This Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken is so easy and BIG on flavor! The crockpot makes it juicy and moist, with extra sauce for serving over rice. With VIDEO.
I’m going to try to refrain from going on and on and on about my love for slow cookers.
I feel like I’ve probably done that somewhere before… just like I’ve also whined to you about how difficult it can be to get dinner on the table these days.
Another thing I love? CanadiAsian food.
I’m not ever going to claim I know anything about actual Asian/Chinese cuisine, but based on my limited experiences in restaurants in Manitoba, this is how we do our slow cooker sweet and sour chicken!
This crockpot sweet and sour chicken is a hit with the family, especially because it’s loaded with enough chunks of pineapple that they forget about all those peppers 😉
We love sweet and sour sauce on everything.
And I love coming home to a perfectly cooked meal, or just calmly sipping a late afternoon cup of coffee instead of slaving over the stove like I ought to be.
If you’re like me and you’re looking for even more easy slow cooker meals, check out these Easy Crockpot Meals, this Italian Crockpot Chicken and Potatoes, or these Crockpot Chicken and Noodles!
How to make this slow cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken:
- Put your chicken in the slow cooker (so far, so good, right??)
- Add your pineapple, vegetables and sauce.
- Turn on your crockpot.
- Grab a cup of coffee and watch your dinner make itself. Pretty great, right?!
Variations on this crockpot Sweet and Sour Chicken:
The cooking time with this can vary for a lot of reasons. How full your slow cooker is, how hot your slow cooker is, the size of your pieces, etc. Here are some tips to slow down or speed up the cooking process.
- Cook slower: If you’re looking to leave the chicken in a long time (8 hours or so), try putting the breasts in whole. A whole chicken breast will always take longer to cook, but that might be something you want if your slow cooker is less full and you need to leave the chicken in for quite a while. Back in the day before I knew the “rules”, I used to put the chicken in frozen when I worked out of the house all day. This isn’t generally recommended, but I’ve done it quite a few times and am still around to tell the tale 😉
- Cook faster: You can always cut the chicken into smaller pieces to cook more quickly, or make this recipe on the stove top. Simply brown the chicken, and pour the sauce over to simmer and thicken until the chicken is fully cooked. Dinner will be ready in no time!
Tools you’ll need for making this sweet and sour chicken recipe:
- I love my 2.5 quart Crockpot for this recipe because it’s just the right size and because it fills nicely, my chicken doesn’t become dry or overcooked. You can absolutely use a larger slow cooker, just keep in mind that a crockpot that is less full will cook a little more quickly.
- You definitely don’t need them, but if you find yourself short on clean up time, throw in a slow cooker liner and skip the scrubbing!
Looking for more slow cooker meals?
- Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe
- Slow Cooker Pot Roast with the BEST gravy!
- Glazed Crock Pot Pork Chops
- Sweet and Sour Crockpot Meatballs + VIDEO
Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1″ pieces (Or use thighs)
- 1 can pineapple chunks (398ml)
- 1 red pepper diced
- 1 green pepper diced
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 3/4 cup vinegar
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 tbsp corn starch
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tsp minced ginger
Instructions
- Place chicken, pineapple and peppers in a 2.5-4 quart slow cooker.
- Combine sugar, vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, corn starch, garlic and ginger and pour over chicken. Cook on low for 3-4 hours, or high for 1.5-2 hours.
- *If needed, you can stir together 1-2 tbsp additional corn starch and water to thicken the sauce.
- Serve over cooked rice or noodles.
Nutrition Information
Want to save this recipe?
Create an account easily save your favorite content, so you never forget a recipe again.
Tried this recipe?
Tag @thereciperebel or hashtag #thereciperebel —
I love to see what you’re making!
Tag @thereciperebel
Renee Schouten says
Hi Ashley,
Do you put the chicken in the slow cooker raw? I am more of a fan of cooking the chicken and then putting it in the slow cooker.
Thanks,
Renee
Ashley Fehr says
I put it in raw, as I’m not a fan of extra dishes. You could do that, too!
Cynthia Taffet says
Hi Ive made this before and it was delicious this time I purchased the diced chicken by Perdue. How do I calculate the diced chicken to equal 4 chicken breasts. I was trying to base it on weight but could not find equivalent calculations Do you have any advice.. Thanks again and keep sending recipes
Ashley Fehr says
An average chicken breast is around 170 grams. I usually estimate 3 average sized chicken breasts for one pound. I hope that helps!
Valerie says
If you don’t have fresh ginger…can you substitute ground ginger..if so…how much in this recipe?
2nd question…do you drain juice from pineapple chunks or use juice too?
Ashley Fehr says
You will leave the pineapple juice in. I would use just a pinch of ground ginger in place of fresh!
Valerie says
If you don’t have fresh ginger…can you substitute ground ginger..if so…how much in this recipe?
Danielle George says
In the video, she mentions Ginger. I don’t see it in the ingredient list. How much?
Ashley Fehr says
Sorry about that! I’ve updated the recipe
Mandi says
Made this tonight and it was delicious! I realized that I didn’t have vinegar when I got home, so I added some sweet Thai chili sauce I had and cut back on the sugar. Definitely making this again and not just during the summer.
Ashley Fehr says
I love that idea! The sweet chili would add some nice flavor!
Nancy Perine says
I’ve had Sweet & Sour Chicken in restaurants and have gotten take-out, but hadn’t cooked it … until now. I love my slow cooker and with your recipe it turned out so yummy. I served it over what we call “sticky rick” here in Hawaii. It was a big hit and I’ll be making it many more times. THANKS!!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Nancy! I’m so happy to hear it went over well!
Celeste says
Am I able to leave this in the slow cooker overnight on low? Thanks love your blog!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Celeste! You technically could, but I would worry about the chicken being overdone. I would definitely use whole chicken breasts if you are going to leave it for a longer period of time, but I still wouldn’t go longer than 6-8 hours for best results. I hope that helps!
Rose says
Can this cook safely on high for 2-3 hours if the chicken is thawed and diced?
Ashley Fehr says
I think that would be fine! Just always double check the temperature before serving to ensure it’s reached 165, but I don’t think there’d be any problems!
colet says
Made for the first time and the hubby is already asking for it again! Will be a recipe I keep handy! Thanks!!
Ashley Fehr says
Glad you liked it! Thanks for letting me know!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
Sweet and sour chicken is one of my great loves.. whenever I feel like something comforting I make it! Definitely going to try your slow cooker version, it does look delicious!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
This looks incredible! We love sweet and sour and I am drooling over all that wonderful sauce! The slow cooker is such a life saver these days, having dinner ready when you get home is the best:) Pinning!
Ashley says
It’s definitely my favorite appliance! Thanks Kelly!
Amanda says
This is a great idea, slow cookers are the best!
Sarah@WholeandHeavenlyOven says
Yay for slow-cookers! I seriously don’t think I could live without mine. That being said, I NEED this gorgeous chicken in my life—that thick sauce is calling my name! Pinning. 🙂
Ashley says
Thanks Sarah! It’s such a lifesaver!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
I neglect to realize sometimes how awesome the slow cooker really is. . I love that you made a slow cooker sweet and sour chicken!! and oh my gawd, I NEED to try your {Slow Cooker} Mongolian Beef ASAP!!! love!!
Ashley says
Thanks Alice! I can’t get enough of it! To be totally honest, tomorrow will be the 3rd day in a row that we’ve had supper in the slow cooker!
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats says
I broke my slow cooker the other month too and I had to rush to get a new one. I can’t live without it! This looks like the perfect way to test my new one out!
Ashley says
Thanks Julie! I would go crazy without it — we’ve had supper in the slow cooker yesterday and today!
Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. says
Sweet and sour chicken is the best, especially in the slow cooker! I love having a meal made and ready at supper time without having to actually DO anything! This looks amazing!
Ashley says
Thanks Stacey! The slow cooker really works with my totally lazy attitude these days.
Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes) says
I am so into my slow cooker right now. I must try this!
Ashley says
I’ve used my slow cooker way more this fall than I ever have — I love it!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Oh how I love my slow cooker. I’ve got some soup in there cooking away for me right now! This sweet and sour chicken sounds amazing, i will definitely be adding this recipe into our weekly rotation. Have the best Thanksgiving tomorrow friend!
Ashley says
Thanks Natalie! I had my (Canadian) Thanksgiving 6 weeks ago, but I actually have the day off for a doctor’s appointment, so it will almost feel like a holiday anyway! Lol.
Annie @Maebells says
I am with you, I love any type of Asian inspired food. I was intimidated by it for a long time because I wasn’t sure how to use those ingredients well but after playing around with it we have some great Asian type dishes in our rotation! I love that this is a slow cooker recipe. I find that since it is dark by four now I am so useless at night. I get nothing done after work! I need lots of good slow cooker recipes for these dreary winter days!
Ashley says
I think it’s mostly because I love sugar in everything…. and the whole sweet and sour thing totally works for me. Lol. I think being 8 and a half months pregnant has really made me resent making supper… so I use my slow cooker a LOT! I’d much rather be baking (and eating!) chocolate!