Chicken breasts are slow cooked in coconut milk and spices and topped with a sweet and spicy sauce — an easy, flavorful weeknight meal!
I’m just gonna come out and say it: I think this is the best chicken I’ve ever made in the slow cooker.
I’m going to avoid saying it is the best ever, but I don’t think I’ve ever had chicken breasts come out of the slow cooker this moist before. They are just totally, unbelievably juicy and delicious. The trick? Thai Kitchen coconut milk.
Maybe you think that’s weird and you’d never cook chicken in coconut milk, but I’m telling you that you should. I’ve seen a couple recipes for Chicken in Milk before, where you cook a whole chicken in milk and some other seasonings, and it is apparently they best way to cook a whole chicken.
So I had a pretty good feeling that these were going to be phenomenal. I was not wrong.
I love stocking up my pantry with coconut milk, sauces, and spice mixes to make everyday cooking interesting and flavorful. Normally, I use coconut milk in desserts or whipping it to top cupcakes, but this time I wanted to try using it as a cooking liquid for chicken and I am so glad I did! The fact that the chicken cooks in the slow cooker makes me even happier — I use my slow cooker at least 2-3 times per week these days!
This Coconut Chicken is actually based off of this Sweet and Spicy Grilled Chicken, because it’s one of my favorite recipes and it didn’t seem right to only enjoy it in the summer (partly because here in Manitoba summer is like 3 months of the year).
You could take the chicken out of the slow cooker, skip the sweet and spicy sauce and put the chicken in or on pretty much anything and it’d be awesome. The coconut flavor is really mild, and the chicken has just a bit of spice. I like to serve this chicken over rice, but you could serve it with noodles, in tacos, on pizza, etc. — the options are endless!
*Notes:
I am a working mom (on maternity leave) and I know how annoying it can be to be looking for a slow cooker recipe to cook while you’re at work and when you check the cook time it’s only a few hours on low. Here are some tips on how you can adjust the cook time without changing the recipe:
- You want it to cook longer and not be dry: start with frozen chicken breasts. Put them in the slow cooker straight out of the freezer and cover with the coconut milk and spices. Let it cook up to 8 hours on low.
- You want it cook quick more quickly: make sure the chicken is thawed and cut into smaller 1″ pieces, then cook on low for 2-3 hours, or high for 1-2 hours.
*This post is sponsored by McCormick Canada. I received compensation for my time in creating the recipe but, as always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that make The Recipe Rebel possible!
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Pin this recipe to your favorite boardSlow Cooker Sweet and Spicy Coconut Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts
- 1 can Thai Kitchen coconut milk I used full fat
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Sweet and Spicy Sauce
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 6 tablespoons soy sauce
- a pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon Simply Asia Sweet Ginger Garlic seasoning
- 2 tablespoons apricot jam or jelly
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Add the chicken breasts to the slow cooker. Pour coconut milk over top, add ginger and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes and stir until chicken is coated and spices are mixed in. Cook on low for 5 hours (*see post above for altering cook times).
- minutes before the chicken will be done, make the sauce. In a medium pot, combine sugar, vinegar, chicken broth, soy sauce, pinch of red pepper flakes, Ginger Garlic seasoning, and apricot jam. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 15-20 minutes, until slightly reduced. Combine corn starch and water and stir into sauce to thicken, whisking until combined and thickened.
- Remove chicken from the slow cooker and discard the cooking juices. Slice or shred chicken and toss with sauce. (*Optional: place back in the slow cooker to keep warm. )
- Serve over rice or noodles — or in a taco!
Nutrition Information
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Jessica @ Sprinkle Some Sugar says
Slow cooker meals in the Fall/Winter are pretty much the best thing ever. This chicken looks SO freaking delicious I want to reach into the screen and eat it for breakfast! Love the flavors going on here, so fresh!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Jess! Totally nothing better than the slow cooker!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
I absolutely LOVE chicken cooked in coconut milk, because you are right – SO JUICY! This slow cooker coconut chicken looks delicious, Ashley! I love all your little tips for adjusting the slow cooker times! Plus that sweet and spicy sauce? OMG, I want to put that on everything… or just drink it from a glass! 🙂 Pinned! Cheers, girlfriend – to a beautiful day!
Dorothy Dunton says
Hi Ashley! This chicken would be great on white pizza with pineapple and bacon! 🙂
marcie says
Thai Kitchen Coconut Milk is one of my favorite products — I make rice and use it in soups, etc. all the time. I love that you cooked the chicken in it — it looks so melt-in-your-mouth tender!
Ashley Fehr says
Yes! Mine too! Thanks Marcie 🙂 It was fun experimenting a little — I will definitely be doing that again!
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious says
Coconut milk is such a cool ingredient, love the flavors here!
Dani @ Dani California Cooks says
I love the way this looks and pinned immediately. It looks so fresh and juicy! I’m always looking for more slow cooker protein recipes to make for my boyfriend to bring to work. This is a great one.
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Dani! The slow cooker is definitely one of my favorite tools year round!
Danielle says
Slow cookers are such a life saver, especially for busy weeknights. I’ve never tried cooking chicken in coconut milk, but I love the idea. Definitely need to give it a try sometime!
Ashley Fehr says
You definitely do! It’s life changing! 😀
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
I love the flavor of coconut with chicken, this sounds wonderful! Great tips about the slow cooker too, they are all so different as well!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Erin! They can be so different! So important to figure out the one you have 🙂
Dorothy Dunton says
Hi Ashley! You got me into using coconut milk – Thank you so much!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Dorothy! I use it in desserts most often, but I just love it with chicken!
Annie says
YES! This looks so good! And it is slow cooker – bonus!! This looks like the perfect meal for busy Fall nights!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Annie! My slow cooker hardly ever leaves my counter!
Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates says
This chicken looks amazing Ashley! I love slow cooker meals! Total life saver!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Mariah! I totally agree!
Jessica @ Sweetest Menu says
I am always up for a slow cooker meal – this looks wonderful Ashley! Simple but tasty! 🙂
Kristyn says
This looks delicious and I love that it’s made in the crock pot! Hooray for easy weeknight meals!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Kristyn!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
Love the sweet and spicy balance here- this looks like an awesome weeknight meal 🙂
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Medha! I can never have enough of those!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
I am such a big fan of cooking with coconut milk and love the sweet and spicy flavors in here! My mouth is watering over how juicy and amazing this chicken looks. So comforting and delicious!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Kelly! Sweet and spicy is the only way I can do spicy! Lol
Rachel @ Bakerita says
This is actually perfect. I used less than 1/2 cup of coconut milk for a recipe last night and had no idea what to do with the rest of the can…well, I’m totally making this! And it’ll be perfect since I’m only cooking for one 🙂 this looks so good!
Ashley Fehr says
Oh yes totally! Seriously the best chicken ever out of my slow cooker! Let me know how you like it 🙂
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Ashley -IMO adding apricot jam to this sweet and spicy coconut chicken is pretty darn brilliant!
Amanda says
This looks great! I love recipes like this. And cooking chicken in coconut milk sounds great!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Amanda! It was the first time I’ve done it but it won’t be the last!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
This chicken looks fantastic, Ashley! I love that the coconut milk makes this dish extra moist. Sounds like the perfect comfort food meal!
Ashley Fehr says
Yes! I don’t know how I can cook it any other way now — so good! Thanks Gayle 🙂
Tori says
I adore putting coconut in savory meals and this one looks to-die-for! I love it, simple, easy, and so yum!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks so much Tori!