This Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli is an easy and flavorful recipe, which is made with tender chicken thighs and five-spice powder. It’s the perfect weeknight dinner, ready with minimal effort.

Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Ingredients

• 12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into chunks
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon five-spice powder
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken stock
• 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon sriracha
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 1 red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
• Cooked rice, for serving
• 4 scallions, sliced, for garnish
• Sesame seeds, for garnish

How To Make Pioneer Woman Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli

1. Season and Cook Chicken: Season the chicken chunks lightly with salt and pepper and place them in the slow cooker. Sprinkle with the five-spice powder. In a small bowl, stir together the stock, soy sauce, ginger, sriracha, and garlic, then pour it over the chicken. Cover and cook on high for 3.5 hours.
2. Thicken Sauce and Add Vegetables: After 3.5 hours, make a slurry by mixing the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Stir the slurry into the slow cooker along with the sesame oil.
3. Final Cook and Serve: Add the broccoli florets and chopped red pepper to the pot. Cover and continue cooking on high for another 30 minutes, until the sauce has thickened and the vegetables are tender-crisp. Serve hot over rice, garnished with sliced scallions and sesame seeds.

Recipe Tips

• Can I use chicken breasts instead of thighs? Yes, you can, but chicken thighs are recommended as they stay more tender and juicy over the long cooking time. If using breasts, you may want to reduce the initial cooking time slightly to 3 hours to prevent them from drying out.
• How to get the best texture for the broccoli? The key is to add the broccoli and peppers at the very end of the cooking process. This ensures they steam perfectly in the sauce, becoming tender-crisp rather than soft and mushy.
• What is five-spice powder? It’s a classic Chinese spice blend that typically includes star anise, cloves, Chinese cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds. It adds a wonderful warm, aromatic, and slightly sweet flavor to the dish.
• Can I make this spicier? Absolutely. For more heat, you can increase the amount of sriracha, add a pinch of red pepper flakes at the beginning, or garnish with fresh sliced chilies.

What To Serve With Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli

This is a fantastic one-pot style meal that is perfect served over:

• Fluffy white or brown rice
• Quinoa
• Lo mein or ramen noodles
• Cauliflower rice for a low-carb option

How To Store Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Reheating: Reheat gently in a skillet over medium-low heat or in the microwave. The vegetables will soften upon reheating.
• Freeze: This dish freezes well. Let it cool completely and store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 350-450 kcal
• Fat: 15g
• Carbohydrates: 20g
• Protein: 35g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Try More Pioneer Woman Recipes:

• Pioneer Woman Chicken Nachos Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Marinated Chicken Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Lemon Chicken Recipe