation option: Peanut sauce is delicious on vegetables, so you could add slices of colorful bell peppers and onions to the slow cooker at the beginning of cooking. Throw in 2-3 cups of spinach in the last half hour or so and this is a complete meal with no sides needed.
To freeze: Prepare the sauce in whatever quantity needed for the number of dishes you want to freeze. Freeze the sauce in a separate container and put it together with the chicken in the freezer, then place the instructions and ¼ cup chopped peanuts with them. Label with: Easy Slow Cooker Thai Chicken in Peanut Sauce: Thaw. Place chicken in slow cooker. Cover with sauce and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 3-4 hours depending on your slow cooker. Stir occasionally. Serve over white rice and garnish with 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro and ¼ cup chopped peanuts.