Name: Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 4 h 30 min
Total time: 4 h 40 min
Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces); 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth; 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce; 1/3 cup honey; 1/4 cup hoisin sauce; 2 tablespoons brown sugar; 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 tablespoon fresh ginger (minced); 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional); 2 tablespoons cornstarch; 2 tablespoons cold water; 4 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen); 1 tablespoon sesame oil (optional); sesame seeds and sliced green onions (for garnish); cooked white or brown rice (for serving)

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If you’re craving a comforting, fuss-free dinner that tastes like your favorite takeout but is healthier and easier to make at home, this Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Recipe will absolutely win you over. Juicy chicken pieces soak up a savory-sweet sauce as they slow cook, while vibrant broccoli gets tossed in at the end for that perfect tender-crisp bite. It’s a meal that promises big flavor with minimal effort and is a lifesaver on busy weeknights or lazy weekends.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

Get ready to fall in love with just how simple the ingredient list is for this Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Recipe. Each component plays a starring role in building layers of flavor and guaranteeing a hearty, satisfying meal with beautiful color and freshness.

Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Go for bite-sized pieces for even cooking and maximum saucy goodness in every forkful.
Low-sodium chicken broth: This forms the rich and savory backbone of your sauce without making it overly salty.
Low-sodium soy sauce: Provides those deep, umami flavors essential to Asian-inspired dishes—opt for low-sodium to keep things balanced.
Honey: Adds a natural sweetness that beautifully counters the saltiness of soy sauce and hoisin.
Hoisin sauce: Brings in a touch of tang and a distinctive, earthy sweetness. Don’t skip this secret weapon for depth of flavor!
Brown sugar: Supports caramelization and rounds out the savory notes of the sauce.
Garlic: Fresh and minced, it infuses the entire dish with aromatic punch.
Fresh ginger: Offers zip and warmth, waking up all the flavors as the dish cooks.
Red pepper flakes (optional): For a gentle kick if you like a little heat.
Cornstarch and cold water: Blended into a slurry, these thicken the sauce right at the end for that irresistible glossy finish.
Broccoli florets: Fresh or frozen both work—add lots for color, crunch, and nutrients.
Sesame oil (optional): Stir in at the end for rich, nutty aroma.
Sesame seeds and sliced green onions: Quick, simple garnishes that transform the dish into something restaurant-worthy.
Cooked white or brown rice: The classic, comforting base that soaks up every bit of that amazing sauce.

How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Recipe

Step 1: Whisk Together the Sauce

Start by grabbing a medium bowl and combining the chicken broth, low-sodium soy sauce, honey, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes (if you want a touch of spice). A whisk makes quick work of blending everything until it’s smooth and unified. This fragrant mixture is the flavor engine of your Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Recipe and sets the whole dish up for success.

Step 2: Prep the Chicken

Cut your boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. This helps everything cook evenly in the slow cooker and ensures that every bite gets lots of saucy coverage. Lay the pieces in an even layer at the bottom of your slow cooker.

Step 3: Pour and Cook

Pour your prepared sauce over the chicken. Make sure it’s evenly distributed to coat every piece. Put the lid on your slow cooker and set it to cook on low for about 4 hours. This slow simmer is what creates juicy, pull-apart chicken and lets all those savory, sweet, and aromatic flavors meld together.

Step 4: Thicken the Sauce and Add Broccoli

When the chicken is cooked through and meltingly tender, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water to form a slurry. Pour this into the slow cooker, stirring to combine. Then add your broccoli florets (fresh or frozen) and gently mix them through. Cover once more and cook on high for another 30 minutes—just enough time for the sauce to thicken and the broccoli to turn perfectly bright green and slightly crisp.

Step 5: Garnish and Serve

If you love an extra layer of flavor, stir in a drizzle of sesame oil right at the end. Pile the chicken and broccoli over warm rice and sprinkle with sesame seeds and sliced green onions for a finishing touch that’s as appealing to the eyes as it is to the taste buds.

How to Serve Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Recipe

Garnishes

The real magic of this Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Recipe comes alive with a scattering of sesame seeds and a handful of sliced green onions. These simple toppings add crunch, freshness, and irresistible aroma. For special occasions, a little extra chopped cilantro or a wedge of lime brings vibrant color and new dimensions of flavor.

Side Dishes

This dish really shines atop fluffy white or nutty brown rice, but there are plenty of other ways to round out your meal. Steamed jasmine rice, cauliflower rice for a lighter option, or even a scoop of sautéed snap peas make wonderful accompaniments. If you love a little extra crunch, serve some pickled vegetables or a cool carrot salad alongside.

Creative Ways to Present

If you want to impress, serve the chicken and broccoli over rice in individual bowls, layered to show off the colorful broccoli and rich sauce. For a fun twist, tuck the saucy chicken and broccoli into lettuce cups for an appetizer-style snack, or top a warm grain bowl with edamame, cucumbers, and a drizzle of extra sauce for a build-your-own dinner adventure.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Recipe keeps beautifully. Store everything (sauce, chicken, and broccoli) in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The flavors actually deepen as they rest, making for an even more delicious lunch the next day.

Freezing

If you’d like to make this recipe ahead, it freezes like a dream—as long as you leave out the broccoli, which can lose its texture after thawing. Freeze the saucy chicken in portions, and simply steam up fresh broccoli to stir in after reheating for that perfectly crisp bite.

Reheating

To reheat, simply transfer your chicken, sauce, and broccoli to a saucepan and warm gently over medium-low heat until hot. If heating from frozen, thaw in the refrigerator overnight for best results, then warm through. Add a splash of broth or water if needed to loosen the sauce back up.

FAQs

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?

Absolutely! Chicken thighs are a fantastic choice if you prefer extra tenderness and richness. Just cut them into bite-sized pieces and cook as directed—they’ll be just as delicious, maybe even more so.

What if I want firmer broccoli?

For firmer broccoli, simply steam the florets separately while the chicken cooks, then stir them in right before serving. This keeps the broccoli super bright and crisp, even if you’re meal-prepping for the week.

Is this Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Recipe gluten-free?

It absolutely can be! Just use certified gluten-free soy sauce and hoisin sauce, and you’re all set for a dish that’s both tasty and allergy-friendly.

Can I use frozen broccoli?

Yes, frozen broccoli works great—just add it at the same stage as fresh. Keep an eye on it during the final 30 minutes to make sure it cooks to your preferred level of doneness.

Can I make this recipe without a slow cooker?

If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can easily adapt this for the stovetop or oven. Simmer the chicken in a covered pot over low heat until tender, following the same sequence of steps for sauce thickening and adding broccoli at the end.

Final Thoughts

This Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Recipe is the kind of meal that delivers big flavor with hardly any effort, making it perfect for hectic days or whenever you want comfort food with a lighter touch. Give it a try, and see just how easy—and satisfying—homemade takeout can be!

Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli Recipe

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4.8 from 22 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Diet: Non-Vegetarian

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Description

A flavorful and easy Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli recipe with tender chicken in a savory Asian-inspired sauce, finished with crisp broccoli florets. Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken:

1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1 tablespoon fresh ginger (minced)
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

For Finishing:

2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water
4 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
1 tablespoon sesame oil (optional)
sesame seeds and sliced green onions (for garnish)
cooked white or brown rice (for serving)

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Instructions

Prepare the Chicken: Place chicken in the slow cooker.
Mix Sauce: Combine broth, soy sauce, honey, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Pour over chicken.
Cook: Cook on low for 4 hours until chicken is tender.
Thicken Sauce: Mix cornstarch and water; stir into slow cooker. Add broccoli and cook on high for 30 minutes.
Finish: Stir in sesame oil. Serve over rice, garnished with sesame seeds and green onions.