Skinny Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken is a delicious chicken coated in a sweet and spicy sauce with tender vegetables and crunchy cashews. Skip the takeout, this is so much healthier and better!
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time3 hourshrs10 minutesmins
Total Time3 hourshrs25 minutesmins
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian American, Chinese, Japanese
Keyword: kung pao, kung pao chicken, slow cooker kung pao
2-3Tablespoonswaterplus more as needed to thin out consistency of sauce
Instructions
In a large zip-top bag, toss in chicken, salt and black pepper. Shake until well-coated.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken about 2-3 minutes on each side, until lightly browned. **Skip this step if in a pinch and add chicken directly to the slow cooker.
Transfer chicken into slow cooker. (SEE NOTE FOR STOVETOP DIRECTIONS)
In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, water, honey, hoisin sauce, garlic, ginger and red pepper chili flakes and pour over chicken.
Cover and cook on LOW for 2.5 - 4 hours or HIGH for 1.5 - 3 hours. (SEE NOTE)
About 30 minutes before serving, whisk together the cornstarch and water in a small bowl. Stir into the slow cooker. Add the dried red chili peppers, red bell peppers, zucchini and cashews.
Cover and cook on HIGH for another 20-30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender and the sauce has thickened up. (Add more water to thin out sauce to your preferred consistency).
Sprinkle with sesame seeds, green onions and serve over rice, quinoa or zoodles, if desired.
Video
Notes
Updated on January 2, 2019Originally Posted on January 18, 2017 by Kelly Kwok from https://lifemadesweeter.com.**If you can't find dried red chili peppers, leave out and add an additional 1/2 - 1 teaspoon red pepper chili flakes**If your slow cooker runs hot, be sure to check on chicken earlier as it may cook faster than the suggested cooking times.**FOR STOVETOP DIRECTIONS: Brown the chicken until cooked through (7-8 minutes). Then add vegetables and saute for about 3 minutes – or until tender. Add the sauce to the pan, turn to high heat and cook until the sauce bubbles and thickens up – about 1-2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. Once everything is coated and heated through, serve hot with favorite sides.